Do you ever NOT rent a car when visiting Maui or the Big Island?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 11, 2018, 3:27 pm

#16

Shagboy

Join Date: Sep 2012

Posts: 195

I too always rent a car on Maui or the Big Island but after just spending a few weeks on the Big Island and dealing with the traffic, I might consider not driving and letting someone else deal with the hassles of driving and parking.

Mar 11, 2018, 7:16 pm

#17

philemer

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Original Poster

Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: Intermountain West

Programs: Too many to list

Posts: 12,082

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shagboy

The "Kona Krawl" is nasty, isn't it?

Mar 12, 2018, 11:24 am

#18

Shagboy

Join Date: Sep 2012

Posts: 195

Kona Krawl, nice expression, took us almost an hour to get from the airport to Alii Dr one day last week. Traffic on the Queen K was backed up from the Waimea turnoff to the Hapuna Beach hotel entrance too. Takes some of the fun away. Fewer cars would help the situation but my hopes are not high...

Mar 12, 2018, 11:57 am

#19

philemer

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Original Poster

Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: Intermountain West

Programs: Too many to list

Posts: 12,082

Have you tried the new road they built from Hina Lani to Kona? It's a little quicker when the Queen K is packed. It's ane keohokalole highway. Coming from the north you turn mauka on Hina Lani, up the hill, and turn right on ane keohokalole highway. Zips you right onto Henry St.

Mar 12, 2018, 2:45 pm

#20

Shagboy

Join Date: Sep 2012

Posts: 195

Funny, as we were headed to Costco for gas before returning the car and boarding our flight we wondered if there was a better way to get from Kona to Costco. Now you tell me! Thanks, next trip we will give it a try.

Mar 14, 2018, 5:53 am

#21

tatterdema

Join Date: Nov 2005

Location: SEA

Programs: HH Silver

Posts: 2,400

The upper highway can shave a lot of time off, as long as they are not doing construction on it. I do not find the traffic on the BI anywhere near as bad as it was on Maui.

Mar 14, 2018, 7:30 am

#22

Shagboy

Join Date: Sep 2012

Posts: 195

With only one road between Lahaina and Kapalua the traffic is always bad.Last year there was a minor accident on the Lhaina side of the tunnel and the trip from Kaanapali to Lahaina took us well over an hour. I know a couple that was on Kauai a few years ago who turned in their car after two days because of the traffic on that island.
Traffic is not mentioned in the guide books and can be a surprise to first time visitors to Hawaii.