Taxi riders could end up paying a flat rate from Honolulu Airport to Waikiki under a bill before the Honolulu City Council.
Bill 51 was just introduced by Council Chair Ernie Martin.
It's similar to what's done in many cities on the mainland and around the world.
If you catch a taxi from Honolulu Airport to Waikiki, expect to pay about $35-$40.
But...
"Some visitors have said that for certain trips they've been charged $60 one way and on the return trip $40," said Council Chair Ernie Martin.
At the request of the Hawaii Hotel Association, Council Chair Martin has introduced a bill that would allow taxi drivers and taxi companies to charge a flat rate fare for service from the Airport to Waikiki.
"It's to make the experience more pleasurable more consistency in the fare rates," said Martin.
Howard Higa owns Oahu's largest taxi company.
"A flat rate I believe would be a good thing for the tourists coming into Honolulu, but with that said, I also believe it could bring in a whole crop of problems because a flat rate, for example in Waikiki, we have shallow mid and deep Waikiki," said Howard Higa, TheCAB Owner.
Higa says it wouldn't be fair to charge a customer who's getting dropped off at the start of Waikiki the same rate as someone who's staying at a hotel at the end of Waikiki.
Also, what if there's lots of traffic?
"In case of traffic jam or congestion I think the fare would be much higher than $35 maybe up to $50," said taxi driver Abraham Martin.
"To me the flat rate is a penalty. If you have a dishonest driver he don't care about a flat rate," said taxi driver Robert Star.
The bill is scheduled for a first reading next Wednesday.
And there is no monetary figure suggested on the bill yet.
"I'm fairly confident we can come up with a standard fare that's fair for all the taxi cab drivers and for the tourists themselves," said Martin.
Again, the bill is scheduled for a hearing next Wednesday, August 17th at 10am in the City Council chambers.
That's when the public will get a chance to voice their opinion on the bill.
Bill 51 was just introduced by Council Chair Ernie Martin.
It's similar to what's done in many cities on the mainland and around the world.
If you catch a taxi from Honolulu Airport to Waikiki, expect to pay about $35-$40.
But...
"Some visitors have said that for certain trips they've been charged $60 one way and on the return trip $40," said Council Chair Ernie Martin.
At the request of the Hawaii Hotel Association, Council Chair Martin has introduced a bill that would allow taxi drivers and taxi companies to charge a flat rate fare for service from the Airport to Waikiki.
"It's to make the experience more pleasurable more consistency in the fare rates," said Martin.
Howard Higa owns Oahu's largest taxi company.
"A flat rate I believe would be a good thing for the tourists coming into Honolulu, but with that said, I also believe it could bring in a whole crop of problems because a flat rate, for example in Waikiki, we have shallow mid and deep Waikiki," said Howard Higa, TheCAB Owner.
Higa says it wouldn't be fair to charge a customer who's getting dropped off at the start of Waikiki the same rate as someone who's staying at a hotel at the end of Waikiki.
Also, what if there's lots of traffic?
"In case of traffic jam or congestion I think the fare would be much higher than $35 maybe up to $50," said taxi driver Abraham Martin.
"To me the flat rate is a penalty. If you have a dishonest driver he don't care about a flat rate," said taxi driver Robert Star.
The bill is scheduled for a first reading next Wednesday.
And there is no monetary figure suggested on the bill yet.
"I'm fairly confident we can come up with a standard fare that's fair for all the taxi cab drivers and for the tourists themselves," said Martin.
Again, the bill is scheduled for a hearing next Wednesday, August 17th at 10am in the City Council chambers.
That's when the public will get a chance to voice their opinion on the bill.
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