Maui roads and car rentals
 

We are starting to look for car rentals. Is there any particular company that doesn't restrict driving on the roads north or Kapalua or south of Kihei that everyone talks about? Which roads are those? (Despite 4-5 trips to Maui, we've only been to Hana once, and then only on the actual road, never beyond either Hana or Kapalua). Thanks.

I found this map, which shows the three roads you're not supposed to drive in a rental car. But I know there's been discussion on here (where?) that there are some rental companies that do not explicitly place such restrictions in their contracts. The question is, which ones?

http://www.honolulupublishing.com/Ma...ap_island.html

I've rented from Hertz many times on Maui. They have never restricted my driving and I have driven the complete circles around the south and north ends.

Thanks Bob - that's good to know.

Also, there is no way a rental car company can monitor where you drive. Check with your car insurance company before you go to make sure they cover rental cars.

hey sf - you've got mail

Don't know anything about Maui, but I have been reading that some rental car companies are starting to put monitoring devices in cars so that they can tell where one drives. is that not true?

Have heard if the car has a gps system - the can tell where you drive - and almost all companies do not want you going around the south end of the island - from Hana over to Kiehei. We did it once - yers ago - with 4 of us in a VW bug convetible and made it without any problem (well - once they had to get out while I inched it over some big ruts)

But again, the rental car contract forbade doing that.

Oh well - dems da breaks, eh? :)

FYI - I had checked with a local guy out by the 7 Sacred Pools who said the road was in pretty good shape at that time, but after the big winter rains, it can get pretty rutted up and sometimes even have rock slides.

One correction to the above post. One cannot drive directly from Hana to Kihei. The road past Hana and Kipahulu does not connect to the road that dead ends past Makena, but eventually goes up the side of Haleakala into upcountry, then you have to drop back down to Kahului, and then you can head to whatever your destination might be. Look at a map of Maui to see what I describe. Have a great trip.

I heard Oprah owns that ranch road now and it is still gated and restricted to all but those given permission, mainly her neighbor ranch owners.

Of my many many trips to Maui, we have always driven the roads that the map suggests not to. Not once have we been told by a car rental company that roads are restricted. Not once.

However once an agent tried to demand I purchase additional insurance as my credit card and my own policy would not cover damage to a convertible. When I told her that was bull, and that I actually owned a convertable, she actually tried to demand me to tell her what make and model I owned, as she didn't believe me and needed the additional coverage. I should have reported her, but you know how it is in paradise.

On the Big Island, it was suggested that I would be better off renting a pricier 4x4 instead of the convertible, as the island and a lot of roads would only be accessible in an SUV, the preferred vehicle to explore the island. I happily declined because I knew I had no plans of going down those 4x4 roads with our limited schedule.

That said, if you break down on those roads, you will likely be held accountable for a very expensive road service call.

Only on Lanai, when the specific purpose was going off road, did the rental agent show us pictures of if we were stupid and flipped the vehicle we would be held responsible. Oh how close we came! It was a magical moment not rolling that jeep in a moment.

Thanks all.

Tileaftilly, I opened the map I originally linked to and see what you mean. We're definitely not going to Hana OR Haleakala on this trip (although we may go as far as Makawao), so it's really about the road north of Kapalua and the road south of Makena --- are they worth going "off-road"?

The road north of Kapalua is a very pretty drive and the road is paved the whole way and in good condition. The only part to be warned of is a steep one mile stretch where only one car can go at a time. This section is not for the squeamish. But it is beyond much of the prettiest parts so you can go to that point and then go back. 0r------ go for the thrill ride, and keep going and you will end up in Kahalui. The roads to Makawao are first class. At some point south of Makena the pavement ends.

The road north of Kapalua around the north end of Maui has no rental car restrictions as far as I know - and it's a beautiful drive. It narrows to one lane a few places so you have to look ahead and coordinate with anyone coming the other way as to who goes first, etc.

And yes tilea: From Hana - toward the west end - you do go up the hill/to "upcountry"and down - but everybody talks about going from Hana around the south end of Maui - over to Kihei.

If there are any questions about where you can or cannot drive your rental car - read the agreement/contract. That will tell you. Whether the rental car company enforces it or not is another story - but if you damaged the car in that prohibited area - or even drove it - even before or after damaging the car - you might be in for a hassle when reporting it to insurance carrier.

"...(although we may go as far as Makawao)..."
Makawao is a great little town and makes for a great day trip or half day trip from Kaanapali. If you go up the hill from Paia (or down the hill to Paia for that matter) to Makawao, you might want to stop at Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center. There is a small museum and gallery as well as artists workshops. There is a great view from the old Baldwin house. The land and views are lovely. http://huinoeau.com/about/

sf - we used this rental agency, got a great price:

http://www.hawaiicarrentals.net/rates.html

Thanks!

Have to say, the hawaiicarrentals.net site has by far the highest prices I've seen (same agency, same car, punched in my dates, it's $360 more for the rental time).
Try carrentals.com or hotwire, or even priceline, or discounthawaiicarrental before committing. And don't pay up front (hotwire and priceline), keep checking after you've reserved your car.

Two years ago, we booked with Discount Cars Hawaii and got a good rate. We will be on Maui for 17 days in November and used them again--the rate was lower than any other I could find. We booked an Ecconomy car and it worked well for the two of us. Check them out. Mercy

I got a good deal for our upcoming trip on Hotwire. It can be hit and miss though. Two days before I reserved the lowest rate was 32.95 a day. I reserved at 14.95 a day. Two days later the lowest rate was 10.95. I checked a couple of days later and the lowest rate had gone up to 18.95 a day. I just checked and the lowest rate is now 13.95 a day.

I knocked 50% off from my original reservation, and I'm checking frequently (5 reservations, 4 cancellations).
I won't commit to Hotwire or Priceline until at most a few days before a rental.

We did our last Hawaii car rental on Hotwire. We might do that again, but we also have a certificate for a free Hertz week, so we may use that depending on the "value" of the certificate -- i.e. how much a week will cost us otherwise.