Finally-Maui roads now all open

[philemer]

http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/509354.html?nav=10

I was hoping this would happen in advance of our January visit!

 

[Icarus]

Also, about 2 weeks ago, they opened the new downhill lanes of the Haleakala Highway.

It's now a 4 lane divided highway from the Pukalani cutoff all the way down to the Hana Highway. No more morning contraflow.

-David

 

[Mimi]

That's great news. We will be at Maui Schooner Jan. 24th to Feb. 7th.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Great news. We enjoyed the road beyond Hana at least as much as the road to Hana.

 

[sdtugger]

This is still out of bounds for rental cars, right?

 

[KevinB]

I've done it a few times and enjoy it immensely ! Very happy it's open, I'll be there July 2009 !

KB

 

[philemer]

This is still out of bounds for rental cars, right?

No. It's a paved road most of the way with a few area of dirt, if IRC. Very easy to drive UNLESS it's raining cats & dogs.

As always, check your rental contact before you leave the lot.

 

[philemer]

That's great news. We will be at Maui Schooner Jan. 24th to Feb. 7th.

We check out on the 24th. Will you be on-island before the 24th?

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

This is still out of bounds for rental cars, right?

If you take a rental car on a prohibited road, all that means is that you void your LDW coverage. But, if you decline the rental company coverages it doesn't make much difference; you can't void a coverage you didn't have in the first place.

 

[sdtugger]

If you take a rental car on a prohibited road, all that means is that you void your LDW coverage. But, if you decline the rental company coverages it doesn't make much difference; you can't void a coverage you didn't have in the first place.

I thought I remembered seeing signs saying rental cars were not allowed to go off paved roads. In fact, I'm sure of it. I always decline the LDW so I don't know what the impact of going off paved roads would be. But, I do remember seeing signs saying you had to stay to paved roads.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I thought I remembered seeing signs saying rental cars were not allowed to go off paved roads. In fact, I'm sure of it. I always decline the LDW so I don't know what the impact of going off paved roads would be. But, I do remember seeing signs saying you had to stay to paved roads.

If you read your rental contract, it will say that if you drive the vehicle on an unpaved road, all damage waivers are void. Meaning that you pay for any damages to the vehicle. But if you declined the coverages, you are liable for any damage to the vehicle already.

 

[sdtugger]

If you read your rental contract, it will say that if you drive the vehicle on an unpaved road, all damage waivers are void. Meaning that you pay for any damages to the vehicle. But if you declined the coverages, you are already liable for any damage to the vehicle already.

Glad to hear it. I'm not sure I can talk the family into going all the way around. But, I'd love to try it!

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Glad to hear it. I'm not sure I can talk the family into going all the way around. But, I'd love to try it!

I didn't find the road to be fearsome at all, but perhaps I have more nerves that most. I've driven on many mountain roads that had me more worried - or even many non-mountain roads in which I've worried about other drivers passing on blind curves, etc. On the road beyond Hana there is very little traffic, and cars don't travel very fast.

 

[gstepic]

We will be in Maui October 21st

Starting to get pretty excited. We have been thinking of taking one of tours this time and I know some normally would return on the west side, so the road being open could not be more timely for us.

Gary

 

[LisaRex]

Not sure I'd drive a convertible past Hana because they ride so low and there are quite a few bumps/potholes in the road (or at least there used to be). My friends and their teenage daughters got a flat tire in their convertible past Hana. Luckily their cell phone worked because although the car had a spare tire, they couldn't find the special wrench needed to remove it from the trunk. They called for service but were stranded out there until 2:30 in the morning. Then they had another 2 hour drive home. It cost them about $500 because AAA didn't cover so far out.

Knowing this, we still drove it and would do it again. The scenery is just so severe and beautiful. But I'd make sure my spare tire and wrench were accounted for before heading off.

 

[philemer]

Not sure I'd drive a convertible past Hana because they ride so low and there are quite a few bumps/potholes in the road (or at least there used to be). My friends and their teenage daughters got a flat tire in their convertible past Hana. Luckily their cell phone worked because although the car had a spare tire, they couldn't find the special wrench needed to remove it from the trunk. They called for service but were stranded out there until 2:30 in the morning. Then they had another 2 hour drive home. It cost them about $500 because AAA didn't cover so far out.

This is a good point. Make sure you check the car/van for a spare tire & workable wrench. We had a flat tire near Lindbergh's grave 2 yrs. ago. Changing it was simple but the rental co. tried to charge us extra for bringing back a flat tire. We talked them out of it.

 

[nygiants11991]

We have made the trip to Hana twice. We will have to check into this since we are going in Jan.

Thanks for the update.