Travel in Maui is a once in a lifetime experience that everyone should try. As the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands, there is over 120 miles of Maui coastline to explore by rental car. Hire a car from Hertz and embark on your Maui trip.
Pick up your rental car from Kahului Airport and take Highway 311 to Highway 31. Turn onto Kihei Road for a slower pace and sprawling views of Ma’alaea Bay. Make a pit stop in your rental car to visit traditional Maui restaurants and craft markets. A popular stopover and snorkelling spot is Makena Beach, so be prepared for some crowds. For those who want more peace and quiet, head onwards in your rental car to Maui’s Makena State Park to visit the largest undeveloped white sand beach on the island.
Head over from Kahului Airport in your rental car on Highway 36 and turn right onto the famous Haleakala Highway to cruise through Maui’s storied sugar cane fields in your rental car. Continue down the highway as you begin to ascend up the volcano while driving your hire car up Maui’s 377. The visitor’s centre of the volcano is nearly 10,000 feet in elevation, and it’s recommended to stake out a position at the overlook railing to catch the sunrise.
A highlight of your Maui travel will be driving the road to Hana in your rental car. Considered one of the most scenic drives in the world, these 52 miles of cliff-hugging asphalt and 54-century old one-lane bridges make for an incredible tour of Maui. Pick your rental car up from Kahului Airport and start on Highway 36, continuing east through the town of Pa’ia and drive on to highway 36, then 360. From here, be prepared for Maui’s fabled hairpin turns in your rental car, as the scenery is dotted by tropical waterfalls on one side, and plunging ocean cliffs on the other. Stop by Maui’s Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside Park to view a beautiful thundering waterfall there. Once in Hana, be sure to pop by to enjoy Maui’s finest nature.
Head on to Makena in your rental car on Maui’s Pi’ilani Highway, which coils around a jaw-dropping cliff. Head on west along Highway 31 and the scene changes from rugged mountains to ranch-covered slopes. You’ll be able to see cows, goats and even Maui deer from your hire car. The road will turn inland, and you can stop your rental car at Maui’s only winery, Tedeschi.
A drive around the West Maui Mountains is lesser known but just as beautiful. Head north in your hire car along Maui’s Highway 30 towards Kapalua and Honolua Bays. Pack snorkel gear as these are great spots for a dip. Upon reaching the island’s northern tip, beautiful mountain scenery awaits you.
Maui is a beautiful island with so much to see and do, with promises of unforgettable travel experiences in full Maui spirit.
