Recent Hawaii Shipping News

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Finding parking in a busy city like Honolulu
What to avoid doing when you are looking for parking
Conclusion
 

Finding parking in a busy city like Honolulu

Finding parking in Honolulu can be pretty difficult just like it can be in any other large city in the country. This comes with large amounts of people and a small amount of available area to park on the street. Fortunately, as long as you stay smart and savvy, you should always be able to find a place within a few blocks of your destination to park in Honolulu. You might be able to find free parking on the street, paid metered parking on the street or you might be able to pay to keep your car in a parking lot for a few hours.

Finding free parking on the street will be the most difficult of the three possibilities mentioned above but it will obviously be the cheapest and likely the most convenient in terms of walking distance. The easiest to find parking will likely be metered parking for which you will likely have a maximum of two hours to park once you pay the meter. If you need longer term parking and cannot find a non-metered spot, you should consider a paid parking lot. You can use this guide to find some great parking lots and their prices in Honolulu.
 

What to avoid doing when you are looking for parking

There are a few things that you will need to avoid if you want to both successfully find parking as well as avoid getting a parking ticket. First, you should search out parking early on the days that you need it. If you are looking for parking during the week, this will mean finding parking before rush hour begins or after it ends. In Honolulu, this means you really should try to find parking before 7AM or after 3PM. Otherwise, you might need to pay to park in a parking lot.

You also should take extra care to make sure that you check all signs when you park as well as the color of the curb. If you do not, you could end up with a hefty ticket. Reading signs will be self-explanatory but checking the curbs is because they are color coded in certain areas near and around Honolulu. So, for example, if you see that the curb is painted blue, then that means that parking next to that curb is for handicapped people only. A yellow curb means that parking is only allowed at certain times. If you see a yellow curb, check for nearby signs.
 

Conclusion

Finding parking in a busy city like Honolulu can be a bit of a chore. But, if you make sure that you look for parking early and/or outside of rush hour times, you could end up with a free spot on the street. If you are unable to find a spot, you can elect to go with a metered spot on the street or pay to park in a parking lot for a longer-term spot. Regardless of where you end up parking, always be sure to check the color of the curb as well as any street signs in order to avoid a costly parking ticket.

The cheapest flights to Hawaii

If you are traveling to Hawaii with your car, you will have no choice but to ship your vehicle and take a flight yourself. With that in mind, you will likely still want to save as much money as you can. One way you could accomplish that is by doing your due diligence and finding an inexpensive flight there.

You can use the following list to compare and save on flights to Hawaii:

• FareCompare – FareCompare is a great airfare comparison site with multiple options for flights to Hawaii from the mainland United States. It was founded about fifteen years ago.
• Kayak – Kayak is one of the most identifiable names in travel comparison pricing. Originally founded in 2004 as its own company, Kayak was acquired by Priceline in 2013. It is one of the best travel metasearch engines on the market and has many offerings for Hawaiian flights.
• Hawaiian Airlines – Hawaiian Airlines is the most recognizable name when it comes to Hawaiian flights. It also has the best reputation with customer as it routinely has the least cancellations and baggage handling mistakes.
• AirtoHawaii – AirtoHawaii is owned and operated by Panda Travel which is one of Hawaii’s oldest travel agencies. AirtoHawaii has long been widely used as a local favorite travel comparison site.
• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is a subsidiary of Ctrip which is the largest travel company in China. It offers comparison pricing on many global flights including to and from Hawaii. It has won several awards and accolades for its capabilities and convenience.

The most convenient flights to Hawaii

Comfort and convenience might reign supreme for you. If this is the case, you might want to consider some different options for your flight to Hawaii.

Fly with the following airlines to ensure the most convenience during your Hawaiian flight:

• American Airlines – American Airlines is the world’s biggest airline. So, it should come as no surprise that they have many comfortable choices available when it comes to flights to Hawaii.
• Hawaiian Airlines – Hawaiian Airlines was founded about ninety years ago and is the tenth biggest commercial airline in the United States. As you might imagine because of their name, they have a massive amount of flight options to and from Hawaii.
• Delta Airlines – Delta Airlines is the second biggest airline in the world. It is nearly a hundred years old and is one of the more trusted names in air travel. It offers many flights to and from Hawaii.

Tips for flying to Hawaii

Any flight (especially longer ones like a flight to Hawaii) can be full of annoyances such as delays. However, you can do your best to be properly prepared thus making the likelihood of any inconveniences much less likely.

Use this list to prepare for your flight to Hawaii:

• Try to plan as far ahead as possible – Planning your flight a month or more ahead of time can help you save a decent amount of money. This will also give you the most amount of time to plan for the other parts of your trip including shipping a car to Hawaii.
• If you are a senior or student you likely qualify for a discount – If you are a student with a valid student ID card or over the age of fifty-five with proof you can earn up to twenty-five percent off your Hawaiian flight.
• Bring ear plugs – The flight to Hawaii can be an extremely long one. It usually takes between six and eighteen hours depending on where you travel from in the continental United States. Either way, you will likely want to sleep at some point. So, be sure that you bring earplugs just in case the flight or someone on the flight is to noisy.
• Dress for Hawaiian weather – If you are coming from a cooler weather area you won’t want to get stuck arriving in Hawaii all bundled up. If it’s freezing out where you are departing from, bring a coat that you can easily take off and carry or slip into your luggage once you arrive in Hawaii.
• Gum can help relieve any flight related pressure in your head – Believe it or not, chewing some gum on your flight could help you relieve any inner-ear pressure you feel due to altitude changes.

Conclusion

A Hawaiian flight can be frustrating as well as bothersome at points but if you plan ahead and prepare properly, your flight could end up being much more enjoyable.

One thing that should not be a bother is your auto transport. If you are on your way to Hawaii and need your car shipped there, we can help you out. Get a free quote today!

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What your check engine light could mean
What to do when your check engine light comes on
Final word
 

What your check engine light could mean

When your check engine light comes on, it could mean a bunch of different things. Most importantly and obviously, its means that something serious is wrong and it needs immediate attention. Although this light coming on can be because of a variety of things, more frequently not, it will mean there is an issue with one of four specific things.

These things are your catalytic converter, one of your car’s sensors, your gas cap, or your spark plugs. If the issue is your gas cap, it will simply mean that it has not been screwed on tight enough after the last time that you filled up your gas tank. If you check and/or fix that and the light remains on, then the issue will be with one of those other three things or possibly elsewhere. If this is the case, you will almost certainly not be able to fix it yourself.
 

What to do when your check engine light comes on

If your check engine light is on and the issue is not something simple such as your gas cap being loose, then you will need to bring your car into a mechanic for service. When you do bring your car in, they will be able to run a diagnostic test that will find the issue. They will then inform you of what is wrong and what it will cost to fix it. If it is something like a sensor not working then it will likely not cost much, maybe one or two hundred dollars. If it is a more serious issue, such as with your catalytic converter, it can cost over a thousand dollars.
 

Final word

A lot of people ignore their check engine light because they think it is always something insignificant. However, that is just an urban myth and that is not true a considerable amount of time. If your check engine light goes on and you have already checked your gas cap to make sure that it has been completely tightened, then it is time to take your vehicle in for service. If you need a vehicle of any kind or size transported to Hawaii, give us a call so we can work out your shipment today!

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Are they legal?
What dangers do these lights pose?
Wrapping up
 

Are they legal?

In Hawaii, neon underglow lights are technically legal with a few specific exceptions. The first is that you cannot have red or blue colored underglow lights of any kind at any time. These colors are used for emergency vehicles such as police cars and other drivers could mistakenly identify you as such if you have those colors as your lights. The penalty for using these colored underglow lights is a one thousand dollar fine and/or up to a year in jail.

You might also get in trouble for green and violet/purple underglow lights because those colors are also used for certain emergency vehicles in Hawaii. Finally, avoid driving on any public roads with these lights on as well as any sort of flashing or animated underglow lights. You can be ticketed for this, not for the lights themselves but for distracting other drivers with the lights.
 

What dangers do these lights pose?

Underglow lights can become a big distraction for other drivers and cause an accident. If that happens you could be held liable in court for damages. You could also face criminal penalties on top of any civil liability if you are found to have been particularly irresponsible with your underglow lights.

Think of it this way. You use underglow lights as a way for people to notice and be in awe of your vehicle. These lights will have that same effect on people when they are driving. Thus, they are a serious distraction. If you truly do not want to get into trouble of any kind because of your underglow lights in Hawaii, you should only use them when you are parked and/or on private property. Driving on a busy road with them on is a very dangerous action and will be met with serious punishment.
 

Wrapping up

Underglow lights for your car are a great and fun way to make your ride stand out and look much cooler. However, you can easily be ticketed, jailed or even cause an accident if you misuse them or use the wrong kind. In Hawaii as a rule of thumb, you should never use red, blue, green or violet colored underbody lights. You should also never use flashing or animated underglow lights as well as never use these types of lights while you are driving. If you are driving, you should never want other drivers focused on your car rather than the road ahead. If you need your car shipped from Hawaii, underglow lights and all, give us a call for a free quote today at (808) 445-6695!

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How getting your car detailed is different from a typical car wash
How detailing can help you ship your car
Final word
 

How getting your car detailed is different from a typical car wash

Getting your car detailed is essentially a very thorough version of getting your car washed but that is too general and there are specific differences to be aware of. First, a car detailing’s purpose is to bring your car back to the aesthetic level quality that it was at when you bought it whereas a car wash’s purpose is just to remove dirt and protect from rust and corrosion.

When you get your car detailed, you will get everything you do with a car wash plus extra services. For example, you will get the interior of your car cleaned when it is detailed but it will be an incredibly meticulous cleaning that will leave every inch of the interior spotless. You can even get cosmetic retouching during an auto detailing which is the actual repair of small scratches on your paint. Obviously, detailing will be more expensive, but it will be worth it. An auto detail will likely run you at least a hundred and fifty dollars in 2021 and beyond.
 

How detailing can help you ship your car

When you ship your car, it will need to be cleaned first so that your car carrier driver can conduct a thorough visual inspection for any pre-existing damage. This is done to protect the car shipping company from any false damage claims where someone might try to get the car shipping company to pay for damage that already existed on their vehicle prior to shipping. If there is damage that they find, they will make note of it on the bill of lading.

These drivers are well trained at finding any pre-existing damage, but it will take them much longer to find it if your car has not been cleaned. So, it will be a benefit to both you and them if you get your car washed or detailed prior to their arrival. It will save you both a considerable amount of time.
 

Final word

Getting your car detailed versus getting it washed definitely makes a difference. It literally can be the difference between “brand new” looking and just “clean”. However, it will cost you at least three or four times more to get your car detailed. Whether you choose to get your car washed or detailed, it will need to be cleaned prior to you shipping it so that your driver can conduct their visual inspection for pre-existing damage.

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Using these lights safely
Using these lights legally
Conclusion
 

Using these lights safely

When you are driving at night in Hawaii, you will occasionally need to use the lights in your passenger cabin. Maybe you are at a drive-thru restaurant, and you need to be able to see what is in your wallet or maybe you dropped something like your glasses, and you need to be able to find them. Regardless of why you are using your car’s cabin lights, you should never do so while your car is in motion.

This can easily lead to distracted driving. Imagine trying to simultaneously find something on the floor of your car and drive at the same time. The results could be disastrous. You can also distract other drivers when your car’s interior lights are on. It can cause them to temporarily lose focus on their driving and cause an accident. Always pull over if you need to use your car’s interior lights.

If you have children in your car, these lights can end up being extra distracting because these lights also often signal that a door has been opened. If you notice that these lights come on as you are driving, in a quick moment of panic, you could turn back to ensure that one of the kids has not opened a door. This is enough to cause an accident. So, it is critically important that the children who are passengers in your car are aware they cannot play with the cabin lights as you drive.
 

Using these lights legally

As we already mentioned, having your interior lights on while you are driving can hurt other drivers’ focus on the road. This is because the light has a potential to cause a glare which can make it difficult for another driver behind you to see the road in front of them. However, it is not illegal in Hawaii to have your interior lights on as you drive in Hawaii or any other state for that matter. However, if you keep them on long enough as you drive, and a police officer is nearby they could pull you over for being a threat to other drivers’ safety. The ticket and fine that you can end up with can vary based on an officer’s discretion.
 

Conclusion

The lights in your car’s cabin should only be used when you are not driving your vehicle. They can be a distraction to you and to other drivers. While it is not illegal to use these lights while driving in Hawaii, a police officer could deem you a danger to other drivers’ safety around if you keep the lights on for too long while driving. Be sure to speak to any child passengers prior to driving and make sure that they understand that these lights should never be played with.

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Different types of gas
Stay safe when you are fueling
Conclusion
 

Different types of gas

There are five types of gas that you could see at the pump at the gas station. They are E15, E85, diesel, premium and regular. The most common types used are regular and diesel. That is because most cars with the exception of luxury and high-end sport cars use regular and trucks use diesel. If you are driving a regular vehicle, we recommend using regular gas. You might be able to use premium but the difference it makes in engine performance will be negligible and will not be worth the higher cost. Do not use diesel fuel unless you are driving a truck with a diesel engine. Most passenger trucks do not have diesel engines so consult your owner’s manual if you are unsure.

E15 and E85 are both ethanol-based fuels for use in certain vehicles. The difference is that E85 is mostly ethanol-based but also fifteen percent true gasoline while E15 is fifteen percent ethanol-based fuel and eighty five percent regular gasoline. What this means in terms of your ability to use these fuels for your particular vehicle is that for E85 fuel you will need a “flex-fuel” safe car. You can consult your manufacturer’s manual or check online to see if it is safe to use flex fuel (E85) in your car. For E15, almost all cars made after 2002 will be able to use this type of fuel.
 

Stay safe when you are fueling

The fuel for your vehicle as well as it’s fumes are extremely flammable and dangerous. That is why you need to be very careful when you are pumping gasoline into your vehicle. This starts with the obvious steps of always turning your car off and never smoking while you are fueling up. You also must be careful not to get fuel on your hands or clothes while you are fueling because that fuel can ignite later on if exposed to flame. Finally, and possibly most importantly, watch out for the risk of fuel igniting from static electricity. You can avoid a static electricity fire at the pump by touching a metal part of your car after you get out but before you start pumping gas. This should be enough to get rid of any static electricity.
 

Conclusion

The vast majority of cars on the road will take regular gasoline. A few, higher-end cars will perform a bit better with premium. Trucks with diesel engines will obviously take diesel fuel. Some cars will be able to make use of ethanol-based fuels which help increase fuel efficiency and are better for the environment. Regardless of the type of fuel that you are pumping into your vehicle, you always need to practice the utmost safety. This includes, shutting your car off, no smoking and grounding yourself from static electricity by touching the metal of your car as soon as you get out to start fueling.

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Where to pull over
What to do once you pull over
Conclusion
 

Where to pull over

If you are driving and you realize that the police are behind you with their lights on, it could be one of two things. They might just need to pass you to get to an emergency call or you are being pulled over for a traffic violation. Either way, you should pull over. If you take too long to pull over and the police officer is in fact pulling you over, you run the risk of adding the criminal charge of evading a police officer.

You should start by changing lanes towards the right. If, after you change one lane, the officer does the same and remains behind you, you can then be certain that you are being pulled over. If you are already in the right most lane, try pulling onto the shoulder or side of the road. If the officer follows, you are being pulled over. If you are being pulled over and there is a side street with considerably less traffic or a close parking lot, try to pull over there. This will make it safer for the officer to approach your window on foot. They will likely appreciate you looking out for their safety and doing so might help buy you some good will in terms of the traffic violation you committed.
 

What to do once you pull over

When you do come to a complete stop, there are a few things you must do as well as a few things you should do. You must turn off your car, roll down your window, have your license, registration and insurance ready to present the officer as well as obey any directives they give such as stepping out of the vehicle.

Doing what is required is the bare minimum. You should also take your keys out of the ignition and throw them onto the dashboard. You should also keep your hands on the steering wheel at ten and two where the officer can see them. Finally, you should also roll down your passenger side window as the officer may talk to you from there for safety reasons. Doing all of these extra things will make the officer’s job safer and easier which could potentially help you get out of a ticket or get a lower-level ticket instead.
 

Conclusion

When you see a police officer’s lights in your rearview mirror, it is time to either get out of their way or pull over. If you are getting pulled over, be sure that you pull over promptly and somewhere safe from passing traffic so that the officer does not get injured during the stop. When you do pull over successfully, turn your ignition off, remove the keys from the ignition, have your documentation ready and roll down both of your front windows.

Honolulu

There are several locations in Honolulu where your car can be picked up from:

• 1001 Ahua Street, Honolulu HI 96819

  Phone: (866) 363-7485
  Hours of Operation: Appointment required; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9:00am to 3:00pm
  Four free days of holding.

• 933A North Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, HI 96817

  Phone: (866) 363-7485
  Hours of Operation: Appointment required; Monday-Friday, 9:00am to 2:00pm
  Four free days of holding.

Piers 1-2, Fort Armstrong, Forrest Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96814

Phone: (866) 363-7485
Hours of Operation: Appointment required; Monday-Friday, 7:00am to 11:30am and 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Four free days of holding.

1411 Sand Island Pkwy, Honolulu, HI 96819

Phone: 1-800-462-8766
Hours of Operation: Mondays – Friday 8:00am – 11:30am & 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Two free days of holding.

Hilo

There are two locations in Honolulu where your car can be picked up from:

• 456 Kalanianaole Avenue, Hilo HI 96720

  Phone: (866) 363-7485
  Hours of Operation: Appointment required; Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm
  Two free days of holding.

• 55 Kahanu Street, Hilo, HI 96720

  Phone: 1-800-462-8766
  Hours of Operation: Appointment required; 7:30am – 11:30am 1:00pm – 3:00pm
  Two free days of holding.

Kahului

There are two locations in Honolulu where your car can be picked up from:

• Pier 1 – 130 Ala Luina, Kahului HI 96732

  Phone: (866) 363-7485
  Hours of Operation: Appointment required; Monday-Friday, 7:00am to 11:30am and 1:00pm to 3:30pm
  Two free days of holding.

• Pier 1 – 105 Ala Luina Street, Kahului, HI 96732

  Phone: 1-800-462-8766
  Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 7:00am – 11:30am 1:00pm – 3:00pm
  Two free days of holding.

Kawaihae

• Kawaihae Harbor, Kawaihae, HI 96743

  Phone: 1-800-462-8766
  Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 7:00am – 11:30am 1:00pm – 3:00pm
  Two free days of holding.

Nawiliwili

• Pier 2 – Nawiliwili Harbor, Lihue, HI 96766

  Phone: 1-800-462-8766
  Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday (Except Wed) 7:00am – 11:30am 1:00pm – 3:00pm, Wednesday
  7:00am – 11:30am
  Two free days of holding.

Tips for picking your car up at the port

This is the final step in your car shipping process. After picking up your car, you will be all set in Hawaii.

• Inspect the vehicle thoroughly – You need to check your vehicle thoroughly for any damage. If there is any damage, be sure to tell a representative if there is any so they can mark it on the Bill of Lading so you can file a claim. Once they notate this, try to be sure to file an insurance claim within twenty-four hours.
  

• Get your car washed – Your car will likely have some dust or dirt on it from the shipping process. The hull of the ship can be fairly dusty at times.
• Get your car inspected – You should get your car inspected so that you can get any issues fixed that may have occurred during shipping such as your alignment be slightly knocked off.
• Fill up your gas tank – Remember to get your gas tank filled because there was only a quarter of a tank when you handed the car over.

Conclusion

Your car will get to Hawaii without an issue. The only question is where you will pick up your car. You should make sure you get a drop-off location from your auto transport company before your car even gets picked up. We can ship your car to Hawaii and make the process a breeze if you need.

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How to keep your pet safe while you drive
How to drive safely with a pet in the car
Wrapping up
 

How to keep your pet safe while you drive

Driving with a pet in the car can be a challenge. Dogs and cats get hyperactive when they are nervous or when feel they are not being paid attention to. This can end up being dangerous for the both of you. You should first think about keeping your pet safe before you start driving. Then, you can worry about driving safely with much more peace of mind.

First, you should really consider a car seat or car friendly crate for your particular pet. This can help keep them from being thrown around as the car is in motion. You should also try driving around the block with them a few times in order to get them used to the car prior to taking any longer trips. If it is determined that motion sickness is an issue for your pet, talk to your veterinarian and see if there is medication that you could give to your dog or cat before trips in your vehicle. Always drive slowly and carefully with a pet in your car.
 

How to drive safely with a pet in the car

Being able to avoid the distractions caused by your pets when they are in the car is a huge part of keeping you both safe during any trip. They might make a lot of noise which could momentarily break your focus and that is all it takes to cause an accident which could harm you both or worse.

If at all possible, consider driving with a passenger when you are driving with a pet. The passenger can take the reigns of caring for the pet and keeping them calm while you are driving. Also, you should always keep the pet in the back seat with some sort of a divider if necessary. This will completely eliminate the possibility of them jumping on you while you are in the middle of driving. If it is a longer trip, take breaks because the stress of driving with a pet in the car can build quite quickly.
 

Wrapping up

In the course of owning a dog or cat, there will be times when you will have to drive with them in your car. This can be quite dangerous if you do not take the right precautions. After all, you will want to be sure that you and your pet arrive at your destination safe and sound. Always keep your pet in some kind of a car seat or crate, keep them in the back seat and try to have a passenger present to care for them as you drive.