This was the hardest lesson for us when we got to O'ahu. We left our bag with camera equipment, books, an iPod and some other miscellaneous but necessary items in a backpack in one of the rental cars. Unfortunately, I had to have a big mouth and tell the guy that there was over $1000 worth of equipment in that bag during a heated argument asking him to please just go out and look to see if the bag was still there in the other rental car. To make a long (VERY LONG) story short, he told me that they'd found a backpack but it only had books in it and a memory card. Then the bag mysteriously disappeared when we called back again about it. He also kept telling me that if I had the license plate number of the car we'd left the bag in, that they could trace it to whomever rented the car to see if it was there. We got him the number, he confirmed that it was one of their cars, and I never heard from him again. By the way, this was at Alamo, and not only do I think this kid ripped me off, I also wrote a note to Alamo customer service about how horribly he treated me on the phone. I haven't gotten their "response within 24 hours" yet and that was last Wednesday.
So here are my lessons when it comes to Honolulu's Airports and Car rentals and frankly anywhere else in Honolulu.
Keep in mind that Honolulu is not a rich area. These are working class people that really don't care for tourists, especially mainlanders. So there are a few that just will not go out of their way to help you. When you get to this part of Hawaii, you are on your own, so you need to be smart.
A. Never Never NEVER leave your baggage unattended ANYWHERE EVER!
B. If you DO leave a bag unattended and it gets lost, you are under no circumstances obligated to reveal the contents of the bag and it is illegal for the employees to look inside of it regardless of what you tell them.
C. If you DO "lose" a bag, make sure you create a police report quickly so that you can at least attempt to document and then file it on your home owners insurance.
D. Most important rule: remember that Honolulu is a Big City. Think New York, Chicago. Don't trust that people will be honest and care if you lose $1500 worth of electronics. They will take it just as easily as if you handed it to them. That's not to say that everyone in Hawaii is like this, surely they aren't. We met a lot of very nice and generous people there. But there are some who really literally just see you as a big fat American dollar sign.
Don't be stupid. There is a reason that every sign in every parking lot and every hotel says "do not leave valuables unattended" Be aware, be serious and no matter how tired you are, if you need to chain your items to your waist, do it. Or Just bring something that you're not that fond of. Leave the $1200 digital camera at home and pick up a digital disposable camera. They are made pretty well these days and if someone steals it, you may be out twenty bucks and some good photos. Leave your valuables at home - this includes your video camera. You won't need it.
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