My wife & I will be in Maui for a week in April '06. We will be staying at Outrigger Royal Kahana in Lahaina. Our plan is stop at Walmart/Kmart & pick up some supplies for our stay on the way from the airport.
I have read several threads of rental car break-ins in this forum. So, would it be safe to park in Walmart/Kmart with all our luggage in the car & go shopping? I would appreciate all your opinions. Thanks.

We had a rental car in Oahu and Kauai. Both cars had big signs inside the trunk saying words to the effect -- DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN THE TRUNK.

I'm sure there's a good reason for it.

Budman is correct about the signs. We recently rented a car on oahu for two weks which had the sign in the trunk. On the last day we left five pieces of luggage in the trunk while we toured prior to departure. Nothing happened. I suspect you could chance a stop at the store as long as nothing is in sight..of course, those signs were put in those trunks to protect renters and, of course, for the ones who took the theft insurance, to LESSEN the rental car company's LIABILITY.

OMG, I can't imagine anyone prying open the trunk of a rental car in broad daylight on a Wal-mart parking lot! I guess it could happen, but I'd put the odds of it pretty high. And that's another thing I'm just not gonna worry about...

We just returned from Maui and we stopped at Kmart as soon as we arrived to pick up 'supplies'(car overstuffed with luggage). The Kmart is very busy with lots of people around. I don't think you will have any problems. Road to Hana might be another story, but don't worry about Kmart. You probably won't be in the store very long and your car will have an alarm.

crazy4Hawaii - you don't have to pry open the trunk of a car to get inside. All you have to do is hit the lock with something like a hammer and it pops the lock into the trunk, which then opens right away. I know this because while I lived in Maui, my leased car was broken into a few times by using this method. Those signs are in there for a reason. Pay attention. I certainly would never leave anything of value locked inside the trunk, and especially NOT under the front seat.

I guess I just don't put anything THAT valuable in my luggage. Nothing that I couldn't replace by going back into the Walmart or K-mart. I live in a very dangerous city (high crime per capita) and so am just not going to worry too much about things like this while on vacation. Don't take expensive jewelry and other irreplaceable items with you. Swimsuits, underwear, and toothbrushes are easy to replace. I put my camera in my "fanny pack" with my wallet...

Ok, I'll chime in here. I would say that in a busy parking lot, your rental car is less likely to be broken into than if you were at the beach or at the entrance of some hiking trail, etc. However, sometimes stuff happens.

That being said, whenever we travel interisland for weekend trips (I live in Honolulu) we always take a very early flight. Since we can't check into the hotel or condo that early, we always stop for breakfast somewhere and often go to a Kmart or Walmart to pick up snacks or whatever. We always have our bags in the trunk of the car and have never had a problem.

If you are going to leave your luggage in the trunk of the car, I wouldn't open the trunk before going into the store - thereby showing anyone that there's luggage in there. Anything like jewelry, cameras, camcorders, etc. - I wouldn't leave it in there at all.

You will be fine in a busy Walmart parking lot. The break-ins usually happen at the public parks while you are swimming/snorkeling, remote pull offs (while you are hiking or picnicing), state parks and National Park parking lots. These types of crimes are called car clouts.

Thieves are after cameras, wallets, cell phones and expensive sporting equipment (like $5000 golf club sets).

Its best not to leave valuables in the car, esp., purses, but a stop at Walmart mid day on the way to hotel is probably as safe as any other major city.

Thanks to all of you for your opinions - I feel confident now of making a short stop to get our supplies.

Whenever we stop to shop with dive gear or luggage in our rental car in Maui or on other islands, one of us just stays with the car while the other does the shopping. We figure better safe than sorry.

I usually volunteer because it gives me more time in the sun and I like to people watch. I've done this exact thing in the Kmart parking lot on Maui many times- I'm the one sitting on the hood in a sundress soaking up the rays!