Kuni’s Automotive & Towing

Our business vehicle was involved in an accident, and the police towed it to Kuni’s. The next day (Christmas Eve!) we were pleasantly surprised by the fee (lower than we expected), and the fact that they were open all day on Christmas Eve. The Cash Only Policy created a minor delay, but overall I’d rather my car be towed by Kuni’s than any other company.

Although having your vehicle towed is never going to a pleasant experience, it does not have to be compounded by dealing with rude and uncommunicative employees. My friend’s car was about to be hooked up to the tow truck. I explained to both the cop and the tow truck driver that she was on her way. Incidentally, her car was not in a no parking zone and was in no way blocking anyone, so there was no reason for them to hurry. The tow truck driver completely ignored me, even when I asked where he’d be towing the car to. I had to follow him until he arrived at Kuni’s. When I got there, I asked the man who met us if I could speak to a supervisor. He instantly got hostile. I was not yelling or anything, but that was his first response to a customer. There is clearly a lack of aloha spirit here, and if you are unlucky enough to have to deal with these people, be aware that they are rude and obnoxious.

This «business» is a blight on Mo’ili’ili. Located off of Old Stadium Park, it’s essentially a junk yard in an otherwise pretty neighborhood. The business is filthy, as are the people that work there. They participate in a scam run by the City of Honolulu to overcharge for towing services not requested. The people working there are rude.
Compared to the other horror stories about this business, mine is not as bad. The biggest problem I have is knowing my hard-​earned money going to this scum rather than to improving the awful roads of this city. Does any of these exorbitant traffic go back to the city? I think not.
If you’re in need of a body shop or legitimate towing service, take your money elsewhere. Don’t help this scum stay in business. These people should be ashamed in their line of «work.»

Why do we have to give a star?! This «business» deserves negative stars, a public interest story on the news, and a tax audit.
By far the most ratchet business on Oahu. Unfortunately, 99% of their customers have no choice, as they are contracted by the city.
My vehicle was towed off the ala wai, i ran up as they were about to drive off with my car. Cars can be towed at 8:30 am, i arrived at 8:34 am, and my car was already completely hooked up along with a citation suspiciously issued 2 minutes in the future (8:36)… Despite Hawaii state law the driver refused to release my vehicle and threw my registration and ID onto the street in front of me as he pulled off.
Upon arrival to the junk yard where the «business» (i use this term loosely) resides, I noticed several «employees» that look like drug addicts lounging outside. They seemed offended that i was checking to make sure that my car was alright and started walking around talking shit out of the blue, asking me why i was looking at it, they didnt touch it etc. i found this odd. The women were particularly rude and couldn’t get my daughter and i off the property fast enough. In the most ghetto fashion, one chic tried to physically attack my daughter and we had to call HPD. these people are horrible, i suggest you pick up your car with a witness or record the entire thing on your phone. Almost every one i know who had to go here has a story almost as crazy.
Lastly, they only accept cash. Yet, they cannot count it. the guy made us count it, because clearly, he cannot count to 115

I can’t even begin to explain what happened when I went to go get my mom’s car. One of the ladies that worked there TRIED TO FIGHT ME! The lady’s mom asked us to move b/​c a tow truck was coming in and mom made a joke, «oh, you no like us be here,» and laughed. It was sarcasm. The mom wasn’t offended, but the daughter said, «you no talk to my mom lyddat.» At that point, I replied, «My mom didn’t say anything rude.» Then she came at me! Her mom had to hold her back. I cannot believe HPD contracts out with this tow service. It reflects poorly on HPD to say the least. My mom called the police b/​c she was so upset. We have a police report, which I’m very glad for. I’m honestly concerned she’s going to come to my house since they have all my info. If they do, there’s a police report to back it. My mom is reporting them to the BBB and calling Hawaii News Now.
HPD — you need to contract out a new tow service.

My daughter totalled her car. She ended up in hospital. She had her belongings in the car i.e. bag, wallet, amp. All got stolen. What kind business do shady ass business like this. Karmas a bitch. Call CJ towing if need one. That have great aloha and goes out of their way to take care

A horrible parking shortage in the Makiki (screw it, all of Oahu) area lead me to park in a limited time tow-​away zone in the middle of the night. Sadly I was not able to stay up to wait for other residents to leave for work in the morning. Really want to kick myself in the face!
Retrieving my ride (on the same morning) was much more easier and faster than the other pain-​in-​the-​ass State contracted company I‘ve dealt with. Cheaper than most the other rip-​off places too ($ 115). Some places charged me over double that for just the first day and equivalent distance.

Worst a$$hole customer service ever, if you get towed there I will pray for u, bunch of junkyard savages that don’t know how to treat people

Walking out of the Honolulu Art Museum after the perfect afternoon of visually exploring the Pacific nations only to find your car gone is not an experience one wishes for. When we noticed the car was missing we called Kunis. They were incredibly kind on the phone (surprising for a tow company) and said they had our car. Since they are open 24 hours my hubs and I made an evening of waking the short 1.8 miles down king street to Kunis from the Museum. After a bit if window shopping and a stop for dinner we made it. There was a short line but we were in and out in no time. I really hope we never get towed again but since Kunis covers about 60% of the island, it’s good to know it would probably be by them.

I paid my towing fees (total of $ 545) on Wednesday around 4pm. They DID NOT RELEASE THE CAR UNTIL SATURDAY around 4pm. I had to wait THREE DAYS because there were other cars in the way and in front of mine. They also scratched the car while moving others around it.

One can’t be exactly «woo-​hoo!» about picking up their car from a towing facility, but that aside, these guys have been never less than civil to me. I think it helps if you aren’t a jackass to them; once they can see that, they’re usually pretty friendly.
I, too, live in one of those McCully neighborhoods where parking is dismal and sometimes you might your chances parking where you do. Since I’ve been towed twice in five months, I’m going to start considering it apart of the rent.
Both times at Kuni’s I paid with a credit card, despite the sign overhead that says «cash only.» The guys have never been less than civil, and I drive off in my car within five minutes of arrival.
I’ll be seeing them again next month to make another donation, I can only assume!

Charged me 2 miles. Google maps is showing 1.5 miles, a difference of $ 3.75. I understand that Google maps my not be accurate. However, when I tried to pay, I was $ 3.00 short. The man cashier would not accept $ 3.00 less from me. His possible overcharge discrepancy is actually more than my undercharge would have been. That is just so unethical, mean, and selfish. If he was a nice guy, he would have acknowledged there may be a discrepancy in the mileage and just overlook my $ 3.00 shortage. He still would have got the dollar equivalent of the 1.5 miles, his store fee of $ 25, and his tow fee of $ 75. How mean and money hungry.

Okay, let’s be honest, no one is happy when you get your car towed. But these guys were actually really nice and easy to talk to. My car battery was totally dead And they helped me jump it no problem. I read some really bad reviews before I went to pick up my car, but I was pleasantly surprised with their attitudes.
Also, I left my ID there, they called me to let me know right away, and as soon as I pulled in they ran it out to me and told me to have a great day.

They towed my car because I was parked in a no park zone. That’s a given.
I rode my bike down there to get my truck, left the bike all day, and they kept it there for me. Mahalos for keeping it and not claiming it!

Last night, I returned home from skydiving (at Skydive Hawaii — stay tuned for that review!) around 6 pm to find my car got towed here from the Mo’ili’ili area. I attempted to start off the negative experience with a super positive attitude: I was stoked, since it’s closer than the Sand Island or Kalihi tow yards I’ve been to before!
I showed up prepared to pay with my card, but they take cash only, and I couldn’t use the ATM, so I had to go borrow cash from my roommate.
I called the tow yard at 8 pm to ask the hours and they said 24 hours. Then, the guy says, «Oh, wait, were you going to PICK UP a car? Which one?» When I told him, he says, «Oh, yeah, that’s not gonna happen. You can’t get it tonight; we don’t have the crew members to unbury it. You have to come back tomorrow morning, but before the time you got towed or we increase the charge.»
Why? They had no capabilities to do so at this time of the day. It would take an entire crew to move all the cars out of they way, and they could absolutely not get the car out. All the while chatting with another guy about it in the background. So there were at least two of them there.
I clarified that they were open, but refused to release my car to me, and that even though it was their fault I couldn’t pick it up from the 24 hour lot at 8 pm, if I didn’t make it there by 10 am, I would be charged for storage. Yes, that’s exactly what he said.
When I said that didn’t seem right, I should be able to get my car if I have the money, he says, «What do you think you’re gonna do, go drive your car into a bunch of other cars in the lot??? You can’t DO THAT!»
He started yelling at me as if I had actually said this myself! I asked his name (Richard, he said) and hung up with him. I called the cops and told the operator what happened. He informed me that this is not legal, they cannot refuse to release your vehicle if they are open.
I called the number for the office given to me by police operator 38 (All Island office: 808−682−0770), as the name on the building (Kuni’s) didn’t match the name given to me by the police originally (All Island), so when I called back and they asked the name of the place, I was unsure of the real name. Pretty sketchy, but apparently All Island owns Kuni’s.
Anyway, I called the office and talked to a woman named Jamie and told her I had already contacted the police and knew the tow yard could not refuse to release my car, but that the guys at the lot were refusing. She said she would call them. Within minutes, she called me back to tell me I could go pick up my car now. So it was obvious that the guy had lied and just didn’t want to do his job.
I got there and the guy at the window (same as the phone) cussed at me, told me that I wasn’t «very fucking classy» then proceeded to ask me personal questions, including my address & phone number, which creeped me out that if I didn’t give him this personal info he wouldn’t give me my car. I realize every tow yard asks this, but he also asked me where I had to go to get the money, and who I got it from… And not in a friendly way, but in a very aggressive and intimidating way. I started recording the interaction because I was so freaked out I was shaking. I didn’t know what he would do or say next.
I was quite leery and kept telling him it was none of his business, I just want to pick up my car. He continued to say things that weren’t true just to scare me, like telling me my title wasn’t good enough paperwork for him to release my car, and that he could just keep my car if he wanted to. I finally asked my boyfriend, who drove me there and was waiting near his car, to come stand next to me. The guy made no more insinuating or intimidating remarks.
Finally, he told me I could go to the back of the lot and check in with the security to get my car. I walked around the corner, through a dark lot, no lights at all, full of potholes and muddy, oily puddles, in the rain, all the way to the back of this isolated lot… I called out, «Hello!» many times.
There was no security. There was nothing but the dreary lot and that menacing, lying, reprehensible creature up front.
I found my car, still in the row, but thank goodness I weigh only 105 lbs, I could fit into the row and get in the car. Anyone bigger than me would not have been able to. I got out of there as fast as I could and had to pull over in the nearby Long’s parking lot because I was still shaking so badly. This was such a horrific experience; I never want to go back.

The person at the yard may be personable, but I always give one star to a place that only accepts cash. Gosh, if I knew a criminal I would not tell them to rob a bank, it would be best to rob a car towing yard where there’s lots of cash and no unmarked bills. :-)

If your car gets towed anywhere in the Ala Moana area, this is where it will probably end up. Believe it or not, I was actually the Duke of this place for quite some time! In fact, I came here so often I seriously asked the employee, «Would you happen have a frequent tow card?» He said no =(.
I visited this place so often not because I loved the pain, but rather because I was obligated to. At least once a month my car would get towed here because I live in a neighborhood with many tow zones and not much parking. I had my own parking stall, but since my sister was sharing my place with me with her newborn baby I was not going to make her park on the street.
There seems to be only one guy who works in the office here. He’s the only one who’s helped me. He only accepts cash. At first, he didn’t seem very friendly. During my first couple of visits he spoke to me very dryly. After more visits though, he recognized me as a repeat visitor and was friendly. Even though I felt like the tow charges were pretty high, it did make me feel better that the guy I always saw was personable.
Nowadays, I don’t visit this place anymore because my sister moved out and I’m able to park in my parking stall. I do not miss this place, but I can say they are very efficient! 5 minutes into the tow-​away time and your car disappears!

Called to ask a question about towing, and who ever answered the phone had no «Aloha.» What’s the word I’m looking for… RUDE! RUDE! RUDE!
I agree with «Eli P.» that any business that accepts CASH only is shady. Now-​a-​days, if you don’t accept credit cards and/​or debit cards, that business should be audited ASAP. We, as a society, are no longer in the stone age. Get with the program!
For those who have needed a tow in the past, think about joining AAA Hawaii. It pays for itself within the first year of membership. Here’s the link, check it out. It’s worth it!

If I could give this so called business NO Stars I would. 130 dollars (cash only) for a tow. Very Shady Business. Not friendly whatsoever. If you need a tow, DO NOT CALL THEM!