I'll be on the Big Island for almost 3 weeks, in June. I have the flight (in and out of KOA) and accommodations sorted, and am now looking at car rentals. Other than the usual national companies (Budget, Avis, etc.), are there any local businesses that I should consider? I noticed in another thread that someone mentioned Harpers Hawaii, and I'll send them an inquiry. All suggestions appreciated ... I'd like to save a few $$ and have enough to go to a luau!

Try https://www.discounthawaiicarrental....yAAEgKjW_D_BwE . Harpers is mostly known for renting vehicles that can be driven up Mauna Kea.

I use Costco, discounthawaiicarrental, and carrentals.com...the first two are usually the deals for me, but the trick is to keep checking right up until you leave.

Thanks for the quick responses! Both Costco and discounthawaiicarrental save me a couple of hundred dollars. Much appreciated. (I would never have thought about Costco.)

I would not leave the car rental till the last minute, esp. in JUNE. Depending on what race/event/cultural event, etc etc etc is going on, car rentals can be impossible. I've lived in HILO for 25 + yrs., and more than once, I've seen visitors unable to get a rental., and they scramble around, trying to borrow something from some relative or B + B host, etc.

Thanks, hilohelen, I'll jump on that rental reservation, right away.

Make the reservation, but don't prepay. You can keep checking rates until your departure.
you can also check a schedule of big island events at konaweb.com.

We spend about a month on the Big Island every year; my wife is the master of the car rental. She books and cancels several over many months; the prices fluctuate like the stock market.

Take Sylvia3's advice and book the best you can find now, but check frequently. Prices fluctuate but HiloHelen is right: it's a finite supply.