If you want to enjoy the island to the full, there’s only one option – hire a car. 

Buses provide relatively good coverage of the western part of the island, so you can use them to get from Kahului to resorts such as Kapalua or Kaanapali.

By car

If you don’t want to spend your entire holiday in one place in the main beach resorts, you won’t be able to get by without a car.  

Hiring a car is the easiest – and, in fact, the only sensible – option. Unlike other services in Hawaii, car hire companies aren’t particularly overpriced; you’ll pay around 65 usd per day for an average car.

Maui isn’t a large island, and the roads are of good quality and very well signposted; however, the coastal roads are very winding, which significantly increases journey times, so it’s worth bearing this in mind. You’ll only find petrol stations in towns. 

Drivers who aren’t entirely confident behind the wheel should avoid Route 340, which winds along the island’s north-western coast. Whilst it is one of the most scenic routes, it is also by far the most challenging, mainly due to the long, narrow and winding sections where there is a sheer drop on one side, a cliff on the other, and you cannot see round the bends.

Find the cheapest car hire 

TIP: In Hawaii, hire a Mustang convertible. A roofless drive to Maui is simply a must. The hire price isn’t that much more expensive – around 60–70 usd per day. 

You can find detailed information about travelling by car on Maui in the separate chapter ‘Car Hire in Maui’.

Public transport on Maui

Buses provide a relatively good service between Kahului, the south and west of the island, as well as within the larger towns (Kahului, Wailuku, Lahaina, Kiehi). Services usually run every 60 to 120 minutes, but they really only take you between towns.

You can find all the detailed timetables on the official website:mauicounty.gov/Maui-Bus-Public-Transit-System.

A ticket costs 2 usd regardless of the distance travelled and must always be paid in cash to the driver in the exact amount. However, you can purchase a day pass for 4 usd, valid on that calendar day for all routes across the whole of Maui.

The main bus stop is located in Kahului, next to the Queen Ka’ahumanu Centre shopping centre, from where most routes depart (see location on the map).

If you want to spend your holiday on Maui exclusively on the beach, then buses may be a way to save money on car hire; however, you will be very restricted by the timetable and, in particular, by the limited options for trips anywhere other than the main resorts.