John

Hello everyone,

I am spending 2 weeks at Oahu (4 days), Maui (5 days) and BigIsland (6 days).

Do I need a rental car for all these locations ? Any suggestions on the type of the car - convertible, jeep, suv etc ?

Thanks in advance.
John

Deb

Hi John,

It really depends what you want to do.

I was just on Oahu for a week. We managed to get around a little bit with shuttles and buses, but you waste SO much time waiting!

We rented a car for our last three days there and had a blast. We drove OUT of Waikiki, around the island, to the North Shore, etc in a Mustang convertible. We saw some of the most breathtaking sights!

I would really recommend renting a car if it's within your budget. If not, you can still get around Oahu pretty well, depending on what you're going to do there.

Have a great trip!

John

Thanks Deb. I will try priceline to see if I can get some good deals on the rentals.

Do you have any idea about Maui and BI as well ? Is there a lot of fun offroad driving that would require a jeep or 4x4 ?

frank

I agree with Deb. You can do without a car for a couple of days in Waikiki, but if you want to see more of the island, you need a car. As for the outer islands, don't even consider not renting a car. There is virtually no public transportation, taxis are expensive, and rental cars are cheap. If you don't have a lot of luggage, I'd go for a convertible, but if you are bringing children, golf clubs, surf board, scuba gear, etc., you won't fit it and will need a larger car or SUV. There is no advantage to a jeep or 4WD as the major companies won't let you go off road anyway.

jenn

Parking is expensive in Honolulu so I would recommend just getting a car for a day and driving up to the north end (via Hanuamu Bay for snorkeling - not to be missed).

Parking isn't a problem on the other islands. I highly recommend getting a convertible. Not much opportunity for offroad driving - but check out previous posts about going up the Saddle Road to the observatory on the Big Island.