You may be able to avoid circling again and again at Honolulu International Airport the next time you're waiting to pick up passengers.

You can stop at a free cell phone waiting lot, which yesterday opened for about 30 to 40 cars and trucks, on Aolele Street between the Delta Airlines and United Airlines cargo facilities.

Those who park there are expected to remain in their cars and asked to wait no more than an hour.

Kailua resident Nancy Lyttle likes the sound of the new option. She finds herself driving to the airport to pick up friends and family about eight times a year.

"I don't think it's crucial. But I think the airport's thinking in the right direction. I think people would like it," Lyttle said.

When her husband is returning from a trip, he often calls her as soon as he lands, then she leaves Kailua.

If he hasn't called again to say he's ready to leave the airport by the time she gets off the freeway, she's found another nearby pitstop.

"I typically go to L&L (Drive-in) and sit in the lot there," she said. "I get a soda or something."

Seattle, Denver and other Mainland airports have opened lots in recent years that give drivers a place to park free while they wait for passengers to call to say they're ready for pickup.

"It not only makes it more convenient for the motorist but we also want to reduce traffic congestion at the baggage claim area," said state transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa.

He said the state started with the small lot and will monitor it to see how many people use it, then determine if a larger lot is needed.

"As word gets out more people will use it," he said. "And we'll decide where we should go from there."

But the state doesn't want people to confuse the lot with free parking. Unattended vehicles will be ticketed or towed; and commercial vehicles will not be allowed to park there.

Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, tightened airport security means people can't go to the gates to greet friends and family. And the curbside security level has been boosted so that uniformed security workers shoo people away more vigorously than ever.

"We can't allow people to park curbside for very long," Ishikawa said. But he knows that means that folks tend to drive around and around while family and friends get their baggage.

"Hopefully, it will alleviate some of the headaches for people," he said.

His department also recently opened a less expensive parking lot. He said the initial response was good, with about a third of the lot filled.

The new "economy parking lot" at the corner of Aolele Street and Lagoon Drive will charge $5 a day to park in 360 uncovered parking stalls. There are eight handicapped stalls. Free shuttle service will run between the lot and the airport terminals but officials recommend allowing an additional 45 minutes to make that connection.

For that lot, drivers must enter and exit from Aolele.

Construction is still under way for a new 1,800-stall parking garage on the site of the open-air lot between the interisland and overseas terminals. Completion is scheduled for December 2008.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.