I am planning on visiting Maui, the Big Island, Kauai, and posibly Honolulu. I do not need a car on Honolulu, but I am wondering which type of vehicle I should rent on the other 3 islands. I am thinking about convertables on Maui and Kauai, and a 4WD vehicle on the Big Island. Are these good choices, or do you have other suggestions? Thanks for the suggestions!

convertible all the way

My wife and I rented a 4WD in Maui for a week last year. I think we would have been happier with a convertible. Except for the unpaved road south of Hana, you did not need it; it was not as comfortable as a convertible, and was more expensive.

I have loved having a convertible in Hawaii. The only caveat I'll offer is that they have minimal trunk space. But you don't need to pack much for Hawaii anyhow, so go for it. I don't see the advantage to a 4WD. No matter what kind of car you rent you are explicitly forbidden from driving it offroad by the rental agencies.

Two things to think about:
Security...convertibles have none, as most trunks can be opened from inside the car.
Sunburn-wear a hat and covered sleeves and use lots of sunscreen in a convertible. When the wind is whipping thru your hair, it doesn't feel hot, but you will get a horrid sunburn!
I personally rent a regular car on the islands. Don't look as much like "tourist" and use the money saved to get a massage or great dinner each night!

My sister and I rented a convertible on Maui. Loved the car, but even with 30+ sunscreen and a hat, we still burned on the first day. That night we were at the pharmacy buying aloe for relief. Make sure that you have a strong sunscreen. Have fun.

I agree with Tani, you will stand out as a tourist with a convertible. You wont find too many residents with them as the frequent trade wind showers can come down at any time, even when there's a lot of sunshine out (that's why we have such great rainbows!)

Is driving on anpaved roads allowed in rental cars?
What is off road driving?

Most any car rental will make you stand out as a tourist.

Just ask the locals.

After out convertible was broken into...we left windows down and car unlocked anytime we visted the islands.

The 4WD is only important if you plan on visiting sites that are only reachable through unpaved areas. We rented one last year and only for one hike. Found this a waste of money and a cut down on space so it is not always worth it.

As for convertible that is probably fun for 1 day and then becomes a hassel unless you enjoy constantly fussing with your hair, all day exposure to harsh sun and strong wind in your face. Do you like applying sun screen to your part? Do you want to have a conversation with your travel partner. What about music? I think a convertible might be nice for the road to Hana but I can't think of too many roads on any of the islands where the foliage comes so close to the roads edge making this a great experience.

I was there this past September and we did the following: convertible on Maui and Kauai and Jeep on the BI. If you do the road to Hana, make sure you have a sun hat. The road is paved 95% of the way, so no need for 4WD. We rented the Jeep on the BI because we wanted to go to Mauna Kea Observatory. 4WD is mandatory if you want to go to the top. This road was paved the entire way, it's just a real steep incline to the top.

The whole concern about looking like a tourist or not is ridiculous. Nearly everone in Hawaii driving around the sites is a tourist. No matter what you drive you are well known as a tourist from the way you dress, to where you eat down to your skin color so the car thing should be your last concern. A convertible allows you uninterrupted views out of your vehicle not just the window area. Load up on sunscreen. The Big Island does not warrent a 4WD. It's much larger so driving distances will be greater but the roads are as good as the other islands.

Local Girl do you think 4 people could enjoy a convertible?

If the 2 in the back seat are children it would be ok. If they are full sized adults they may not have enough leg room. Usually the rental cars are Mustangs and Sebrings. Another way to get a topless ride is to go with a jeep. Your back seat passengers might get more leg room that way.

Ok another silly question. We will be doing a lot hiking think a 4wd might be easier to keep clean? We are only 3 people.

I don't think a 4wd will stay any cleaner than any other car. How much will you be driving off the road? Even in Kauai where the dirt is red and sticky you would have to drive off road for some time to really dirty up your vehicle. How dirty do you imagine your car will get?


Tracey, you feel that you could not get to the Mauna Kea Observatory without a 4wd even though it is paved the whole way?

xxx,

Just a reminder, never lock your you car at a trail head. Kids/thieves hide in trees and break in while you are hiking.

After our breaking, we learned to leave car unlocked and windows at least halfway down as a sign that there was nothing of value in the car.

Hawaii is great for hiking. Take water. Consider any stream or waterfall to be polluted.

Dick it's not so much that streams and waterfalls are polluted in the sense of man mad pollutants, it's actually naturally occuring bacteria that will have a negative affect on you. Just as you should not drink from mountain waterfalls and streams on the mainland like say, Yosemite, which has a giardia threat yuo should be equally careful in Hawaii.

Local, I was always under the impression that wild pigs etc have made the watere unsafe to drink with their "natural bacteria" . I agree that pollutants generally refers so chemicals....sorrry for poor choice of words.

I only mentioned it because we have encountered tourists along Na Pali that thought the "pure clean " water was safe to drink.

At least its not chemical waste being deliberately put into streams like we have had on the mainland.

Really? I can't imagine that anyone would drink from a water source that had not been filtered. Guess you live with certain information and assume that others already know not to do this. I think that those tourists were taking a big risk with their health. I hope it worked out for them. I visit California every year and they seem to know not to drink from streams. Do residents of other states not have water contamination issues? That would be interesting to know.