Lyft broadens its reach to 3 neighbor isles

Lyft, a ride-hailing company that entered the Oahu market in 2014, expanded into Maui, Kauai and Hawaii island on Thursday.

The company said its neighbor island expansion is part of a nationwide push into 25 new cities.

“We’ve heard for months from people on Hawaii island, Maui and Kauai who want Lyft in their area,” Lyft spokeswoman Chelsea Harrison said. “We’ve listened to them and spent time investing in the market and recruiting drivers.”

Lyft’s move follows competitor Uber’s expansion earlier this month into Kauai and the Big Island. Uber, which was the first ride-hailing company on Oahu, already had been on Maui but had delayed moving into other Hawaii isles until the Honolulu Department of Customer Services carved out a regulatory framework.

“We’ve had our eye on the other islands for some time,” Uber spokeswoman Taylor Patterson said. “When we solidified the city ordinance in Honolulu, it opened up our ability to expand. We’re pointing to the Honolulu ordinance for what we hope other islands will look to.”

Harrison said Lyft also intends to “work collaboratively with city and county leaders on Oahu and the neighbor islands to expand access to modern transportation options and flexible economic opportunity.”

Honolulu rules, which were implemented March 16, require taxicab and ride-hailing companies to register with the city, certify their own drivers and maintain records, which may be audited by the city. Vehicles must display brand identification, but requirements differ for ride-hailing vehicles and taxis.

Sheri Kajiwara, city director of customer services, said Honolulu already has processed and approved registration for over 100 Oahu private transportation companies, including Uber, Lyft, and AllWays Charley’s.

“Informational ‘warning’ checks in the field began this week,” Kajiwara said. “Enforcement officers will begin issuing citations next month.”

Full-time Lyft driver Alana Alvarez said she is undeterred by Honolulu’s new rules. The mother of six said she’s just psyched that neighbor island residents can now access the service or work for it.

“It’s the best job that I’ve ever had,” said Alvarez, who is known for decorating her car to match the season. “I absolutely love it. I’m rated five stars out of five stars.”

While Lyft and Uber favor Honolulu’s new rules, some cab companies say they fuel ride-hailing at the expense of taxicabs.

“This was a pro-Uber bill that basically adopted their existing regulations,” said David Jung, owner of EcoCab.

The new rules have “legitimized and emboldened” ride-hailing, making it easier to expand, said Robert Deluze, owner of Roberts Taxi.

“The playing field is so uneven, it’s unbelievable,” Deluze said. “I’ve got drivers who are watching their income drop 40 to 50 percent.”