Hana to Kona (and/or Hana taxis?)

[ljmiii]

I know this is a longshot, but...

Next summer we're going from Marriott Ocean Club to Hana for two nights to (hopefully) HGVC Waikoloa for four nights. There is an airline - Mokulele - that offers direct flights from Hana (HNM) to Kona (KOA) at reasonable prices.

The fly in the ointment is that there no longer appears to be a rental car agency in Hana (there was an Enterprise in the Hana Hotel). And while there are a number of companies happy to take you from Kahului Airport (OGG) to Hana there doesn't seem to be good taxi/uber service in Hana.

Has anyone on TUG flown HNM to KOA? Or used taxis/Uber in Hana?

 

[Southerngirl528]

We have stayed in Hana numerous times before our MMOC weeks stays, and we love it. I cannot over-emphasize how very tiny Hana is. I have not flown in or out of the Hana airport, or flown Mokulele. We have used either Hawaiian or Island Air inter-island. I cannot imagine there being a taxi service at all in Hana. It is quite spread out and very, very tiny and remote. (for us that is a large part of the charm that draws us back)

It is highly possible that you will need to drive your rental car from Hana back to Kahului to catch your flight to Kona.

 

[lynne]

Mokulele is a great little airline. They fly 9 seater prop jets. The trip from Maui (either OGG or HNM) to KOA is almost like taking a sightseeing tour since they fly lower and slower. It is our preferred airline when flying between the islands, no TSA and a very friendly staff.

 

[ljmiii]

Mokulele is a great little airline...

Everything I have read says that this is absolutely the best way from Hana to Kona (and arguably OGG to Kona). But I can't figure out what to do with our rental car. We could ditch it in OGG and get a car to take us to Hana...but Hana without a car kind of sucks (unless you are staying at Travassa). And we really want to see Ohe'o when we're in Hana. And my wife and daughter have dreams of spotting a Po'ouli. Sigh.

 

[LisaRex]

You could always embrace the "off-the-grid" culture of Hana and stand on the side of the road and stick out your thumb?

"Ohe'o or Bust"

In any event, let's assume Ohe'o is open then, because acc to the NPS website, it's been closed indefinitely since January.

https://www.nps.gov/hale/planyourvisit/kipahulu.htm

That being said, the easiest way to accomplish this without a car is to take one of the all-day tours to Hana that includes a stop at Ohe'o....and then skip the ride home. (Pre-arrange this with the driver, and he'll probably drop you off at your hotel.) Most of these tours pick you up from your hotel, too!

http://adventuremaui.com/islandtours.htm

If that's not an option for some reason, I'd ask your hotel concierge or B&B owner if they can arrange for someone to drive you to Ohe'o (and the airport, too).

If they can't help, then I'd call one of the ground transportation companies mentioned on the Hana Airport website and see if they can help.

http://airports.hawaii.gov/hnm/getting-to-from/ground-transportation/

And if that doesn't work, how does a 22 mile hike sound to you?

 

[ljmiii]

You could always embrace the "off-the-grid" culture of Hana...

Wow! Thank you for all the useful information. And for the incredibly annoying but useful information that Ohe'o is closed - you'ld a thunk one of the myriad places I've been reading about Hana might have mentioned that little detail...;-)

 

[HawaiiTrader]

Give Hana airport a call, they might be able to find you a rental, taxi, or someone willing to drive you around (Lyft/Uber?)

There is also someone doing flight training, he might be available to drive you around.
I tired looked for a web site, no luck. Call the airport.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hana_Airport

 

[HawaiiTrader]

BTW, Mokulele flies Cessna 208EX Grand Caravans.