Are you heading to Hawaii and aren’t sure which rental car to get? Keep scrolling for my honest take on whether or not it’s worth renting a convertible in Hawaii.
This post about whether or not you need a convertible in Hawaii was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
My mom and I rented a convertible on Maui when I was 16. I begged her for it.
We drove out of the airport lot feeling like movie stars. Top down, Hawaiian music on the radio, that perfect island breeze.
I had this whole vision of cruising the coast with my hair blowing in the wind, looking impossibly cool.
Two days in, my shoulders looked like raw hamburger. Even now, 20+ years later, I can still remember how bad that sunburn hurt.
We ended up driving with the top up for the rest of the week because I literally couldn’t handle any more sun exposure.
But you know what nobody talks about? How exhausting it is to be in direct sun for hours when you’re just trying to drive from your hotel to lunch to the beach.
Or how annoying it gets to pull over every time a rain cloud appears (and on Maui, they appear a lot on certain parts of the island).
I’ve been to Hawaii 40+ times since then. I plan trips for families now. And people ask me about convertibles on almost every single consultation call.
So let me save you some money and some regret.
The Cost Thing Everyone Glosses Over
Hawaii tourism is massive. According to the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, 7.3 million visitors arrived in just the first nine months of 2025. That’s steady demand all year, which means rental car prices stay high.
Convertibles cost way more than you think.
| Car Type | Daily Rate (2026) | 7-Day Total |
|---|---|---|
| Economy Car | $37-55 | $259-385 |
| Mid-Size Sedan | $52-60 | $364-420 |
| Convertible | $87-104 | $609-728 |
| Jeep Wrangler | $90+ | $630+ |
Source: Momondo Car Rental Data 2026
You’re spending an extra $245-308 per week for that convertible versus a regular mid-size car.
The average family Hawaii vacation already runs $13,736 according to 2026 estimates.
That extra $300 could buy you a family snorkeling tour on Viator, professional family photos with Flytographer (use my link to save $20), or a really nice dinner that your kids will actually remember.
What Actually Happens With Kids
I have two boys. When they were little? A convertible would have been a disaster.
My youngest used to scream if the sun hit his face wrong in the car. The oldest would get cranky after about 30 minutes of being hot.
And both of them needed way more shade than any convertible provides, even with the best reef-safe sunscreen I could find.
Hawaii’s UV exposure is no joke. You’re closer to the equator than anywhere else in the U.S. The sun intensity here is different than mainland sun, and it hits you way harder than you expect.
One of my consultation clients rented a convertible despite my advice. She called me three days into her trip asking if I knew of any hacks to add a sun shade for the back seat because her daughter was miserable.
They ended up driving with the top up the entire second half of their vacation.
Car seats are another mess. Not all convertibles have LATCH systems that work with bulky travel car seats.
You need to specifically ask the rental company which convertible models they have and whether your exact car seat will fit.
I learned that one the hard way on Oahu when a client’s booster seat wouldn’t properly secure in the convertible they rented.
The rental company had to swap them to a different car, which ate up two hours of their first vacation day.
The Paranoia About Your Stuff
Every. Single. Stop.
Beach? Pack everything in the trunk. Shave ice? Everything in the trunk. Random scenic lookout? Trunk. Quick bathroom break? Yep, trunk again.
When my boys were toddlers, we traveled with SO much stuff. Stroller, diaper bag, beach toys, extra clothes, snacks, water bottles, first aid kit, sunscreen, sand toys, boogie boards.
There’s no way all that fits in a convertible trunk, which is tiny because that’s where the roof mechanism stores.
And then there’s the security thing. Hawaii does have car break-ins at popular tourist spots. A convertible with a soft top basically announces “I’m a tourist, come see what I’ve got.”
Trailheads are the worst. You’re gone for an hour hiking, and thieves know it.
I had a couple on a Kauai trip who came back from the Kalalau Trail to find someone had slashed their convertible top and taken their camera bag. That was a $1,200 deductible plus the ruined vacation photos.
Not saying it happens constantly. But it happens enough that you need to think about it.
Here’s my full breakdown on do you need a rental car in Hawaii.
When Convertibles Actually Work
I’m not totally anti-convertible. Just anti-convertible for families with young kids for an entire week.
My husband and I rented a Mustang convertible for one afternoon on our last trip. Just us, no kids. We drove the North Shore of Oahu, stopped at a food truck, took some photos. It was perfect.
That’s the key. Adults only, short duration, specific scenic drive.
Or do what my friend Sarah did on Maui. She rented a regular sedan for her whole week but splurged on a convertible just for her Road to Hana day. Got the experience, got the photos, then went back to practical.
If you’re staying mostly in Waikiki and just driving short distances to the beach and restaurants? A convertible might work. You’re not dealing with hours of sun exposure or hauling tons of stuff around.
But for families doing the full Hawaii experience with kids? Skip it.
The Island-to-Island Reality
Maui probably works best for convertibles. The sunny side (Kihei, Wailea) has predictable weather. The coast drives are gorgeous.
Oahu can be great too, especially that North Shore loop. But Honolulu traffic with a convertible top down in midday heat? Hard pass.
Kauai will frustrate you. I’ve been caught in sudden rain showers there dozens of times. You’re constantly pulling over to put the top up, then pulling over again to put it down 10 minutes later.
Big Island depends. The Hilo side gets over 130 inches of rain annually according to National Weather Service data.
Kona stays drier, but the drives between Kona and Hilo or Kona and Volcanoes National Park are long. That’s a lot of hours in direct sun.
Why Jeeps Make More Sense for Families
Jeeps give you the open-air thing when you want it, but you have an actual roof structure. Better security, way more cargo space, easier car seat installation.
My boys thought Jeeps were way cooler anyway. The convertible didn’t impress them at all.
Jeeps run about $90+ per day, so they’re not cheaper. But if you want something “fun” that’s still practical, Jeeps beat convertibles for families.
That said, you don’t need a Jeep. A regular car does everything you need in Hawaii. I rent boring mid-size sedans every time now, and we have zero problems.
Weather Changes Fast Here
December through March is wettest season. You can be driving in perfect sunshine and get hit by a rain shower five minutes later.
I’ve had trips where it rained every single afternoon between 2-4pm like clockwork.
If you’re in a convertible, that means you’re pulling over, putting the top up, drying off your stuff, then driving to wherever you were going.
Then maybe the sun comes back out and you’re debating whether to put the top back down or just leave it up.
It’s annoying when you’re trying to relax on vacation.
Modern convertibles have automatic tops that close in about 20-30 seconds. But you still get wet pulling over and pressing the button.
June through September has the most reliable weather for keeping the top down. But that’s also when the sun is strongest and most brutal.
The Trunk Space Reality Check
Our family of four travels with four suitcases, beach bag, boogie boards, snorkel gear, stroller (when the boys were little), cooler, two backpacks, and emergency supplies.
Zero chance that fits in a convertible trunk.
Even for a honeymoon couple, you’ve got two suitcases, maybe wedding attire if you’re getting married there, beach stuff, nice dinner clothes, snorkel gear. It’s tight.
The Gas Mileage Thing
Convertibles burn more gas with the top down. Wind resistance kills your fuel economy.
Hawaii gas prices are the highest in the nation. AAA data shows Hawaii averaging $4.70-$5.50 per gallon regularly.
Over a week, that worse fuel economy adds up to another $30-50 extra.
What I Actually Recommend
Mid-size sedan. Every time.
It’s cheaper, more space, better gas mileage, easier parking, less stress.
I get my family from airport to hotel to beach to dinner with zero issues. All our stuff fits. The boys have space. Car seats install properly.
With the money we save on the rental, we do things we’ll actually remember. That family photo session on the beach. The helicopter tour. The really nice luau.
Those experiences beat driving around in a convertible that made us hot and uncomfortable.
Book Smart
Use Discount Hawaii Car Rental to compare rates across Alamo, Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, Enterprise, Budget all at once.
Book early. With Hawaii getting 700,000-900,000 visitors monthly according to 2025 DBEDT statistics, car availability gets tight during peak seasons.
Add your partner or spouse as an additional driver when you book online, not at the counter. Usually cheaper that way.
Verify your credit card rental coverage before declining the rental company insurance.
Quick Decision Guide
Rent a convertible if you:
- Don’t have kids with you
- Only want it for 1-2 days
- Plan mostly short trips in one area
- Visit June-September
- Don’t mind paying extra
Skip the convertible if you:
- Have young kids
- Need cargo space
- Travel during rainy season
- Want the practical choice
- Care about budget
What Works Better
Best overall value: Mid-size sedan ($52-60/day)
Most space: SUV or minivan
Fun but practical: Jeep Wrangler ($90+/day)
Cheapest: Economy car ($37-55/day)
All of these beat a convertible for families in practicality, space, security, and cost.
The Bigger Planning Picture
Your rental car matters way less than you think.
What actually makes or breaks your trip: picking the right island, booking activities your kids will love, finding good hotels, planning realistic daily schedules.
If Hawaii planning feels overwhelming (and it can get complicated fast), I do one-on-one travel consultations where we map out your perfect family trip together.
I’ve also got detailed island guides:
- Maui Travel Guide for Families
- Oahu Travel Guide for Families
- Kauai Travel Guide for Families
- Big Island Travel Guide for Families
Or grab my free 5-day email course on planning Hawaii trips.
My podcast Hawaii Travel Made Easy covers rental cars and lots of other planning topics.
Questions People Actually Ask
Do car seats fit in convertibles? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. You have to call the specific rental company and ask which convertible models they stock and whether your exact car seat will install safely. Don’t assume.
What if it rains while I’m driving? Modern convertibles have automatic tops. Takes about 20-30 seconds to close. But you and everything in the car gets wet while you’re pulling over safely and getting the top up.
Are convertibles dangerous? Driving safety is fine. Theft is the bigger concern. Soft tops are easier to cut or break into. Never leave anything valuable visible.
Which companies rent convertibles? Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty, and SIXT all have Ford Mustang or Chevy Camaro convertibles. Compare prices at Discount Hawaii Car Rental.
Should I get a Jeep instead? For families, probably. Better security, more cargo room, easier car seat setup. Same price as convertibles ($90+/day).
Can I take convertibles on dirt roads? No. Most rental agreements prohibit convertibles on unpaved roads. If you want Polihale Beach on Kauai or South Point on Big Island, rent a Jeep or SUV.
When’s the best time for a convertible? June-September has most consistent weather. But that’s also peak sun exposure season, which is rough with kids.
Which island is best for convertibles? Maui’s sunny side and Oahu coastal drives work best. Kauai and Big Island Hilo side get too much rain.
Twenty Years Later
I still think about that Maui sunburn.
And I still think convertibles sound way more fun than they actually are when you’re traveling with family.
Get the practical car. Save the money. Put it toward experiences your family will remember.
If you absolutely need the convertible experience, rent one for a single afternoon drive. Get your photos. Then go back to something that actually works for your trip.
Your shoulders will thank you. So will your kids.
Related Posts:
- How to Plan a Hawaii Trip Step by Step
- Hawaii Car Rental Mistakes Everyone Makes
- Do You Really Need a Jeep in Hawaii?
- Best Sunscreen for Hawaii (Reef Safe)
- Bringing Car Seats and Strollers to Hawaii
- Road to Hana Guide and Tips
