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.

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.

Maui MINI Cooper rentals now available (finally!)

Due to an overwhelming demand to rent our amazing little MINIs on Maui, we will be making MINI rentals available on Maui beginning January 31st, thanks to the new Hawaii Superferry. Our first Maui MINI rental customer will be renting our shiny hyper-blue Cooper S from Jan 31 - Feb 29. So after March 1, anyone is welcome to book the most sporty, cutest, most curve-hugging vehicle on the island.

This Maui-bound MINI will be complete with detachable luggage rack and cargo net for convenient airport pick-up, surf rack, full-length glass retractable moon roof, matching blue interior accents, mp3 input, and more horsepower than logically necessary. If you're ready to break out of the boring-rental-car mold and cruise Haleakala's volcanic paradise in a supercharged street-legal go-kart, give us a call at 808-347-2886 or email MINI@LittleHawaiiRentals.com.