Recent Hawaii Shipping News

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The benefit of owning a convertible in Hawaii
How to take care of your convertible in Hawaii
Conclusion
 

The benefit of owning a convertible in Hawaii

Owning a convertible in Hawaii has numerous obvious benefits. A convertible will allow you to experience the gorgeous weather and sun as you cruise around the islands. It will also allow you to get the best view of Hawaii’s beauty without having to pull over. Finally, you will have the benefit of turning heads as you drive as well as being able to use your car as a conversation starter because convertibles are aesthetic and highly sought after.

There are also lesser known benefits such as more head room for you and your passengers. If the weather turns bad quickly, you can just as easily close the roof and enjoy the comfort of shelter while you drive. A convertible will also eliminate any blind spots while you are driving which will significantly make your trips safer. With a convertible’s top down, you will also never need to worry about locking your keys in the car either.
 

How to take care of your convertible in Hawaii

The biggest difference with caring for a convertible is taking care of the actual top. This will require more effort and time than a regular car. The tops on convertibles are designed so that they can be cleaned even though they tend to be made of vinyl. However, automatic car washes can potentially be problematic because of the high pressure of the jets. Instead, you should get your convertible detailed or use a self-service car wash. This way, you can be completely confident that your convertible will be handled with the utmost care while it gets washed.

You also need to make sure that you put the top up when you are going to be away from the car for any extended period. The weather could change suddenly and there is the ever-present possibility of theft.

Finally, you should keep your car as clean as you can. Doing so will keep bugs such as spiders out of the vehicle when the top is down. Specifically, you should make sure that all surfaces have been wiped down on a weekly basis with a cleaning product that carries a citrus based fruit scent such as lemon.
 

Conclusion

Owning a convertible in Hawaii might be the perfect combination. You can cruise from destination while you feel the gorgeous weather simultaneously while you have the clearest view of all the beautiful sights. However, you will need to make sure that you take special care of a convertible. You will not be able to take it through a typical automatic car wash because of the pressure of the jets. You also need to make sure you put the top up when need be and that you keep the car as clean as possible in order to keep any insects out of the vehicle.

Jump to section:
What you need to know about car meets
The car meets of Hawaii
Conclusion
 

What you need to know about car meets

Car meets are a fantastic way to get out and see some great cars. It is also a good way for you to show off your own car. Before you head out to a car meet, there are a few things that you should know first.

First, these meets are equally about community as they are about the cars that are on display. So, when you visit or participate in one of these meets be sure that you are friendly and are opening to interacting with anyone in attendance.

Next, make sure that you stick to whatever rules the particular meet that you at has. For example, consider the rules about photography. Some meets allow pictures to be taken so long as you have permission. Other meets may prohibit all photography. Be sure that you review the rules before you enter the meet and you follow them once you are in the meet.

You should also be sure that you are as comfortable as possible when you visit a car meet. This includes dressing in comfortable clothing and brining water and sunscreen. Odds are you will be at the meet for a few hours, so comfort should be a top priority.

Finally, be sure that you arrive early. If you do not you will have a tough time finding parking and you could also end up losing precious time that you could have used to see some great cars.
 

The car meets of Hawaii

• Cars and Coffee – The Cars and Coffee meet in Hawaii has various types of cars on display from BMW to Jeeps. Anyone is allowed to attend but members get special benefits such as reserved parking.
• Motor Con – Is technically an auto show but it qualifies just fine as a car meet. It is held at the Hawaii Convention Center and has various types of cars. Interactive experiences are offered as well such as test drives.
• EuroSunday – This group has meets each month and features various exotic, rare, and vintage cars.

Conclusion

Car meets in Hawaii are a great way to enjoy the beautiful weather and some great cars simultaneously. They are also a great choice for spending a day with the family. Just be sure that you follow all the rules of the meet, arrive early and stay comfortable while your there. If you have a car on the mainland and would like to display it at a meet in Hawaii, you can always ship it there with Hawaii Car Transport.

Jump to section:
Your choices for getting your car to the big island
What you need to know about driving while you are there
What you should drive to see
 

Your choices for getting your car to the big island

When you travel to the big island of Hawaii and you want to take your car along, you only have one option in terms of getting your car there – shipping it. Thankfully, shipping your car to Hawaii is easy these days.

The general steps to getting your car to the big island of Hawaii are getting a quote, booking and scheduling your shipment, preparing for your shipment, having your car picked up and picking up the car at the port in Hawaii.

Getting a quote is as easy as calling a car shipping company or even logging onto their website. Most reputable companies offer instant quotes on the homepage of their website. After that, if you are ready to book and schedule your shipment, your best option is to call your auto transport company and discuss the options with an actual representative.

Then you should prepare for your shipment as best you can. This entails making sure the car is functioning and running correctly, taking out any personal items and then, a day or two before the car is picked up, getting the car washed so that the auto transport driver can conduct a visual inspection.

After that, your car will get picked up for shipping. Then you can travel to the big island yourself and, after that, you will wait for notification that your car has arrived at the port. When you do, you will then go to the port and pick up your car. On the big island, the ports that cars are shipped to are Hilo and Kona. Your car shipping company will give you an exact address. Be sure you call the port that your car has been delivered to and ask exactly when you can pick your car up because port hours can be limited.
 

What you need to know about driving while you are there

The traffic on the big island of Hawaii is not nearly as bad as traffic in mainland cities such as New York or Los Angeles. It is not even as bad as the traffic that you will typically encounter during rush hour near Honolulu. However, you will typically encounter some slow-downs from 3PM to 6PM in certain areas on the island.

Road conditions are also something to consider when you visit the big island of Hawaii with your car. The roads on the big island are not in the greatest condition which is the case throughout the state of Hawaii. There are considerable amounts of potholes and cracks in the road. Although, Hawaii has made some steady progress in improving the roads in recent years. Be on the lookout for these imperfections in the big island roads because driving over one with your car could cause damage.
 

What you should drive to see

There are many great sights that you can take your car to see on the big island of Hawaii. The most popular are:

• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Hapuna Beach State Park
• Waipio Valley Overlook
• Green Sand Beach
• Rainbow Falls State Park

Jump to section:
The value of keeping your car clean in Hawaii
How the weather in Hawaii will affect your car washing frequency
A few tips for getting your car washed
Final word
 

The value of keeping your car clean in Hawaii

There is always value in taking pride in your car’s appearance. However, if your car gets dirty and you let the dirt sit on the car, it can wear away at the paint which can lead to eventual corrosion and rust. This will lead to a decrease in your car’s overall value.

In Hawaii, there is unfortunately a lot of opportunity to get your car dirty. There are a ton of bugs which could hit your car while you are driving, a bunch of trees which will get sap on your car if you park under them, many birds which can defecate on your car and more. With all of this out there, you will likely need to get your car washed at least once each month in Hawaii.
 

How the weather in Hawaii will affect your car washing frequency

On top of all the other factors that can get your car dirty in Hawaii, the weather can definitely contribute as well. The frequency and amount of rainfall will vary greatly depending on where you are. However, many places in Hawaii have much higher than average frequency of rain.

Some of you might wonder how rain contributes to how dirty your car is. Well, rain can actually be one of the biggest contributing factors to the dirt on your car. Rainwater is dirty because the air that is nearest to the ground has a bunch of dirt particles in it including but not limited to dust and pollen. When the rain falls, it picks these things up and then hits your car leaving these particles stuck to it.

Try to avoid driving when you know that it is going to rain and try to keep your car in a garage. Otherwise, be prepared to get your car washed pretty frequently.
 
 

A few tips for getting your car washed

Use the following info to get the most out of every one of your car wash experiences:

• Brushless is the way to go – Old car washes can tend to use some abrasive and damaging brushes that can scratch and chip your car’s finish. Your best bet is to find a “touchless car wash” so you do not have to worry about that.
• Wax it – Getting your car waxed is a great decision in Hawaii after getting it washed. The wax will protect your car from potential paint damage. It will also help the rain bead which prevents it from spreading over a larger area. More importantly, especially in Hawaii, it will protect your car’s finish from the effects of the sun.
• Get the car washed when it is not too busy – When the car wash is busy, attendants tend to use the same towels for several cars at a time. By the time they get to your car, they will be getting dirt on your freshly washed car. When it isn’t busy, they will have a chance to get a clean towel.
• Inspect the car after the wash – Take some quick pictures of the car’s exterior before the wash. Once the car wash is over, check out the car to see if there are no new scratches or chips. If there are, kindly ask the car wash to cover the repairs while showing them the proof the damage is new.

Final word

Getting your car washed when you are in Hawaii is quite likely going to be part of your monthly or weekly routine unless you are able to keep your car in a garage. Hawaii is full of particles of dirt from the road, rain, pollen, trees bugs and more. So, it can go from clean to dirty quick. If you have your car in Hawaii and you plan on shipping it, you will have to get it cleaned before it gets picked up. So, keep your car as clean as you can in Hawaii.

Jump to section:
Car battery 101
Hawaii’s weather and how it affects your battery
Advice for getting the most out of your battery
Conclusion
 

Car battery 101

Your car’s battery is crucial to your engine’s function. If your battery is not working properly, your car will not run correctly. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind in order to keep your battery working the way it needs to be.

About once a month, you should get under the hood and clean any dirt and oxidation from the battery. You will find that most of the corrosion occurs near the battery nodules. So, in order to properly clean them you will need to remove the battery clamps temporarily. Doing this will ensure that the charge remains strong.

You should also ensure that the battery connection is secured properly. If it is not, the battery could become disconnected as you are driving which would shut the car off suddenly. This can be extremely dangerous because it puts you at high risk of getting into an accident.
 

Hawaii’s weather and how it affects your battery

Both high temperatures and low temperatures can negatively affect a car battery. In the case of Hawaii, it will obviously be high temperatures affecting your car’s battery. Higher temperatures can both cause internal liquids to evaporate as well as corrode vital internal parts of the battery.

Both of these things will cause the battery’s charge to weaken and for the battery to stop working much faster than normal.

You can prevent Hawaii’s high temperatures from affecting your battery this way by doing whatever you can in order to keep the car’s internal engine temperature down. The easiest way you can do this is by keeping your car in a garage when you are not using it. Keeping it in the shade or covered will also suffice.

You should also get your car’s engine checked by a mechanic. This way things such as possible leaks or faulty parts will not contribute to a rising temperature in your engine for very long.
 

Advice for getting the most out of your battery

If you want to make sure that your battery remains performing at its highest level, you can take the following steps:

• Get your engine serviced – You should take your car into the mechanic at least twice a year. If there is something wrong with your battery, they will spot it whereas you might not.
• Keep it clean – Be sure to wipe the battery clean of any corrosion or dirt. If you do not, the battery could be giving off a weaker charge than normal.
• Make sure it is secure – As we mentioned earlier, having lose battery connections is a danger that you do not want to risk. Check your battery’s connections at least once a month.
• Keep it cool – Do whatever you can to keep your battery from getting too hot in Hawaii. This includes keeping the car in a garage or shade as well as not pushing the engine too hard when you are driving.

Conclusion

Your car’s battery must be in good functioning condition in order for your car to run. One of the primary ways that something could cause your battery to stop working would be if it gets too hot which is a distinct possibility in Hawaii. Regardless, you should do whatever it takes for you to ensure that your battery is working at its highest level at all times.

Jump to section:
Your tires
Your driving technique
Car maintenance
Conclusion
 

Your tires

When it comes to car safety, one of the most frequently overlooked areas is tire safety. If your tires are not functioning the right way, the consequences could be disastrous. Thankfully, it is not difficult at all to make sure that your tires are working the way they should be and keeping you safe.

First and foremost, you should keep a close eye on the pressure level in each of your tires. In hot climates, as you have in Hawaii, tire pressure tends to increase as the temperature does. Overinflated tires are very bad thing. If your tires are overinflated, they can blowout much more easily. If your tire blows out, you can easily lose control of your car and get into an accident.

You should check the pressure of each of your tires once each week in order to avoid any issues with over inflation.
 

Your driving technique

The way you drive is obviously also important to your safety when you are driving. If you drive too fast, change lanes too suddenly and/or without signaling, run red lights or stop signs etc. you are jeopardizing your own safety as well as the safety of everyone else who is driving around you.

If you want to take this concept to the next level rather than doing the bare minimum, you can take a defensive driving course. On top of teaching you how to drive in the safest fashion possible, taking the course will also lower the cost of your car insurance.
 

Car maintenance

Keeping your car running and in tip top shape is likely the most important factor when it comes to keeping your car safe. In order to do this, you should take your car in regularly for service appointments. If you hear any strange noises coming from your engine, you should take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible and avoid driving that particular car until you are able to service it.

Beyond your engine, you should be vigilant about more routine maintenance such as having your oil changed every five thousand miles driven. Not getting your oil changed could result in several engine problems. Most often, not getting your oil changed will cause your engine to run too hot. This risk is even higher in a hot climate like Hawaii, so, get your oil changed.

You should also make sure that your headlights, brights, signal lights and brake lights are working properly. If possible, keep spares for each in your car just in case one burns out, and you need to make a quick change. If you end up driving with one of these out, you risk another car not being able to see you which increases the chance for an accident occurring.
 

Conclusion

Keeping your car safe and sound in Hawaii is easy so long as you make the right effort. You need to pay close attention to your tires, engine and any other maintenance that your car needs. Taking a defensive driving course will also help in terms of sharpening your own safe driving habits. Finally, be sure that you obey all local driving laws including but not limited to driving the speed limit when you are driving in Hawaii.

Jump to section:
Hawaii’s weather and your tires
Hawaii’s roads
Tips for tire safety in Hawaii
Conclusion
 

Hawaii’s weather and your tires

Hawaii is considered by many one of the very best places in the world to be because of its gorgeous warm weather. What many people do not know is that the hot weather in Hawaii is not any good for your tires. Hawaii’s average winter temperature is 78 degrees while its average summer temperature is 85 degrees. This also means that temperatures are also frequently higher than this.

What this means for your tires is that they will be overheated and weakened. The pavement that constantly makes contact with your tires as you drive is extremely hot. The pavement can reach temperatures almost twice as hot as the weather. Constant friction with the pavement is a great way to wear the treads and grip off the tires quickly.

The warm weather will also increase the pressure within the tires. This will put you at a higher risk of having a blowout which can be extremely dangerous depending on where you are driving as well as how fast you are driving.
 

Hawaii’s roads

You also need to consider the effect that Hawaii’s roads have on your tires. The condition of Hawaii’s roads has been pretty bad to say the least. As of November of 2019 Hawaii, had the third worst roads of any state in the US according to a study done by ConsumerAffairs.

According to the study, over forty percent of Hawaii’s roads were considered to be in poor condition. Some factors included high levels of traffic congestion and poor road maintenance. However, for our purposes, the most important factor to pay attention to is “tire-damaging roads.” Many roads have potholes that need to be repaired and some need to be repaved completely.
 

Tips for tire safety in Hawaii

• Tire pressure – As we mentioned earlier, Hawaii’s weather can increase your tire pressure to an unsafe level. Having a tire leak can decrease tire pressure to an unsafe level. Make sure you check your tire pressure regularly and fix it if it needs to be increased or decreased.
• Keep it slow in the rain – No matter how much you might have spent on “all-weather” tires, driving too fast in the rain is an unnecessary risk. It rains pretty often and sometimes suddenly in Hawaii, so take it slow when it does.
• Slow down and keep an eye out for potholes – Avoiding hitting a pothole is not always possible. However, if you slow down and keep your eyes peeled, you will be able to avoid much more of them.
• Get the sidewalls checked – The sidewalls of your tires are critical to the structural integrity to the tire itself. Whenever you take your car to the mechanic, get the sidewalls of your tires checked.
• Get your tires rotated or changed – Rotating your tires is more important than most people think. By rotating your tires, you are ensuring that your tires will wear evenly over time which is important to their overall function and performance.

Conclusion

Your tires are quite important in Hawaii. You need to pay attention to them as well as how they perform. Be careful while you are out on the road in Hawaii because many of the roads are in at least a bit of disrepair and there tends to be higher than average traffic in more populated areas like Honolulu.

Do not forget, if you are headed to Hawaii, you only have one option in terms of getting your car there, shipping it. You can always give us a call at (808) 445-6695 for a free quote!

Jump to section:
Terrestrial radio
Satellite radio
Other forms of in-car entertainment in Hawaii
Conclusion
 

Terrestrial radio

As with anywhere else in the country Hawaii has many terrestrial radio stations available. This includes both FM and AM frequencies. These stations broadcast a variety of programming including news, talk, music and more.

The FM stations tend to play music from a variety of genres including dance, top 40, rock, hip-hop, reggae and more. The AM stations tend to focus more on news and talk.

Both AM and FM radio are free so long as you have a functioning radio in your car. Because it is free, it has a high number of programming interruptions for advertising. The sound quality of FM is usually pretty good while the quality of AM radio tends to be low.

Some popular FM stations in Hawaii include: 92.3 KSSK which is variety, 102.7 KDDB which is hits, 101.1 KORL-FM which is oldies, and 93.5 KPOA which is Hawaiian music.
 

Satellite radio

Satellite radio is much different than typical terrestrial radio. Some of the primary differences include the fact that you must pay a monthly subscription fee, you must have a separate device installed in order to listen, the sound quality is considerably higher and there are extremely few to no advertisements.

SiriusXM is, by far, the biggest provider of satellite radio in the country. SiriusXM could even be described as a monopoly because of how much of the market they hold. However, they offer hundreds of channels of programming with an exceptionally high variety. Right now, it costs $10.99 per month for the basic package which is music only. Pricing ranges up to $21.99 per month for access to all music, entertainment and talk channels.

Unfortunately, in Hawaii, Sirius XM is only available for streaming on your mobile device for the time being. However, you can always connect your phone to your car’s speakers using a simple auxiliary hook up.
 

Other forms of in-car entertainment in Hawaii

There are several other forms of in-car entertainment available in Hawaii. They are as follows:

• Streaming services – Just as you can use your phone to stream SiriusXM in your car in Hawaii, you can do the same for several music streaming services such as Pandora or Spotify. These music streaming services are now SiriusXMs top competitors.
• Television – This is obviously only for your passengers only. However, it can be useful if you have children how tend to become a distraction when they are in your car. Whether or not you can have TVs installed in your vehicle depends on the model and year of the car.
• CD players – Some cars still have CD players and some still have the ability to have them installed. You can find out if your car can have one installed by calling a business that does car customizations such as Best Buy. You can also connect certain types of portable CD players to your car’s stereo through an auxiliary device as well. –

Conclusion

In Hawaii, you have a bunch of options in terms of in-car entertainment. These options range from regular, radio, to satellite radio, to streaming services. It is obviously up to you and the type of car that you have. The important thing to remember is that you should always concentrate on the road at all times and never let yourself get distracted by any form of in-car entertainment.

Jump to section:
Getting your car to Oahu
Parking, traffic and gas in Oahu
What you can see with your car in Oahu
Conclusion
 

Getting your car to Oahu

If you are on your way to Oahu and you plan on taking your car with you, your only option will be to ship it there. Shipping your car to Oahu is as simple as getting a quote for your car shipping company, booking your shipment/scheduling your pickup and delivery, and preparing for your pickup.

In terms of shipping a car specifically to Oahu, you can have your car picked up at your door anywhere in the continental United States. After that, it will be shipped on an auto carrier truck to a US port where it will be loaded onto a ship where it will be shipped to the port in Oahu.

It is there that you will pick up the car. You will be notified when your car arrives at the Oahu port. You will then have a few days to pick it up before you start getting charged storage fees.
 

Parking, traffic and gas in Oahu

Once you have your car in Oahu, you will need to know where you can park, how you can avoid getting stuck in traffic and what gas is going to cost you. Parking can be difficult in certain areas of Oahu especially during certain times.

You will have the most difficulty finding parking in an area such as Honolulu because of the high population. Your best bet to find parking in Honolulu is to pay for parking either in a lot or by meter. There is free parking available but those lots are small and fill up quickly.

It is no coincidence that the most traffic also happens to be in and around the Honolulu area as well. In particular, Honolulu’s traffic is worst at rush hour. This is pretty similar to the rest of the country but a bit earlier. Rush hour in Honolulu usually falls around 8 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon. So, if you are driving in Honolulu during the week, we recommend leaving before 7 AM or after 5 PM. Otherwise, at other times and in other places on Honolulu traffic usually will not be too bad.

Finally, you will need to know how much gas will impact your budget in Hawaii. Unfortunately, Hawaii consistently has some of the highest gas prices in the country. More often than not it is the highest in the country. However, it only averages out to a little under three dollars a gallon. So, regardless if it is the highest in the country or not, it will not break the bank for you when you are fueling your car in Oahu.
 

What you can see with your car in Oahu

Oahu is one of the best places on the planet to go sight-seeing. So, once you are there take the chance to see the following:

• Diamond Head
• Hanauma Bay
• Kualoa Ranch
• Manoa Falls

Conclusion

Getting your car to Oahu is easy, all you need to do is ship it there. After that, parking and traffic might not be the best in Honolulu and gas prices will be pretty high by comparison to anywhere else in the US. However, these are extremely small prices to pay for the wonderful life you will have and the sights that you will see in Oahu.

If you choose to bring your car to Oahu, you can do so with ease by calling us today for a free quote at (808) 445-6695.

Jump to section:
The first cars in Hawaii
The evolution of cars in Hawaii
Cars in Hawaii today
Final word
 

The first cars in Hawaii

Hawaii saw its very first cars in 1899. This is only three years after the very first car appeared in the country. The car in Hawaii was called a Locomobile. A Locomobile is a type of early automobile that looks just like a horseless carriage.

The Model T did not reach Hawaii until 1905. This was for two reasons. Ford Motor Co. did not start until 1903 and then it took two years for the cars to reach Hawaii.
 

The evolution of cars in Hawaii

Just as cars in Hawaii followed the trend of the rest of the country with the dawn of cars, it did so with the continual evolution of cars. For years, the types of cars that you would see in Hawaii were a bit behind the rest of the country due to the lack of shipping and manufacturer of different types of cars in Hawaii. However, by the 1950’s larger freight capacity become more readily available for air and sea.

Thus, many more types of cars became available in Hawaii at this point. Since then, Hawaii has kept up with the rest of the country and the world with the evolution of automobiles.
 

Cars in Hawaii today

Cars in Hawaii today are still as numerous and have as much variety as anywhere else in the world. For example, the growing trend of electric vehicles is as popular in Hawaii as it is anywhere else in the country. In fact, as recently as 2017 Hawaii had the second highest rate of electric vehicles per one thousand residents behind only California.

According to recent data, since 1995, the total combined miles driven on the island of Oahu in Hawaii has risen from just over 5 billion miles to just over 7 billion miles. During the same time, there was a thirty one percent increase in the number of registered vehicles in Hawaii as well.

The increase in automobiles in Hawaii over the years has led to noticeable amounts of traffic as well as heavy amounts of road depreciation resulting in high increases in imperfections such as potholes.
 

Final word

The hundred and twenty year history and evolution of cars in Hawaii is full of growth. This has been both good and bad for the state. Hawaii now has the same access to cars and variety of cars as the rest of the world. However, this has also caused considerable increases in the depreciation of the condition of roads as well as overall traffic.

If you already have a car but it is not in Hawaii, your only option will be to ship it there. If that is what you end up choosing to do, Hawaii Car Transport can get your car to any island with ease. You can book your shipment today by visiting our website or by calling (808) 445-6695.