Airport Car rental timing

Question

We are arriving from Houston at 1:35pm and getting a rental car.

I would love to go to the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden first thing but they close at 4.

How long does it normally take to get a rental car (we are reserved with Dollar) and out on the road? We have a short amount of days so we can't put everything first thing in the morning.

Answer

Arriving at Honolulu International Airport (HNL) from Houston at 1:35 PM gives you a bit of time, but you'll need to account for a few factors when picking up your rental car and getting on the road to the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden.

Rental Car Pick-up Process

After landing at HNL, you’ll need to go through the usual procedures: disembark from your flight, go through immigration (if applicable), retrieve your luggage, and then head to the rental car area. Since you already have a reservation with Dollar, you can expect a quicker pick-up, but here’s a general timeline:

Flight arrival and disembarking: 15-30 minutes (depending on how quickly you can exit the plane and walk to baggage claim)
Immigration and baggage claim (if applicable): 20-40 minutes (for international arrivals; domestic flights are quicker)
Shuttle to the rental car location: 5-10 minutes (Dollar is typically off-site, so you'll take a shuttle bus to the car rental area)
Processing at the rental counter: 10-20 minutes (since you have a reservation, it should be on the shorter end of this time range)

In total, the rental car pick-up process usually takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour from landing, though it can be faster or slower depending on factors like airport traffic and the time it takes to get through baggage claim.

Time to Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden

The Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden is about a 30-45 minute drive from the airport, depending on traffic. Keep in mind that traffic can be heavier during peak hours, especially as you approach the garden area, which is near the windward side of Oahu. If you leave the airport around 2:30 PM, you could arrive at the garden around 3:15-3:30 PM, which would give you about 30 minutes before closing.

Recommendations:

If visiting the botanical garden is a top priority for you, I would recommend leaving the airport as soon as possible after picking up the rental car. This will give you a bit of time to enjoy the garden before it closes.
If you're unable to make it to the garden before closing, consider adjusting your itinerary for the next day or looking for other nearby attractions you can visit in the late afternoon.
Alternatively, you could explore some other spots that are closer to the airport and open later, such as Waikiki Beach or Ala Moana Park, if you're looking for something more relaxed on your arrival day.

Since you mentioned that you have a short amount of time, try to plan to get out of the airport as quickly as possible to maximize your visit to the garden. However, if you’re running short on time, the garden is just one of many beautiful places on the island, and you’ll have plenty of other things to enjoy throughout your trip!

Airport Car rental timing

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