Getting around Maui

Rent a car. Maui’s towns sit far apart and public transit barely reaches most of them, so for Upcountry, Hāna, or anywhere off the resort strip, you need your own wheels. The one real exception is staying put in a walkable resort like Kaʻanapali, where the free trolley and rideshare cover everything you’ll want.

This guide is for anyone weighing that cost against the alternatives. Skip the car and the math changes fast: the Maui Bus runs a $4 day pass but is slow, and a Kahului airport shuttle starts around $19 per person. If a car-free trip tempts you, the west coast is the only place it holds up.

Your options on Maui: rental cars, the public bus, regional shuttles, bikes, scooters, rideshare, and the Lānaʻi ferry. Which ones you need comes down to where you’re staying.

Is a rental car needed on Maui?

For most of Maui, yes. The island is big and spread out, and its best parts have almost no transit, so a car is how you reach them. You can skip it only if you’re parked in a walkable resort area and don’t plan to roam far.

For example, if you’re staying in Kaʻanapali and plan to be a beach bum, walking, rideshare, and the trolley (see below) will cover most days. In this case, you wouldn’t have a need for a car on a daily basis.

But, if seeing every nook and cranny of the island is on your agenda, or you’re staying somewhere remote, like Upcountry Maui or Hāna, then you’ll need to rent a car.

Here are some things to consider:

Tips for renting a car on Maui:

1. Be honest about your travel plans. Depending on what you plan to do while on Maui, your need for a car can vary. Those who see themselves coming and going throughout their trip will find a car to greatly enhance their efficiency and range of exploration, as will those who are staying in remote areas. Beach bums staying in communities with better walkability may find they don’t need to rent a car.
2. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If you find yourself somewhere in between, consider renting a car for only part of the trip to balance your budget and adventure needs. Dedicate a number of days to explore with a car, and a number of days to stay closer to your home base. Ride share and trolley services can be of service for shorter trips.
3. When renting a car, head online to book. In most circumstances, the lowest price you’re going to find will be online via the company’s website. Don’t call and ask for a rate, as many will up-sell over the phone to unknowing customers.
4. Check out third-party sites. Third-party sites like Discount Hawaiʻi Car Rental and Expedia can sometimes land you a low rate as well.
5. Take advantage of favorable cancellation policies. Many companies offer free cancellation. This can be a useful tool, especially if you want to lock in a low rate ahead of time.
6. Don’t forget about parking costs. Does your hotel charge for parking? If so, you’re going to want to include that cost when budgeting for a rental car.
7. Make the most out of your car by using it for a few of our favorite Maui scenic drives!

Is there public transportation on Maui?

Yes. Maui has a public bus, and on the right route it’s cheap and useful. Here’s what to know about the Maui Bus.

1. The Maui Bus is a cheap way to get around. An unlimited day pass will cost you $4.00. Otherwise, it’s $2.00 per trip.
2. The schedule and route maps can be found online. Check out the Maui Bus website or the Maui Bus app.
3. The bus can be slow. Though reasonably on-time, buses can be delayed/late at times, and make frequent stops that extend travel times between destinations.
4. The bus is best for trips along the west coast. The Maui bus has several routes that cover the west and south coast, from Kaʻanapali down to Kīhei.

What other transportation options are there?

Beyond a rental car and the bus, a handful of smaller options fill specific gaps. Here are the ones worth knowing.

Trolley (Kaʻanapali/Lāhainā)

If you’re staying in Kaʻanapali, the free Kaʻanapali trolley loops the resort area, stopping at the hotels, Whalers Village, and the golf courses. It runs daily from 10am to 9:30pm, about every 30 minutes.

The dedicated Lahaina Cannery Mall shuttle that used to connect Kaʻanapali and Lāhainā no longer appears to run. To make that trip now, take the Maui Bus (above) or a rideshare.

Bike Rentals

Maui isn’t densely populated and its small towns are spread out, so you won’t find the same biking/commuter culture as you will on Oʻahu. That said, if you’re looking for an easy way to get around within town and explore, renting a bike is affordable and practical.

There’s no official city/island program for bike sharing on Maui; instead, bike rentals are obtained through local shops in the various beach towns around the island, such as Lāhainā or Kīhei. There are a range of options, including e-bikes, hybrids, road bikes, and beach cruisers, and a variety of rental shops, like Boss Frog’s and West Maui Cycles.

You can expect to pay approximately $75 a week for a beach cruiser and $250 a week for an electric bike.

Scooter rentals

A scooter or moped works well on Maui’s coastal roads. They aren’t cheap (about $60 a day or $350 a week), but they’re fun to drive and save you the parking hassle when visiting Maui beach parks and other crowded spots.

Many shops around Maui rent scooters, so it’s best to shop around for the best deal. They come in half-day up to multi-day rentals. Keep in mind that these scooters are only useful and realistic along the coast. If you try to take a scooter or moped to the higher elevations, the steep roads and changing weather will give you trouble.

Ride Share

Both Uber and Lyft operate on Maui, but we also like Holoholo, a locally-owned rideshare app worth trying where it’s available.

Golf Cart rentals

Electric golf carts that are registered as a Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV) are street legal, and Hawaiʻi allows LSVs to drive on roads marked 35 mph or less. Renting a golf cart adds most value as a supplementary option alongside a rental car.

A cart is handy for getting around the resort corridors (Kapalua to Kaʻanapali, or Wailea to Kīhei) or running down to the beach. It lets a party split up without the cost of a second rental car, and it runs emission-free with no gas.

See the Island EV rentals website for more details.

How to Get To/From the Airport

If you don’t rent a car, here are the best ways to get between the airport and your hotel.

Airport shuttles (to and from Kahului airport)

If you decide not to rent a car and don’t want to pay the high rates of taxis and ride shares, you can use an airport shuttle service to get to your hotel from the airport. Shared shuttles are the most economical way to get from Kahului Airport (OGG) to most major hubs; however, they do take a bit longer since they make multiple stops. Book ahead, especially in peak season. The two most popular companies are:

• Robert’s Hawaiʻi services every major hub on the island and prices start at just $19 per person for a shared shuttle (private transfers start at $79).
• Speedi Shuttle services the entire island as well, though it varies its rates based on where you’re going. Prices start at $25 for Kīhei/Wailea and $39 for Lāhainā and Kaʻanapali.

Taking the Ferry to Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi

One passenger ferry still runs from Maui to a neighbor island: the crossing to Lānaʻi. (The old Maui-Molokaʻi ferry stopped years ago.) The ride is a scenic trip in itself, with open views across the channel, and you can bring everything you need for the day aboard, even a cooler. The operator sells snorkeling packages to pair with the crossing.

Maui-Lānaʻi Ferry

The Maui-Lānaʻi passenger ferry runs three roundtrips a day, every day, between Māʻalaea Harbor and Mānele Boat Harbor on Lānaʻi. The departure moved from Lāhainā to Māʻalaea after the 2023 fire, so check in at Māʻalaea. The crossing takes about 1 hour 10 minutes. Boats leave Māʻalaea at 6:30am, 11am, and 3:30pm, with return trips from Lānaʻi at 8:30am, 1pm, and 5:30pm. Tickets are $66 per adult and $34 per child each way, so a roundtrip runs about $132 for an adult. From Mānele it’s a short walk to Hulopoʻe beach and bay, and the Mānele-Hulopoʻe Marine Conservation District is a protected reserve with clear water and reef fish right off the beach.

Maui-Molokaʻi Ferry

The Maui-Molokaʻi ferry has not run for years, and there’s no sign of it returning.