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Hawaii Photo Rental
Category: Shopping Photography Stores & Services Photography Stores & Services [Edit]
3408 Waialae AveHonolulu, HI 96816
(808) 735-3838
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Sat-Sun 9 am - 4 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
58 reviews for Hawaii Photo Rental
Review Highlights
"two qualities you rarely find in a camera shop."
(in 16 reviews)
"I've been trying out various lens and accessories for my..."
(in 13 reviews)
"...virtually anything you need to rent at extremely reasonable..."
(in 3 reviews)
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58 reviews in English
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Review from Grace B.
2/4/2012
I flew in from California and I needed some equipment to finish up my project in Hawaii. They helped me with my paperwork. They even didnt mind giving me three estimated price quotes of with some equipment and without. The person at the front desk helped me with everything.
The equipment I rented were reliable and in top shape.
It is an excellent place to rent. They have everything. -
Review from Markus L.
Honolulu, HI
12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
The first time I walked into Hawaii Photo Rental on Oahu was when they just started their business and they only had a handful of things to rent. Since then I've always felt welcomed only one thing has changed for me...their inventory has grown bigger . I have never experienced anything bad with Hawaii Photo Rental. From reserving items online to phone calls and questions to their facebook page. Everything is handled very well. Their inventory has grown and I am very pleased with the selections I am able to make. The rental rate is reasonable; Josh, Natalie, Austin and staff are very helpful and knowledgeable.
HPR is always updating their inventory so it may be a good idea to subscribe to their facebook to get the most current info. HPR serves a great community of photographers.
Parking is in the interior lot with its entrance on 8th ave, and is limited. Other options for parking are on Waialae avenue on weekdays or the stretch of 8th ave. -
Review from Lysandra C.
Kailua, HI
11/16/2011
Josh and the team rock. They are so accessible by phone, email, or in person. They will answer all kinds of questions and really know what they are talking about. They have what you need and the prices are great.
I've had consistently great experiences with Hawaii Photo Rental! -
Review from Gary P.
1/9/2012
It's hard to compare this place to any other place because this is the first place that I've ever rented a camera from. With that being said they have a pretty cool setup here. If you are new to photography or if you just want to try out something new before you buy it this place is a must. Depending on what you get things can get a little pricey.
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Review from Riana S.
11/4/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Believe the hype. It's all true.
This place has been number one on Yelp for a reason...actually a ton of reasons.
I came here with Thomas O. and I knew I wanted to rent a film camera, I just had no idea which one. Austin, the sales associate, introduced me to my new found love...the Canon EOS-1N. Match made in heaven? I think so!
Since I'm practically a noob to film SLRs, he taught me the basics. He also gave me advice about which lenses to use because I was able to use my lenses with the 1N. PERFECTTTT!
The price I had to pay to rent for 2 weeks was practically a steal. Originally it would've been about $40 but since Hawaii Photo Rental sometimes gives away store credit on their Twitter page (http://twitter.com/haw...), I got $20 credit from that, plus I checked in on Yelp so that was another $5 credit! Renting a 1N for $24? Damn straight.
I've already printed my first roll and it just has been amazing. I'm seriously considering about buying an EOS slr because of Hawaii Photo Rental.
I even extended my rental agreement to 3 weeks THROUGH TWITTER because I'm just that impressed.
Thanks Hawaii Photo Rental for helping out a film noob like me.
Yelp 365 Challenge ???/365Listed in: Yelp 365 Challenge
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Review from Thomas O.
#1 on Yelp Shopping? Hell yeah!
#1 in Customer Service? You bet your first born son!
#1 in Inventory? Duh!
#1 in Expertise? Do I have to ask?!
#1 in Amazing? Abso-freaking-lutely!
A couple of weeks ago, Emi and I were discussing how we could better our Yelp photo booth setup at many events we frequent.
After renting a backdrop and muslin from Hawaii Photo Rental, she was completely smitten with their service and told me they should sponsor a photobooth for us.
Lo and behold, a couple of days latter, Joshua emailed her regarding a sponsorship with Yelp.
Just as Emi always tells me, "Ask. Deserve. Receive." This time, the Universe had an extremely speedy response. Good, 'cause who has time to wait around? Not us!
Well it's a week before Hallowbaloo and we wanted to set up a photo booth, so who do I call? Hawaii Photo Rental. Josh, being the super cool guy he is, was glad to oblige and hooked a Yeep up!
We got a backdrop frame kit, Canon 5DmkII, 24-70 f/2.8 L, 580 flash and a host of other goodies to keep us clickin' away all night long. What a dream this setup was...each of the photos we took, turned out gorgeous! Talk about P I M P! I don't know why we even thought about purchasing a new camera..."Ask. Deserve. Receive."
What was so awesome was hanging out with Josh, Natalie and her boyfriend at Hallowbaloo. I picked up the gear beforehand so they could arrive a little later via cab. All I can say is that collectively, we know how to have fun. Especially Josh, who knows how have fun all his own.
He totally makes the photo booth a real destination and will be mandated to come every time we have one.
Natalie even filmed parts of our flash mob with the camera. So sick. So so so so sick. Her boyfriend even helped us pack up and schlep Yelp schwag and gear to my car. God bless him!
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When I returned the gear, I met Austin and Christine who are extremely cool. I don't think I've ever been to a store that showered me with so many positive vibes before. The attention to detail. Impeccable selection. The everything. I'm so glad the universe put us together.
Riana S. came along so she could play with all the goodies I saw the day before. She ended up renting one of them and I'm glad she got to use her Yelp Check-in offer combined with store credit!
Double dipping? HPR allows it.
But before walking out, I purchased a used lens for my Nikon Film body for 50 bucks. Hells yeah.
#1 quite an accomplishment, but after my experience here, it is very well deserved.Listed in: I'm a Regular!, Yelpy Businesses
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Review from Emi H.
10/6/2011
I do a ton of events for Yelp. Everything from street festivals to high end fetes and every once in awhile we'll put together a Yelp photo booth. I was in search of a photo backdrop (a frame with muslin) and called up Hawaii Photo Rental to help me out. At first I was disappointed because I thought that the backdrop was already rented out, but was pleasantly surprised when I realized that I was mistaken. Hurrah! For just $12 a day I rented a professional backdrop with muslin. It looked great and it was the extra frosting on my Yelp photo booth sundae!
What really makes this shop different from others around town is the service that you get. They are really nice and do their best to help fill your photo equipment needs. I had my baby with me and the sales girl even helped me carry my bags to the car. You'd think that anyone would do this, but you'd be surprised at how this rarely happens. The website is also very thorough and you can do all your ordering online as it will pull up what dates the equipment is available. Looking forward to expanding my photography knowledge and revisiting Hawaii Photo Rental once again!
Yelp 365 Challenge: #52/365 (The Backdrop) -
Review from Shawn S.
Honolulu, HI
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Super friendly, knowledgeable staff. Dropped off my Nikon for cleaning. Got it back same day! I highly recommend this store. P s... Easy free parking just in back of the store. Thanks so much!
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Review from Tina M.
Kaneohe, HI
10/27/2011
I LOVE Hawaii Photo Rental! It's the one stop shop on Oahu for photo gear, lighting, etc. All the FUN stuff I can't afford at the moment, but need to use to keep my photo biz alive. Josh, Austin, & Christine provide excellent customer service and you can have a great time chatting while you are picking up your gear. They are really knowledgeable and all have great personalities (FUN PEOPLE)!
In the beginning of the year I was renting gear for a 2nd shooter at a wedding with me and Austin suggested a new lens in stock I had not thought of. It saved the day at a local wedding with huge 'ohana shots. Mahalo Austin! Christine has reworked my orders on the fly having to add or switch out gear. The team at Hawaii Photo Rental is the best.
All the gear is well cared for and in top shape when you pick it up. I love the way they try to work with my funky pick up and drop off schedule... they are always accommodating within reason. They will be as helpful as they can in every situation, including me almost forgetting to return my gear early in the morning after a really, really late night (Mahalo Josh for always being gracious).
Prices are more than fair and reasonable for what you can walk out the door with and be ready to seize the day photographically speaking!
See you guys soon... -
Review from Jermel-Lynn Q.
Honolulu, HI
9/22/2011
i LOVE this place. not because im a photographer but because this place and the people are excellent. They are very helpful and will respond in a timely manner over email.
I has a mishap with a mic that I borrowed but I called the store and they walked me through it every step.
If you want to rent equipment for your camera with a support staff that will help you when you are in a rut and without cutting a hole in your pocket, this place is the place to go to. -
Review from Sheron C.
9/4/2011
GREAT customer service! It is a dying concept at most businesses, but alive and kicking here!
They smiled, they helped, they made me feel valued. And they are knowledgeable about their stuff to boot.
Who has 5 stars and rock? They do! -
Review from Jonas M.
Pearl City, HI
7/15/2011 11 Check-ins Here
I was first made aware of Hawaii Photo Rental during an introductory photography workshop last year. The instructor, Tracy, a professional portrait photographer, couldn't say enough about how awesome the shop was.
I decided to go and check them out shortly after that, and after signing a form and submitting some information - boom! New lens in the bag. First rental. It would not be my last.
Since then, I've made many trips back to the shop, braving the early morning and sometimes late afternoon traffic to Kaimuki from Pearl City - which speaks volumes, because I HATE traffic. But what they offer there is worth it.
Though I've heard that this is a go-to place for many professional photographers and videographers, as a relative newbie to all things photography, I can say that Hawaii Photo Rental is an awesome place for amateurs as well. Where else would a noob be able to test out the crazy wide-angle bokeh you can get from a 24mm f/1.4, or feel the heft of a 200mm f/2? This is the perfect place to try out lenses that you wouldn't think you'd need but have wanted to test, as well as for trying out lenses that you've read reviews about online, but wanted to see how it is in real life.
Lenses aside, they also offer lighting solutions, computer and laptop rentals, underwater housings - pretty much anything and everything you can think of that would fit the needs of most.
Besides the great inventory, there are three things that I really like about Hawaii Photo Rental:
(1) Their easy-to-use online rental system. It's awesome. It's fast. It lets you see if there are any dates that are blocked out so that you can make plans ahead of time, and you can specify pick-up times (morning, noon, afternoon) and they will have it ready to go when you get in the shop.
(2) Their willingness to evolve. They had recently sent out a poll asking which lenses/gear/equipment were found to be out-of-stock, as they were looking at increasing inventory to fit their customers' needs. Also, they've just extended their hours throughout the week.
(3) Their customer service. It's really top notch. Going in there last year and not really knowing a whole lot about... anything really, but being made welcome to testing things out, and to ask questions - that was great.
Whew. Long review. But as you can tell, I really like this place. If I lived closer, I'd probably drop in more just to say hi and to talk shop with the guys and gals who work there.
Hawaii Photo Rental. Five stars. -
Review from Vedra G.
Washington, DC
9/3/2011
Just here to add another very well deserved 5 star review.
I've rented lenses in every major city I've lived in (Boston, D.C. and San Francisco), and I haven't experienced anywhere as awesome as this place. Online reservations are wonderfully easy, but what really puts this place above the rest is their great customer service. The staff is helpful and friendly. They're not just knowledgeable but enthusiastic about reaching out and helping photographers. Love this place! -
Review from Jeremy D.
5/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Top notch service from this Kaimuki camera shop.
Josh and his staff are very knowledgeable. -
Review from L. Y.
Aiea, HI
11/9/2011
They had the most affordable rental for a projector and screen. Would definitely go back there for audio visual needs.
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Review from Guava G.
Honolulu, HI
11/14/2011
Love how easy it is to get a nice lense here. The folks behind the counter are super nice and helpful. The online reservation option is super quick and easy. I like how I can keep track of my rentals online to help me remember which lenses I like better!
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Review from Lala E.
Waimanalo, HI
10/12/2011
What more amazing things can be said about this place? Great customer service and down to earth employees...two qualities you rarely find in a camera shop. They usually always have the equipment my husband I need, and they you can tell they take care of their stuff. Love, love, love HPR.
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Review from Song C.
Honolulu, HI
5/5/2011
There are stores you like, stores you love and stores you thank all that is holy in the world because they exist. This is one of those places. The only thing I wish about this business is that I found it months ago. From the quality of service and attitude of the people there (I worked with Josh who is absolutely unequivocally aces) to the range of the selection and pricing for the rentals you will not find a better provider. I should know, because I've tried their competitors.
I'm a newbie in the DSLR world and I think that made Josh even more courteous and attentive. It can be really intimidating walking into a store like this that seems built for professionals and hard core enthusiasts. But right from the start I knew I was in the right place. Someone approached me asked me what I needed, they introduced me to Josh who walked me through a process to find out what I needed and how his store could fill that need. He showed me two lens, both of which were beautiful and reasonably priced.
Now that my project is done I wish I had rented both of the lens I looked at instead of the one I chose. It was a great lens/recommendation, but I needed a more powerful zoom. Now, I know. Next time I'll opt for more firepower. -
Review from Maika Y.
Honolulu, HI
8/10/2011
They sell a lot of photography goods, and the staff are very friendly :]
I thought i lost my camera charger so I asked them if they could charge my D5000 camera battery for me, and they charged it fully- for free :] -
Review from John M.
Honolulu, HI
5/11/2011
Just like everyone else said this place is great! Needed some glass for a commercial, I found HPR and they had the goods at a great price.
Plus they are nice folks! -
Review from Tara O.
Honolulu, HI
7/26/2011
I first tried Hawaii Photo Rental on a whim when I drove past it on Waialae. I got lucky and the fish eye was in stock so I rented it. The one day rental was reasonably priced and it was a good way to try out something I had been dying to buy. The employees were also really friendly and made sure I understand how to get the most out of the lens. I really appreciated the extra lesson, being that I am a novice.
I went back to HPR for a second time to rent a projector and screen. I had no idea how to use it but they made sure to train me and show me exactly what I needed to know. They were extremely helpful and friendly and once again, reasonably priced. I will continue to rent random camera tools and I continue to learn more about my canon. -
Review from Shane S.
Honolulu, HI
5/19/2011
This place is awesome!! Super friendly service. The min i walked through the door, i was greeted and felt genuinely welcomed. Started off my day right.
If you need to rent equipment, this is the place to go! They have virtually anything you need to rent at extremely reasonable rates. I had a last minute photo shoot and ordered online late the night before and picked up the very next day.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! -
Review from Addison C.
Honolulu, HI
8/15/2011
It's been a long time since I rented gear from anywhere (last time being way back in the 90's). After finding out about Josh and Hawaii Photo Rental I was a bit leary (horror stories from rental places on the mainland). Oh how glad I was that HI Photo was NOT one of those fly by night, everythings dented and damaged beyond practical use. Always friendly, willing to answer questions and the gear has always checked out. If you're just starting or a pro I don't think you can go wrong w/Hawaii Photo Rental :)
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Review from L B.
Denver, CO
9/20/2011
Always super helpful and has what I need. They also take the time to really explain the equipment. Also ask for a military discount. I believe they will waive the deposit fee.
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Review from iFloyd P.
Pearl City, HI
9/20/2011
I rarely walk into a camera shop and feel welcomed, but Hawaii Photo Rental is the only store on the island that welcomes me like I'm their long lost son. They have an awesome selection of rentals and their website facilitates the rental process. I love the fact that I can buy my film here and the staff is knowledgeable about each film type. Basically, I LOVE everything about them!
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Review from Jeong C.
Aiea, HI
4/3/2011
The 5 star rating says it all. Josh and his team at Hawaii Photo Rental are the shizznit/da bomb/awesomeness/etc? I can always find something there to suit my needs, and if someone already has it rented he always has a good opinion on something else I can use to get the same effect. Always friendly, and always courteous...
Their prices are reasonable, and their equipment is top of the line. And if you need something or need help with a rental, these guys are always willing to work something out with you. Everytime I walk out of there, I'm always happy. Never once a bad experience!
I would recommend Hawaii Camera Rental to all my fellow photographers. -
Review from Steve M.
Honolulu, HI
5/5/2011
The guys are really helpful and nice (not like the snotty guy at Kaimuki Camera) Highly recomended!
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Review from Kai C.
Waianae, HI
7/12/2011
Great service! the web based reservation is awesome and the customer service is great! need photog equipment? check um out!!
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Review from Consuela P.
Honolulu, HI
5/14/2010
I have always wanted an SLR camera but could never decide which one I should invest in. So when I first heard about Hawaii Photo Rental...I called, spoke to Josh and made reservations to rent the Nikon D40. I was in love! I practically took the camera everywhere I went and even had my HUSBAND use it too. A month later, we purchased our very own SLR ^____^
Josh is so friendly and easy to work with, excellent customer service and I've gone back to to try out various lens and accessories for my camera. He has a wide selection of items and the rental prices are reasonable! I won't hesitate using Hawaii Photo Rental on a regular basis. -
Review from Jenny C.
Honolulu, HI
8/4/2010
These guys are awesome! Everyone is super courteous friendly and funny! Josh (the owner) is great! my model had food posioning and so I ended up doing test shoots with assistant and casually mentioned this to Josh when picking up my rental, he offer me 30% discount on my next rental without me asking :)
Austin and Aaron are also very helpful, Austin shoots Nikon and Aaron shoots Canon, so I usually go to Austin for advice on equipment and lighting..etc (since I also shoot Nikon). They both have photography school background so they're very updated on the latest camera gear/ technical terms..etc.
I should also mention that their website makes reservation a breeze online, there's no mis-communication and if you need a refelector, they will throw that in for you with your rental for free. -
Review from Ken C.
Hayward, CA
4/8/2010
This place is da best!
I visited Honolulu a few weeks ago and wanted to photograph surfers. I the longest lens I had was a 70-200 so I came here to rent a 100-400 for a couple days. I heard about this place from a friend who had visited Hawaii previously and did the same thing. The whole transaction went very smooth and it's so easy to book through their website.
Josh is really cool and it was great just chatting about the various gear he has.
As a tourist/visitor the only thing I would change is if they could move or open another store closer to Waikiki. There are so many tourists walking around with their SLRs that I bet Josh would make a killing renting lenses to them.
I'd definitely be back the next time I go back to the island! -
Review from Ian B.
Somerville, MA
7/27/2011
I could not have had a more pleasant experience working with Josh and his employees.
I was in a bad way with some broken camera gear while traveling in Hawaii. They bailed me out by having the gear that I needed at a competitive price (compared to mainland rental shops). Their shipping was less (proximity) and their service was excellent.
Being unfamiliar with shipping between islands, I was having a panic attack on the day of my rental because my package had not left the airport yet. When I talked to FedEx, they said there was a 'service' delay', and my heart dropped. After talking to a representative at the rental shop, they said they would get back to me. For once, someone actually followed through. The shop kept following up to make sure everything was ok and explain away a mistake that wasn't even theirs. The FedEx employ was unfamiliar with Hawaii shipping times/procedures and created undue panic which Hawaii Photo Rentals dealt with admirably.
When the equipment arrived, it was on time, clean and ready to use. I was so pleased with the equipment that I rented that I bothered to write a review. I would encourage anyone wanting to play with new equipment, needing an emergency rental, or interested in shoot specific equipment to check them out.
I rented a Canon 5D mkII and a Gigapan Epic Pro. -
Review from Kristel Y.
Los Angeles, CA
1/11/2010
I can't say enough wonderful things about Josh and Hawaii Photo Rental.
Renting through them has always been hassle free, reasonably priced, and enjoyable. I book my order online (through their website) and then pick it up from their store in Kaimuki. You can also book through their website and have the item shipped to you, if you like.
They have a great selection of items and are always getting the newest photography equipment, so you're guaranteed to find something you want to rent. You could also have my problem, which is that I want to rent everything.
Josh is a really awesome guy, who cares about his customers and it really shows. He's extremely knowledgeable and always happy to help.
Only thing that can get tricky is the parking situation. There is a parking lot connected to the back of the building, but there aren't many stalls. If you time it right, there should be no problem. If not, there's always street parking in the area and available spots to park right in front.
I ONLY rent from Hawaii Photo Rental. -
Review from Christina L.
Honolulu, HI
3/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I went in to the store on Monday and received the best customer service I have ever received! I am so happy with my decision to go in to their store and receive an excellent product. I would recommend this business to all my friends. This store is amazing!
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Review from Lori N.
Kaneohe, HI
10/14/2011
This is the place to go if you are looking for an affordable, great quality rental, and wonderful customer service! I would recommend to all my family and friend!
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Review from Tara W.
Arlington, VA
7/30/2009
Hawaii Photo Rental is AWESOME!! Full on selection of lenses and lighting accessories plus underwater housing units that are perfect for shooting here in hawaii! The guy that started the business is named Josh and he is super helpful! What can I say...they have probably saved me a fortune because instead of buying I can just rent! And even if you want to buy you can test out the goods first! Seriously people we are in a freaking recession! Don't buy, rent from Hawaii Photo Rental!!!
Hands down a god-send!Listed in: Born to Shop
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Review from Rob S.
Mililani, HI
9/6/2010
Hawaii Photo Rental Rocks!
The product that this business offers has no equal in Hawaii. No one else that offers similar services even comes close.
The entire staff is great and Josh is the man.
Definitely an essential service for photographers.
Keep up the good work guys. -
Review from Sandi B.
Kirkland, WA
5/18/2011
I was SO impressed by the level of customer service I received from Josh and Christine today when I booked my 5D MkII and 70-200 Mk II lens. When a store's employees can make you feel completely at home - like you left the phone call as friends it really says something about the business and people running it. I even gave them the wrong dates and they happily fixed everything for me. I just couldn't be happier- hopefully my session will go as seamless as this process has. Thank you both- I'll being reccomending you in the future as well :)
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Review from Jordan M.
San Francisco, CA
9/1/2009
Need to rent a Canon or Nikon lens? Hawaii Photo Rental is the place to go! They have an amazing selection, fair rental prices, friendly/knowledgeable customer service, and a convenient location! Josh KNOWS HIS STUFF and everyone else I've seen there is pleasant and courteous. I've gone there recently for a 135mm f/2 and for a 70-200mm f/2.8 IS both by Canon. They have three times as many lenses as I've seen from competitors, same or better prices, and better perks! Where else can you rent a 50mm f/1.0 ?! I thought so!!! Thanks guys and I'll be back REAL soon for that Macro!
- Jordan
http://www.freshphotoh... -
Review from JJ M.
Honolulu, HI
11/28/2010
Walking down Waialae Ave, I literally bumped into this storefront with a whole bunch of boxes of Canon lenses in the window. Opened the door and met the owner (Josh) and the rest is history...
The inventory is growing and their business has continued to evolve as word of mouth expands across the islands! The website is much improved and super fast. Modeled after http://Lensrentals.com, finding the gear you want is super easy. If its rented out, you can quickly see when it's expected back in the store.
If you are familar with photography, gear can be both expensive and costly! The owner is very responsive to gear that you'd like to rent. I asked for Nikon's 200 f2 and Josh had it within 2 weeks!
For you cinematographers, Hawaii Photo Rental has a bunch of 5D's and other video equipment often used for filming Hawaii 5-0...
Underwater phototogs -- Josh has underwater housings for Nikon and Canon!
Maui now has a storefront as of a few months ago.
Can't say enough about Hawaii Photo Rental. Take care of his equipment and Josh will take care of you!
