Lihue Airport Parking (LIH): Rates, the Terminal Lot and the Cell Phone Lot

LIHUE AIRPORT PARKING: $24 PER 24 HOURS IN THE TERMINAL LOT, FIRST 15 MINUTES FREE

Lihue Airport's one public lot sits in front of the terminal and charges $24 for each 24 hours, with the first 15 minutes free, under rates the Hawaii Department of Transportation made effective February 1, 2024. Pay with cash or a major credit card at the exit. There is no cheaper long-term lot, no valet and no reservation system, and ParkingAccess has no bookable off-airport lot at LIH. If you are picking someone up, use the free cell phone waiting area on Hoolimalima Place for up to 60 minutes rather than the curb, which is under construction through March 2027. Last verified: October 26, 2026, on the airport's parking page, its cell phone waiting area page and two HDOT construction notices linked below.

What the terminal lot charges

The airport posts one rate schedule for the public lot, effective February 1, 2024, per the HDOT Lihue Airport parking page (read October 26, 2026). The fee steps up by time in the lot until it reaches $24, and $24 is the most you pay in any 24-hour period.

• Lost ticket: the airport charges a minimum of $24 for each 24 hours when you cannot present your ticket, so keep it in the car, not in your luggage.
• Payment: cash or a major credit card. Checks are not accepted.
• Who runs it: the parking office is operated by ABM; the airport lists (808) 245-8716 for questions.
• EV charging: one charging station in the main lot serves two vehicles at a time at $7 per 24 hours, charged on top of parking.
• Accessible parking: marked stalls near the terminal crosswalks at the standard rate for drivers with a disability placard or plate.

What a week costs

Seven days in the terminal lot cost $168 at the $24 maximum, and 14 days cost $336. That is our arithmetic from the posted maximum, not an airport figure; the airport does not publish a weekly rate, a discount for long stays or an online booking price. Rental cars returned to the consolidated facility next door do not use this lot.

The free cell phone waiting area

Curbside waiting is not allowed at LIH, and while the crosswalk project runs the airport asks drivers meeting arrivals to wait in the cell phone area until their passenger has luggage in hand. Per the airport's cell phone waiting area page, the area is curbside along Hoolimalima Place next to the rental car facilities, open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., free, first come first served, with a 60-minute maximum wait. Vehicles left unattended are cited and towed, and commercial vehicles are not allowed.

Construction that changes where you stop

• Crosswalk and signal work, May 26, 2026 to about March 2027: the HDOT notice of May 19, 2026 says the airport's three curbside crosswalks are being rebuilt one at a time in six phases, with fewer curb lanes open and only active pick-up and drop-off allowed at the curb.
• Employee-lot work since February 2026: an HDOT notice of February 18, 2026 says employee parking lot improvements run in phases of about four months each, closing the pickup area at Baggage Claim A first and then the one at Baggage Claim B, with passengers sent to whichever pickup area is open. The notice does not say the public lot loses stalls. Check the airport's "What's New" list for the current phase before you drive in.

Not for you: when this lot is the wrong choice

• Trips longer than a few days: at $24 a day there is no long-term discount, so a 10-day trip costs $240. Lihue has no off-airport park-and-fly lot we can sell, so the alternatives are a ride from home or a hotel that holds your car.
• Picking someone up: do not park in the lot for a quick pickup; the free cell phone area is the airport's answer, and a 30-minute wait in the lot already costs $2.
• Oversized vehicles: the airport does not post a separate oversized rate or a height limit for this surface lot; call the ABM office before arriving with a trailer or camper.

Frequently asked questions

How much is parking at Lihue Airport per day? $24 for each 24-hour period in the terminal lot, after a free first 15 minutes, under rates effective February 1, 2024.

Is there long-term parking at Lihue Airport? Only the one public lot in front of the terminal. It allows overnight and multi-day parking at the same $24 daily maximum; there is no separate economy lot.

Can I reserve parking at Lihue Airport? No. The airport lot is first come, first served, and ParkingAccess has no bookable lot at LIH.

Is there a free place to wait for an arriving passenger? Yes, the cell phone waiting area on Hoolimalima Place, open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., free for up to 60 minutes, with the driver staying in the car.

Does Lihue Airport parking take credit cards? Yes, major credit cards and cash. Checks are not accepted, and a lost ticket costs $24 per 24 hours.

Disclosure: ParkingAccess sells reservations at lots near many airports and earns a commission on those bookings. It has no lot to sell at Lihue, so nothing on this page is a ParkingAccess offer.