Tourists are driving U-Haul trucks in Hawaii as car rentals become more elusive and expensive
Demand for rental cars in Maui is so high that sightseers are driving around in moving trucks.
Hawaii News Now reports that a crush of tourists flocking into the Aloha State has sent car rental prices soaring — and that’s for those who are lucky enough to find a booking. The cheapest daily rate for a Toyota Camry last month was said to be a whopping $722.
“The uptick from tourism, the uptick from companies opening back up, from the economy restarting...” U-Haul Marketing President Kaleo Alau said. “Everybody seems to need a vehicle.”
According to Alau, desperate travelers unable to get a pickup truck or cargo van have settled for box trucks. One local resident told Hawaii News Now that he recently tried reserving a moving truck for its intended purpose and none were available.
Alau said some drivers desperate for a rental have inquired about reserving U-Haul vehicles for an entire month and he’s had to tell them, “That’s not going to happen.”
