Just in time for the holiday rush, the state Transportation Department is opening a new parking lot on Wednesday to serve Honolulu International Airport.

State officials said the new airport lot, at the corner of Aolele Street and Lagoon Drive, will provide an additional 360 uncovered parking stalls and five handicap stalls during one of the busiest times of the year.

Parking in the new lot will cost $5 per day, and a shuttle service between the lot and airport terminals will be provided, said Department of Transportation director Barry Fukunaga.

"We are happy to provide other parking alternatives to our traveling public," Fukunaga said.

The lot will be open from 5 a.m. until the arrival of the last flight each night, officials said. Access will be from Aolele Street only.

Officials said passengers planning to use the new parking lot should arrive 45 minutes earlier than usual to provide enough time to catch the shuttle and check in.

The new lot comes as the state is still building a $39.2 million, 1,800-stall airport parking garage. The new structure will be on the site of the former open-air parking lot between the interisland and overseas terminals.

That parking structure is scheduled to be completed in December 2008.