7 thoughts on “Rideshare Roulette | Uber Hawaii Prices Might Blow Your Mind”
bob
most of the time these people don’t make money by doing the pickup. they make money by making tips. the less of you tipping, the less likely they are willing to pick people up in your area. so remember to be nice and try tipping your driver. you would be amazed on how that would affect the outcome of your experience.
You should consider using Holoholo, it’s a locally-owned competitor to Uber & Lyft. I think it was developed by the owner of SpeediShuttle. They don’t charge surge pricing! rideholoholo.com
I have used Lyft and it worked well for me. There was only one shuttle at HNL ariport and it was $60, so we called Lyft and the driver came within 5 minutes and we paid $25 to the Outrigger in Waikiki.
Trying to get a ride from Lihue airport can be frustrating but I just call a taxi. They are waiting on the airport property a few minutes away. I also caution people visiting that if they have a timed arrival necessary, like for a boat tour or activity, do Not rely on Uber or Lyft. Our local taxi drivers have a set rate and this is what they do for a living. This is how they feed their kids. Mahalo
Taxis on Kauai can be tricky. I fly to/from island often and always need a lift to/from lihui airport and Poipu. On cruise ship days, taxis are impossible to get because they are taking the lucrative passenger gigs. When i can’t get shared rides from the airport I’ll try a taxi. Taxis tend to want cash only, so have a bunch of $20s in your pocket and enjoy the response when you request change. Taxi drives say they have set rates, but they will try to run the meter in you. Once a taxi driver took a right on the highway from the airport to Poipu. He circled around lihui and the drove to kikui’ula shopping to get to near the Hyatt. Usually $56 cab ride went $76. Set rates might be posted, or might not be.
Lyft pays better than Uber in the island. Have both apps available. When your plane comes in, expect peak pricing to happen. $38 to Poipu might turn into $280. Hope your baggage comes out early or just wait 20 minutes on the bench for prices to return
Uber app will show the driver locations, but many times won’t commit them to you. So you might be left waiting even though there are 4 near the airport. Lyft app will tell you that the driver has been contacted but finalizing ride and then will wait. I’ve never had the same driver twice in Kauai. And many times I get very new drivers that don’t know where to go to pick up from the airport.
Speedishuttle is hit and miss too. Sometimes they don’t show at the home. Then report that I wasn’t there. I learned that they can show up to 15 minutes earlier than the time arranged and stay 5 minutes and then leave. And that 15 minutes was 30 one time as I went to the street early and the driver was pulling away. Even when waiting early, sometimes they don’t show and say I wasn’t there. Sometimes speedishuttle double books and then calls a cab or a driver for you.
If at a hotel, probably won’t be an issue.
What to do? always a worry. But I always get a ride somehow even if I have to walk to Kauai beer to wait for a lyft.
This article was helpful. I’m planning a visit to Hawaii in September and this information will help me with my decisions regarding the various ride share services.
most of the time these people don’t make money by doing the pickup. they make money by making tips. the less of you tipping, the less likely they are willing to pick people up in your area. so remember to be nice and try tipping your driver. you would be amazed on how that would affect the outcome of your experience.
You should consider using Holoholo, it’s a locally-owned competitor to Uber & Lyft. I think it was developed by the owner of SpeediShuttle. They don’t charge surge pricing! rideholoholo.com
Thank you for the info.
Roy
I have used Lyft and it worked well for me. There was only one shuttle at HNL ariport and it was $60, so we called Lyft and the driver came within 5 minutes and we paid $25 to the Outrigger in Waikiki.
Aloha editors,
Trying to get a ride from Lihue airport can be frustrating but I just call a taxi. They are waiting on the airport property a few minutes away. I also caution people visiting that if they have a timed arrival necessary, like for a boat tour or activity, do Not rely on Uber or Lyft. Our local taxi drivers have a set rate and this is what they do for a living. This is how they feed their kids. Mahalo
Taxis on Kauai can be tricky. I fly to/from island often and always need a lift to/from lihui airport and Poipu. On cruise ship days, taxis are impossible to get because they are taking the lucrative passenger gigs. When i can’t get shared rides from the airport I’ll try a taxi. Taxis tend to want cash only, so have a bunch of $20s in your pocket and enjoy the response when you request change. Taxi drives say they have set rates, but they will try to run the meter in you. Once a taxi driver took a right on the highway from the airport to Poipu. He circled around lihui and the drove to kikui’ula shopping to get to near the Hyatt. Usually $56 cab ride went $76. Set rates might be posted, or might not be.
Lyft pays better than Uber in the island. Have both apps available. When your plane comes in, expect peak pricing to happen. $38 to Poipu might turn into $280. Hope your baggage comes out early or just wait 20 minutes on the bench for prices to return
Uber app will show the driver locations, but many times won’t commit them to you. So you might be left waiting even though there are 4 near the airport. Lyft app will tell you that the driver has been contacted but finalizing ride and then will wait. I’ve never had the same driver twice in Kauai. And many times I get very new drivers that don’t know where to go to pick up from the airport.
Speedishuttle is hit and miss too. Sometimes they don’t show at the home. Then report that I wasn’t there. I learned that they can show up to 15 minutes earlier than the time arranged and stay 5 minutes and then leave. And that 15 minutes was 30 one time as I went to the street early and the driver was pulling away. Even when waiting early, sometimes they don’t show and say I wasn’t there. Sometimes speedishuttle double books and then calls a cab or a driver for you.
If at a hotel, probably won’t be an issue.
What to do? always a worry. But I always get a ride somehow even if I have to walk to Kauai beer to wait for a lyft.
This article was helpful. I’m planning a visit to Hawaii in September and this information will help me with my decisions regarding the various ride share services.