Kilauea, Hawaii Refrigerated Container Rentals

Numbers for Kilauea that matter when planning a rental: how big it is, how spread out it is, and how far the next larger place sits.

Severe weather in Hawaii can change road conditions quickly, so confirm your site access the day before delivery and keep our number handy.

• Place: city in Kauaʻi County, Hawaii.
• Population: 3,014 (2023 Census Bureau estimate), number 16 of 20 Hawaii places on our list.
• Land area: 5.0 square miles, about 606 people per square mile.
• Nearest larger place we list: Lihue, 17 miles south.
• Other places we list within 50 miles: 2.

Emergency support for Kilauea runs through one number, (888) 385-5513, answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Have these details ready:

In Hawaii, calls like this often follow other and other. Operators facing this risk can plan ahead with a refrigerated container rental for bulk cold storage or a mobile kitchen to keep serving.

For official emergency information in Hawaii, see Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. We are not an emergency agency; for danger to life, call 911.

• The address in Kilauea (and the Kauaʻi County location if it is outside town limits).
• What failed: a walk-in cooler, a freezer, a compressor, or the power itself.
• How much product is at risk, and whether it must stay at 32°F (cooler) or near -5°F (freezer).
• The power available at the site and whether a truck can reach the spot.
• Keep doors closed until the unit arrives so the product holds its temperature as long as possible.

The kinds of operations that rent refrigeration in a community like Kilauea are grocers, school and care-home kitchens, restaurants, lodges and motels, farm and ranch operations, and the groups that run fairs, rodeos, and festivals.

Commonly cited estimates put Hawaii's food imports at 85 to 90 percent, though a state report notes that a definitive figure has not been derived. A state that relies on shipped food depends heavily on cold storage at ports and distribution points.

Tourism contributes about $10 billion a year to Honolulu's economy, and the city and state import most goods. Hotels, restaurants and event caterers need steady refrigeration and warewashing capacity.

Kilauea customers use refrigeration trailers in three common ways: as emergency cover for a failed walk-in, as extra capacity during a peak (a harvest, a festival, a holiday week), and as temporary cold storage during a renovation. See rental prices for what each unit costs, or how to plan your site before delivery.

Demand also rises around events in Hawaii: Merrie Monarch Festival (March or April, the week after Easter); Honolulu Marathon (December). A major festival week can raise demand for food service and cold storage in Hilo.

Renting a refrigerated trailer in Kilauea is simple, but a few items decide whether it runs smoothly on the first day.

A DOH procedures document for mobile food establishments says a permit application and fee must be submitted, along with a separate plan review application, drawn plans and a review fee. Mobile kitchens and similar units face plan review before a permit is issued.

A UH CTAHR guide says food events that serve the public, such as fairs and fundraisers, require a temporary food permit from the Department of Health, applied for at the local Sanitation Branch office before the event. Temporary event kitchens need advance permit applications.

• Customer type: commercial or industrial only (restaurants, grocers, healthcare, schools, hospitality, distributors, government). We do not rent to residential customers.
• Power: 220V, single phase, 40 to 60 amps for the 20 ft trailers, with a NEMA plug. Ask your electrician to confirm the circuit at your Kilauea site before delivery.
• Placement: a firm, level surface with room for the trailer, its door swing, and the delivery truck. Soft ground, steep slopes, and overhead lines are the usual problems.
• Access: send the gate or door width, any low clearances, and the best approach into the property.
• Permission: if you rent the property, get the owner or manager's approval to place a trailer. For food-safety questions, contact Hawaii Department of Health, Food Safety Branch.
• Paperwork: your quote lists the unit, the rental length, delivery, setup, servicing, and minimum terms. An inquiry does not reserve equipment.

Rates are the same nationwide. Rentals start from $1,895 / month for a 12 ft trailer, and the price sheet prints a separate rate for 1-6 days, 8-14 days, 15 days to 1 month, and more than 3 months. See every rate. Delivery to Kilauea, setup, servicing, and minimum terms are confirmed in your quote.