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With Rental Cars Scarce, New Shuttle Launches From Kahului Airport to Maui Resorts

Kāʻanapali Beach, West Maui
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Kāʻanapali Beach, West Maui

With Maui experiencing a rental car shortage and visitor arrival numbers not seen since before the pandemic, a new shuttle service will bring travelers from the airport straight to their resorts.

The Maui ALOHA Shuttle, operated by Polynesian Adventure Tours, will operate six trips daily from Kahului Airport. Three will go to West Maui resorts in Lāhainā and Kāʻanapali, and three will go to South Maui resorts in Wailea.

The shuttle is the result of meetings between the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority and the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau and Polynesian Adventure Tours.

The Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau will subsidize the pilot program, which will run from Saturday, July 3 to July 17. It could be extended through the end of the summer.

One Polynesian Adventure Tours motor coach will leave Kahului Airport daily at 11:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. to drop off passengers in West Maui at Royal Lahaina Resort, Kaanapali Maui at the Eldorado by Outrigger, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, Kaanapali Beach Hotel, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa; Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club – Molokai, Maui & Lanai Tower; Kaanapali Alii and The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kaanapali.

Another Polynesian Adventure Tours motor coach will leave Kahului Airport daily at 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m., and 3:15 p.m. to drop off passengers in South Maui at Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui; Residence Inn Wailea, Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Grand Wailea Maui, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, and Fairmont Kea Lani.

Costs for one-way trips to West Maui resorts:

  • $50 for adults, $35 for children 4-12 years old, and children 3 and under are free.

Costs for one-way trips to South Maui resorts:

  • $35 for adults, $20 for children 4-12 years old, and children 3 and under are free.

Visitors can purchase their tickets at the baggage claim at Kahului Airport.

Shuttle service is available back to the airport. Visitors are encouraged to arrange the return trip by speaking with their hotel concierge desks or online at www.polyad.com.

With the island's rental car supply still low, the HTA advises visitors to use alternate ground transportation services. It has a list of shuttles, taxi services, rideshare and other rentals on its website.

The Conversation also reached out to Maui's Visitors and Convention Bureau to see how the new shuttle program is working. Leanne Pletcher, Public Relations and Marketing Director for the bureau, explained how it works.

Leanne Pletcher - July 8, 2021
Director of Public Relations and Marketing for the Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau

Jason Ubay is the managing editor at Hawaiʻi Public Radio. Send your story ideas to him at jubay@hawaiipublicradio.org.
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