Waikiki now has its first automated surfboard rental station, good news for surfers who want a board outside normal shop hours.

• The SurfPod lets people unlock a surfboard with their phone and stash their stuff in built-in lockers.
• It sits at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa.
• Startup Surf Up built it in partnership with a local family surf business.
• The main draw is early-morning and late-evening sessions, when rental shops are closed.
• Renting starts by scanning a QR code and signing up in an app.

Outlook: If visitors take to the self-serve setup, expect more pods along Waikiki's beaches.