Top 10 Reasons to rent a MINI instead of a Jeep in Honolulu

#9 - FREE BRAGGING RIGHTS INCLUDED WITH EACH RENTAL

I hear people all the time talking about their last vacation. They talk about the city they visited and how amazing it was, where they ate and how delicious it was, the activities they did and how crazy they were, and even sometimes who they met and how incredible they were.

But rarely do returning vacationers brag about their rental car.

Why? Because usually there's nothing to brag about. Nothing that makes you want to say "OMG, I've got to tell you about this car we rented..." even though half the vacation was spend driving around in it.

At Little Hawaii Car Rental Co., each of our MINI Cooper rentals inherently includes post-vacation bragging rights. You will find it difficult to NOT tell everyone about your amazing cruise through paradise in a MINI. You may even have to exercise a little more self control than you're used to so you don't annoy your listeners.

Top 10 Reasons to rent a MINI instead of a Jeep in Honolulu

#10 - OTHER MINI OWNERS WILL SMILE & WAVE TO YOU.

I drive MINI Coopers all over the Oahu, and everywhere I go I get a friendly wave & a smile from other MINI motorists along the way. Whether I'm driving our hardtop Cooper S to the beach or delivering our convertible chili red Cooper to a rental customer; whether I'm on the freeway, at an intersection, or in a parking lot; or whether I'm parked or driving. Its kind of like the common motorcycle wave, but with cars instead of bikes. Is there any other car in the world whose owners do this?

Now, I'm not to say that Jeep drivers don't wave to each other, but I never see them waving. My brother owns a Jeep, but he doesn't wave at other Jeeps when he's driving.

Feel more loved on Oahu: rent a MINI.

Honolulu: Hotel Renew - an Aqua Elite hotel - Traveler Reviews - Loved Hotel Renew - TripAdvisor

Honolulu: Hotel Renew - an Aqua Elite hotel - Traveler Reviews - Loved Hotel Renew - TripAdvisor

Missy20 and her sister hired our red convertible MINI during their Waikiki vacation and had a blast. They stayed at the newly-renovated Hotel Renew, which is currently offering a great package deal when you rent a MINI. They left a great review of their experience on TripAdvisor.

Check out our MINI rental reviews on Yahoo Local

Thinking of renting an exciting exotic convertible during your next trip to Honolulu? Can't decide on a car yet? We could tell you until we're blue in the face that you'll have the most fun renting a MINI Cooper. But don't take our word for it. Check out our excellent customer reviews on our listing Yahoo Local listing.

Our customers know even better than we do how a "Mini Cooper convertible and the roads of Oahu are a match made in paradise." We'd like to thank our loyal customers for the positive feedback & fantastic photos with a great big MAHALO!

An unexpected tragedy leads to long-awaited upgrade

Many of you have heard of the unfortunate and extremely frequent vehicle break-ins on Oahu, especially in Waikiki and at popular tourist attractions. That's why each time we deliver one of our detailed MINI Coopers to a new rental customer, we caution them to keep valuables either back at the hotel or in the secure trunk of the MINI, out of sight of potential thieves.

Well, on a gloomy day last January we didn't follow these suggestions, which resulted in a broken window and a stolen computer bag (luckily sans computer). So after quite a bit of online research, we decided to go with The North Face Striker sling backpack as our new official company bag.

The striker has everything we need in a bag, and then some: an uber-comfortable shoulder strap with Velcro & clasp closures, elastic cellphone pocket, mesh zippered hip pocket, padded & insulated laptop/lunch compartment, water bladder hook & hose outlet, headphone flap, waterproof nylon fabric, waterproof zippers, side compressions, stitched foam back panel, tons of inside pockets (including one for our tire pressure gauges), and even a built-in safety whistle for the next time I see someone trying to break into a car. And for only 70 bucks, it's a great deal.

(Mini) Wedding of a Lifetime

Last year we were invited by Hawaii Bride & Groom Magazine to take part in a all-expense paid dream wedding giveaway. Two lucky local lovebirds would be chosen by viewers to be flown to Oahu to be pampered, fitted, dined and wed like celebrities. And since celebrities don't usually do what everybody else does, the winners couldn't ride in limos like everybody else does.

Instead they were chauffeured in Mini Coopers!

Since most of our MINIs were rented for the weekend, the MINI of Hawaii dealership pitched in a few brand new convertible MINIs for the occasion. We all had a blast driving from the luxury Hawaii Prince Hotel to the elegant Ocean Crystal Chapel of the Hilton Hawaiian Village, through Waikiki while honking and waving to cheering onlookers, to the Homestead reception in Aina Haina.

To see pics of this incredible event, pick up the latest copy of Hawaii Bride & Groom Magazine, available in stores all around the islands as well as online at www.HawaiiBride.com.

Cruise in on a Boat, Cruise around in a Mini

Few things can ruin a perfect vacation faster than having a disappointing last day. This is especially true for cruise ship passengers who might choose to settle for mediocrity after their ship docks and before their plane taxis.

Diana & Robert understand the importance of an unforgettable last day, so when they found us online while out at sea, they quickly reserved our chili red convertible MINI for their last two days in Hawaii. Having enjoyed a wonderful week-long cruise, they skirted around our tropical paradise reflecting on their memorable activities of the prior week while blissfully soaking in the last few rays of our setting Hawaiian sun.

Now, I ask all our customers to send us pictures of themselves & their rented MINIs, but it seems as though returning to "real life" causes this request to be forgotten. So until I get a pic from Ronald Miller & his wife, I'll liven this post with a pic of a pre-Dr.McDreamy Ronald Miller from the movie Can't Buy Me Love.

Find a Mini Rental anywhere in the world!

The Mini Cooper Rental Portal is the official source for finding Mini Cooper rentals anywhere in the world. Have you ever wanted to rent a Mini on a vacation, but weren't in the mood to call every rental car company in the area to find out who had one? Well, they guys over at MCRP have done all the work for you. Just type in a city anywhere in the world, and if there are Mini rentals there, it will be listed. You can also scroll their list of cities on the left side of the site.

Each Mini rental company's blog post on MCRP lists their contact info, pricing, and available Minis. There are even some posts that have customer reviews and special pricing for MCRP visitors. And don't expect to just read some boring post with a few mundane company specs; MCRP has a few witty, even funny, posts. I actually sat there and searched quite a few cities and just to read what they wrote. It also got me thinking about how I really need to take a vacation back to the mainland.

Obviously, we're listed at the Mini Cooper rental company for Oahu, Hawaii, and appreciate the traffic MCRP has sent us the past few months. We believe they're doing the Mini-lovin' community a huge favor by rescuing vacationers from the doldrums of boring vacation car rentals! Thanks guys.

Free $50 bill offer for BridesClub.com subscribers

For a limited time, valued BridesClub.com subscribers, and their friends & family, will receive a FREE $50 BILL when they either rent a MINI Cooper on Oahu for at least 3 days, or when they purchase MINI rental gift certificates for a 3-day rental. We'll hand you a crisp new $50 bill when we deliver the MINI, or we will send one in the mail if you choose to purchase a gift certificate.

To take advantage of this offer, please call our reservation line at (808) 347-2886 and let us know you're a BridesClub.com subscriber.

Renting MINIs to Rockstars on Oahu

I dropped off our chili red convertible Cooper S to a customer named Jessee last month who wanted to take a a few days & cruise the North Shore. It turns out Jessee is the keyboard player for the band Motion City Soundtrack.They stopped in Oahu to play a show before continuing on to Australia & Japan. He had so much fun driving around the island that a few hours after we picked it up from him, their drummer, Tony, called to rent it for a day. And, of course, he had a blast as well.

MCS has a new single called "This Is For Real" and I'd recommend checking out my favorite track called "Antonia" off their Even If It Kills Me album.

Four Days of Hawaiian Bliss in a MINI

Jerry & Anna had a blast cruising around Oahu in our chili red Cooper Convertible back in January. They had a wonderful time during their stay in Ko'olina (mostly, I think, because of their choice in rental car!). Here's what they said about their tropical experience:

"My wife and I planned the perfect vacation to Oahu. Even though we stayed at a beautiful resort (Marriott Ko Olina), we wanted to see the island from top to bottom. My wife loves Mini's so I thought it would be a great opportunity to try one out. Additionally, we wanted something fun to drive and easy to park.

The sound system in the car was great. It was super clean and completely detailed out. Picking up and dropping off the car was quick and easy. Just like renting from a major chain.

Recommendations:

- If you rent a convertible and your wife has long hair; bring a scarf or a hat.

- We brought along an FM transmitter so we could listen to our favorite tunes from our iPod."

Jerry

Lindon, Utah

Crazy MINI Cooper Ads from around the world

Full Collection of Crazy Mini Ads � Marketallica

I sure enjoy seeing the creative MINI Cooper ads around town here in Honolulu, but they're nothing compared to some of the ads I found on Marketallica's blog in the link above. Check them out for a few good laughs, as well as possibly for some good marketing ideas!

My favorite is the "COPS HIDE HERE" sign. Any of you who have rented a MINI from us here at Little Hawaii Car Rental Co. and have motored around Oahu know we could use a few of those signs. They sure would reduce the cost of vacationing for a few of our old customers!

Electric Mini: 0-60 in 4 Seconds: It Has Motors In Its Wheels : TreeHugger

Electric Mini: 0-60 in 4 Seconds: It Has Motors In Its Wheels : TreeHugger

I didn't believe this article from treehugger.com at first, either. An electric Mini? 4.5 seconds to get to 60 mph? 150 mph?! Yeah right.

But its true.

The only thing I'd like to see now is one of these electric conversions on a '63 Austin Mini. And then I'd like to see that person call me and let me drive it! Seriously. 808-347-2886.

What can you see with a 1-day Hawaii MINI rental? LOTS!!

Rich & Teena, owners of a new '07 MINI convertible, decided to rent our red hot MINI Cabriolet for a day while staying in Waikiki. Some people may ask what all you can see on Oahu if you rent a car for only one day. Just ask these guys from Colorado. They took it all around the island back in August, and I'm sure they'll want to rent it for a few more days next time!

Here's what they had to say about their Hawaii MINI experience:

"Little Hawaii Car Rental Co. was able to help us affordably enjoy motoring in a MINI around the North Shore and other parts of the island...perfect to see in a convertible. Here are two pictures...one near Chinaman's Hat and the other along the "mysterious" rock piles towards the North Shore. Thanks again for your friendliness and making our vacation complete with a MINI."
-Rich & Teena, Longmont, Colorado

Thanks, guys. Hope you can make plans to come back soon!

Can MINIs float in the ocean?

Our 2006 MINI Cooper S did, thanks to our friends of Superferry Hawaii.

On February 4 I pulled up to the dock in Honolulu and loaded our hyper blue MINI Cooperonto the Superferry, a gigantic double-hulled catamaran that carries people and their vehicles between the Hawaiian islands. After securing the MINI downstairs, I headed up to the plush, leather-trimmed passenger lounge, fully equipped with flat screen TVs, 2 snack bars, gift shop, balcony and, of course, panoramic views. The crew members were very polite and helpful, and the variety of seats (I tried them all out) were more comparable to my family room sofa than an airline seat.

I must admit, it was a pretty bumpy trip, but I just happened to catch a ride during a large winter storm. I was assured that it is usually much smoother. After 3.5 hours of pictures, drinks, and 2 features films, we arrived in Kahului safe and sound.

$20 Nova Scotian discount on all MINI rentals!

As embarrassing as it is, I must admit I was surprised at Keith's excellent English when he called to book a MINI rental last month. He told me that he, his wife and daughter were already in Waikiki visiting from Nova Scotia, and I thought I would be booking a rental for my first Russian customers. I'm glad I didn't say that out loud.

I'm now better educated about our fellow North Americans, and am glad we could offer them a few days of go-carting around Oahu in our chili red Cooper Convertible. At first they could only book it for 2 days because of our filled schedule, but when I came to pick it up, I told them we had a cancellation and they gladly requested a 2-day extension.

We're looking forward to their return to Hawaii in June, and hope their neighbors come take advantage of our new $20 Nova Scotian discount.

MINIs: the perfect cherry for a tropical vacation sundae

A few weeks ago I was driving around town in one of our convertible MINIs with our huge 46-inch magnets on the side which audaciously read "MINI RENTALS." Chris and Jane happened to see me when I passed them in Waikiki (which is the point of the magnets!) and excitedly called a few minutes later to book a MINI rental. They were about to fly back to the frigid Northeast, and must have wanted to end their sunny vacation with a bang.

They had a blast driving all around the island, taking pictures of the scenery, themselves, and the MINI everywhere they went. The gladly sent me a few of their favs when they returned.

Is there a better way to cruise 229 miles of fantastic island roads in 2 days? Nope.

Resolution 2008: Rent a MINI on my next vacation!

The first month of the new year has almost come to a close, which is a reminder to many of their new year's resolutions. Some people might want to eat better, work out more, work less, invest more, eat less, or call home more. Others might want to take a vacation sooner. And to those eager travelers, may I suggest a new resolution: Don't Rent Boring Cars On Vacation In '08.

Oahu is such a beautiful island, filled with scenic views, exotic foliage, and world-famous beaches. It is a shame to tarnish such an attractive vacation with an unattractive, boring rental car.

We, at Little Hawaii Car Rental Co., would like to help you keep this resolution by extending all of our January MINI Cooper rental specials through the end of February. These specials include $99/day 2-day rentals and $89/day 3-day rentals, which all include free delivery to your hotel and unlimited mileage. Our MINIs also arrive in a spectacular, detailed condition. To get these special prices, please call our reservation line at 808-347-2886.

Let's start the new year off on the right foot: the one that presses the gas pedal of a beautiful convertible MINI Cooper to the floor!

I'll trade you one of my MINIs for one of your........anything!

Our Hawaii MINI Cooper rentals are now available on trade to members of bartering networks around the world. We recently joined two bartering networks: PCX here on the island, and BizX on the west coast. Both companies have affiliates all around the world, so no matter what network you may be a part of, our MINIs are all revved up, ready for you to drop the top and drive away into the sunset.

Although we have been trading our services for only a few months, we have enjoyed both the professional services offered by these companies as well as the high caliber of customers they have referred to us. Tiki's Grill & Bar in Waikiki was our first PCX customer, purchasing gift certificates for their end-of-the-year party. Then no more than 24 hours after we received our welcome packet from BizX, Rich & Gloria cruised around sunny Oahu in a convertible MINI for 3 days using their BizX trade account.

One of our trade customers who is driving our Cooper cabrio for 6 days as I write this, came to Hawaii a year ago with a friend who paid for her entire vacation on trade. After her friend explained the bartering system to her, her exact words were "I've got to get on that!" And she did, and has traded her high-end hand-made jewelry for a week in paradise. Why isn't every small business owner part of a network like this? I have no idea.

So what do we spend our bartered currency on? You name it. But I can tell you what we DON'T spend it on: Hawaii vacations, obviously.

MINI vacation packages from Hawaii-Aloha.com

Little Hawaii Car Rental Co. has teamed up with Hawaii-Aloha.com to bring you 3-day vacation packages, which include a 3-night stay at the newly remodeled Hotel Renew in the heart of Waikiki, along with, of course, a 3-day MINI Cooper rental. You really can't beat their package prices, starting from just $503!

For more information, please visit the Hawaii Travel Vacation Packages page of Hawaii-Aloha.com, or call Tara at 1-800-843-8771 ext.36.