Maui car rental and questions... OGG airport....

We are going to Maui for a week (new years) and it is my first time on the island. Would appreciate some help from people who have been there before or are locals.

We are staying 3 days at Lahaina. That seems to be 24 miles away from OGG airport, where we land.

We are staying 5 days at Grand Wailea, which seems to be 17 miles away from OGG airport.


QUESTIONS:

1) Would you recommend renting a car, while on the island? If so, should we keep it the whole time or just for a few days?

2) If I rent a car ($30 a day to park at Wailea), is there are other local areas to park or do I have to park at hotel?

3) Grand Wailea recommends using Speedi Shuttle to and from airport. Since we are going to Lahaina FROM airport, and then going bak to airport from Wailea, what would you recommend for airport transportation?

4) We do want to explore the island, and would appreciate must do things for the first timer (outdoor/nature things)?

5) Any must do restaurants would be appreciated as well.

 

I would recommend renting a car. I know it sucks having to pay $30 a day for parking, but its probably safer to park in the Wailea parking lot. Having a car will allow you to see the entire island. You could use Uber or cabs, but you have more freedom with a car. I live on Oahu, but everytime I have been on Maui for pleasure, I have rented a car so we have the freedom to just come and go as we please. Most rental car companies have weekly rates that are cheaper to keep for 7 days so breaking it up, may not save that much money. Just my 2 cents.

Recommendations are to see the sunrise or sunset up at Haleakala. Just be sure to make reservations or they wont let you up. We have also enjoyed doing some snorkeling in Kaanapali at the Sheraton. They have some free beach parking, about 8-10 stalls that if your lucky, you can park for a couple hours to walk to the beach. Also the drive to Hana, must do it at least once. Also, if looking for local items like mac nuts or coffee, Costco has the best prices.

 

Thank you


After seeing your post I looked at Grand Wailea enterprise but it’s all booked

I will look at OGG rental places

 

I also added some recommendations.

 

Haleakala reservation -ok will have to do that and research the reservation


We will skip the Costco

Thanks

 

Def rent a car. the best parts of Maui are spread out. Haleakala, all things on the road to Hana, makena beach, i'ao valley, honolua, pipiwai trail(bamboo forest)...

Of course, if you're going to just plop your arse down in a hammock and tackle Mai tais all day, no car.

 

lol. I know, dont want to do Costco on vacation, but same stuff as the ABC store, but cheaper...

 

for a second i thought this was the flyertalk forum

 

When we went to Honolulu 3 years ago, we tried to rent a car. They told us you had to rent months in advance to get a car there.

 

I meant local restaurants etc

Looks like only sunrise requires reservation

Appreciate it

 

Hey whats up when you come to maui hit me up we can chill maybe grab some drinks I'll show you around...

1. Yes you should rent a car a lot on the island especially Wailea side is not too far away but too far to walk... when you in Lahaina things are kinda closer depending on where your staying...

2. Dang I don't know much about Wailea for parking sorry but maybe get the car for Lahaina and couple days in Wailea last 2 days or so just chill at the beach and around the hotel or shuttle in to kihei..

3.i recommend speedy shuttle too but depending on the day and how many of you guys I could grab you from the airport and drop you guys off at the hotel..

4. Hana, haleakala sunrise( need to make a reservation), snorkeling, looking at the turtles, lots of chilling and beach, maybe zipline, kayak, whale watching,

5. Monkey pod, cool cats, 808grindz, down the hatch, mamas ribs, kimos, kobes, ono tacos, choice health bar, da kitchen... plenty more...

 

Yes!

My wife and also did our honeymoon in Maui for 10 days. We used the Jeep we rented to go all over that island. It's really the only way to truly explore the place.

The rental place we used was just outside the airport and had a shuttle that took us to our car.

Sounds like that one place just wants you to be there and only there for every single minute and spend all you cash with them. Get out and explore.

We ended up spending two days by total accident in Hana because we stopped at a roadside BBQ shop and the friendly local cooking the food told us about his aunt who ran a little overnight place 2 blocks up from the bay. He called her and she had an opening for the next two nights for only $60 a night.

Go explore away from the tourist trap places and meet people. Such a great place with great people.

 

Hey Jordan thank you so much !

I will pm you some details

We arrive 4 of us on Jan 1st and staying at Napoli sunset on the beach

Be happy to have some drinks/food with you

I will look into renting a car at OGG for the week

We have 3 more people coming on the 3rd but they are going straight to Grand Wailea

We will be at Grand Wailea resort rest of the stay

 

Yeah, sorry, I meant the sunrise needed reservations since that is the most desirable to see. My wife and I also enjoyed the sunset. We like Poi By The Pound for local Hawaiian food and also Da Kitchen for plate lunches.

 

Thank you

You guys are awesome

 

OP I did not read all the other responses to your post. Yes I would rent a car at the airport. However, getting to Lahaina can be a task if you are driving at night. Do you have a GPS or smart phone? Do not drive the road to Hana tour yourself. It was worth taking a group tour bus. The bike ride down the mountain was really cool, 25 miles coasting downhill, I peddled about 300 yards.

 

We land at 6pm at OGG

I do have a smart phone

I should be able to navigate to Lahaina?


So all of you recommend not driving Hana yourself ?

 

Easy to get to Lahaina day or night only one way in to it and one way out lol..

Also road to Hana you can do it your self there's cell phone apps that work good while your out there

 

Well meeting with you is a must

Whereabouts do you live ? So I know not to inconvience you when we meet up

 

Ok if you need a ride I do have a access cab one of you guys can hop up front the other 3 can ride in the back of the truck sorry that's my only ride right now...