(Complete listing of all forms of Maui transportation is at the bottom of the article)

Often the first thing a person does when landing on Maui is head to the car rental station and hop on a shuttle to pick up a car. This part of the rental car journey is fairly seamless. It's once you get to the agency where troubles can pop up. For whatever reason, the larger agencies seem to be continually understaffed. Waits of two hours to get your car have been known to happen. It's a real bummer of a way to start your vacation. That said, most of the time the waits are not that extreme and unless you wish to go carless, you really have no choice but to bite the bullet.

But good news is on the way. A new rental car facility, housing all of the rental car agencies, is being built on the airport grounds, complete with an electric train to carry passengers to and from the main terminal and baggage claim areas. It is scheduled to be up and running in the Fall/Winter of 2019. Hopefully by then the agencies will have their acts together.

More good news? There is healthy competition for car rentals and the prices for rentals by the week are actually quite comparable to mainland pricing, depending on the time of year you visit. If you come during the winter months, expect to pay more. We've found the best deal vs. hassle incurred to be at Costco. If you're a Costco member, you can save significant amount from four of the larger rental car agencies: Alamo, Avis, Budget and Enterprise.

If you're not a Costco member and you aren't picky about the agency you use, Hotwire.com and Priceline.com both offer "blind" pricing, meaning it will quote you a price, but not tell you which rental agency the car is from until after you book it. The pricing at these two places tends to be non-refundable. So, if price isn't your ultimate decision factor or you have "member" status at a particular rental car company, you may be better off spending a few extra bucks and booking directly with the company of your choice.

Another option for low cost cars is to go through one of the smaller, local car companies. Where the larger car companies tend to rent "like new" cars that glisten with the sun, the local companies tend to rent used cars that have a bit of a rundown feeling. That said, these cars also don't scream "tourist," so the cars are safer from prowlers. There's also an option for eco-friendly electric cars and Prius models (see list below).

The final option for renting a car on Maui is to not rent a car on Maui. If you're staying out in Lahaina/Kaanapali/Kapalua, this may not be a good option. Generally speaking, getting to grocery stores or leaving your resort can be quite a hike. If you're staying in Kihei, not having a car is definitely doable.

No matter where you are, though, Uber and Lyft have a much better presence than they did even a year ago. Cabs are also readily available, though you'll often need to book them in advance. You don't often see cabs just driving the streets looking for rides. The bus system on Maui is OK. You can generally get anywhere you need to go by bus, but be prepared to wait. They don't run often and it can be maddening trying to find a bus stop.

Here's a guide to all of your transportation needs on Maui...

NATIONAL CAR RENTAL AGENCIES
- Alamo
- Avis
- Budget
- Enterprise
- Hertz
- National
- Turo

LOCAL DISCOUNT WEBSITES
- Cheap Maui Car Rental
- Discount Hawaii Car Rental
- Hawaii Car Rentals

LOCAL CAR RENTAL COMPANIES
- Aloha Rental Car
- Bio-Beetle Rent-A-Car (eco-friendly cars)
- Frank's Friendly Cars
- Kimo's Rent-A-Car
- Manaloha Rent-A-Car
- Maui Car Rentals, Inc.
- Maui Cruisers
- Maui Rent-A-Car

MAUI BUS SYSTEM
- Route Maps and Bus Tracker
- Bus Schedules
- Rider app for IOS and Android (real-time bus updates)

RIDE SHARING
- Lyft
- Uber

TAXI CABS
- CB Maui Taxi Service
- Maui Airport Taxi and Shuttle
- West Maui Taxi

SHUTTLES AND CAR SERVICE
- Aloha Share Express
- Christopher Luxury Sedan Service
- ExecuCar
- Go Airport Shuttle
- Hawaii Executive Transportation
- Maui Pleasant Taxi
- Roberts Hawaii (The largest bus/shuttle on Maui)
- Speedi-Shuttle

By the way, did you know that you can now save $10/person on our Maui Princess Dinner Cruise or a Snorkel Adventure to the island of Lanai? Well you can! Just use the promo code VIP20 after clicking on this link: Hawaii Ocean Project Adventures.

There's really no such thing as a bad waterfall. And choosing the "best" waterfall is completely subjective. How does one rate a waterfall? For this article, we're going to judge the waterfalls based on beauty (again, subjective) and ease of access. Just know that to see the best waterfalls on Maui, you're probably going to need to jump in a car. There are few waterfalls near the larger towns on Maui.

Wailua Falls (Road to Hana, Mile Marker 44)
Located directly off the Road to Hana at mile marker 44, Wailua Falls is thought to be the most widely photographed waterfall on Maui. Of course, ease of access is one reason. There's ample parking and you can easily view the falls from the side of the highway. But the other reason Wailua Falls is considered a top waterfall is its sheer beauty. The falls flow strongly year-round and are surrounded by lush greenery. Climbing into the pool beneath the falls is also quite easy. You can even snap a photo as you're driving by if you're feeling rushed on your way to Hana Town.

Twin Falls (Road to Hana, Mile Marker 2)
If Wailua Falls is the most photographed waterfall, Twin Falls may be the busiest. Or at least, they seem to be. Twin Falls is generally the first stop on the Road to Hana, located just a couple of miles outside of Paia Town. Though because they're so close to Paia, many people will just visit Twin Falls without continuing on to Hana. Once you're parked, to get to Twin Falls, there's a simple one mile hike, really more of a walk, on a well kept trail. Once at the falls, you'll be greeted by a large swimming hole into which you can easily swim behind and under the waterfall. Scenic in its own right, it's probably not photographed as often as Wailua Falls because you will rarely snap a photo without other people in the picture. If you keep hiking beyond the Twin Falls, you'll be treated to more waterfalls and swimming holes.

Waimoku Falls (Road to Hana, Mile Marker 41)
On the two-mile (each way) hike to Waimoku Falls, you'll have a few different spots to view the waterfall, so no need to go the full route. But if you do complete the hike, standing beneath the 400-ft falls is breathtaking. The only issue with being so close to the massive waterfall is that it's nearly impossible to fit the entire waterfall in one picture. But, about 50 yards from the falls, there's a nice location for a perfect picture. A bonus for Waimoku Falls is the hike itself. Walking through the bamboo forest is a treat unto itself.

Hanawi Falls (Road to Hana, Mile Marker 24)
This is another waterfall located right off the highway. There is street parking available just prior to and just beyond the small bridge from which you'll have the best view of the waterfall. It's also possible to hike down to the falls basin. Because most people tend to snap photos from the bridge and move on, you generally won't come across too many people swimming here. We recommend it! The water is absolutely pristine. Cold. But very clean and refreshing.

Makamaka'ole Falls (Waihe'e Ridge Trail)
The last waterfall on our list is the only one you do not need to drive the Road to Hana to see. Centrally located on Maui, you can get to Makamaka'ole Falls by driving counter-clockwise along the highway from Lahaina or from Kahului in the other direction. If you go from Lahaina, take note the "highway" becomes single-lane against a scary cliff at points. It makes the Hana Highway seem like a 10-lane highway through Nebraska. Going from Kahului is a safer, easier drive. OK, so you survived the drive and made it to the falls. You can catch a view from the highway, but the best way to photograph the falls are while hiking the Waihe'e Ridge trail. The trail itself is roughly 5 miles roundtrip, but if you just want to see the waterfall, the best viewing point is about a mile in. Unlike the other waterfalls on this list, you will not get up close and personal to the Makama'ole Falls. In fact, unless you have a zoom lens, your pictures will not do the waterfall justice. But beyond the waterfall, the Waihe'e Ridge Trail is worth the hike for its views of the valley and the ocean.

Do you have a favorite waterfall on Maui? Leave us a comment below!

By the way, did you know that you can now save $10/person on our Maui Princess Dinner Cruise or a Snorkel Adventure to the island of Lanai? Well you can! Just use the promo code VIP20 after clicking on this link: Hawaii Ocean Project Adventures.

One of the true pleasures of being on Maui is being able to go on early morning walks surrounded by nature, delicious food and beautiful views. Unlike hikes, which require some planning and frankly, some endurance, these walks are all relatively short and simple, with no altitude gains, and can be done with children. With the exception of the first one, these all feature paved or partially paved paths and can be completed wearing flip-flops. Here are five easy nature walks, listed alphabetically, we recommend to all visitors and residents of Maui.

Hanomanioa Lighthouse on the King's Highway Trail (Makena)
This is an easy walk in that it's only about 1.5 miles to the lighthouse. What makes it somewhat difficult, though, is the terrain. The trail is flat, but the entire walk is on volcanic rock. As long as you're wearing proper footwear, not flip-flops or open-toed shoes, you'll be fine and will be able to enjoy the Mars-like surroundings on the walk. The trail follows the ocean coast, so the views can be stunning. The lighthouse itself is a bit of dud. The only thing that could live in that house is a tiny bird. It's more accurate to call it a light beacon. But again, from the lighthouse location, you'll have incredible views of the ocean and the shoreline. To get to the trail head, drive out past Wailea and Makena until the road stops. The trail starts there.

'Iao Valley State Monument (Wailuku)
This half-mile loop around the base of the park is a plant lover's dream. The botanical garden is host to numerous plant and flower species, all clearly marked. From the park, you have perfect views of the iconic Iao Needle, a 1200-foot rock formation that seems to rise out of the valley like a tree. The Iao Valley is also a place of great cultural significance to the Hawaiian people. It is a sacred burial place of past chiefs. It was also the final battle site on Maui when Kamehameha the Great defeated the Maui army in his quest to unify the Hawaiian islands. You can learn about this and more on the park grounds. Parking is $5, free with Hawaii ID. ('Iao Valley State Monument)

Kapalua Coastal Trail
Following a partially paved, but never too rough trail, the Kapalua Coastal Trail is a simple path that runs from Kapalua Beach to D.T. Fleming Beach. The walk is 1.5 miles each way. One of the great things about this walk, besides gawking at the amazing views, is that it takes you past the relatively empty Oneloa Beach. This "hidden" cove sports a nice reef with plenty of turtles. If you bring snorkel gear, you'll be in for a treat. On days with large surf, it's also great for body surfing. Because of its location, the Kapalua Coastal Trail can get congested, but we think you should pack some snacks, take your time and check it out.

Waikamoi Nature Trail (Road to Hana)
The most difficult part of this hike is getting there. But if you're on the Road to Hana, it's a nice stop to get out of the car and stretch your legs. While there's no waterfalls, there's only a slight incline and very little mud. The trail is a nice dirt path that runs in a simple loop and takes about 20 minutes to compete. Along the way you'll see many plant varieties including trees that are over 600-years old. Bamboo and the multi-colored bark of the Instagram-favorite rainbow eucalyptus tree are two standouts. The trail is located just past mile marker 9 on the Road to Hana.

Wailea Coastal Walk
This mostly paved, 1.5 mile path takes you along the Wailea shore from Ulua Beach to Polo Beach. In between, if you start at Ulua Beach, you'll be passing in front of Wailea's gorgeous resorts on your left and some of the nicest beaches on Maui on your right. You'll see three islands-- Molokini, Molokai and Kahoolawe, and you can leave the path for a quick round of shopping or snacking at the Shops at Wailea. The beaches along the path are teeming with fish and turtles making for excellent snorkeling, especially at Ulua Beach. During the winter months, it's not unusual to see whales. Once the trail ends, if you continue along the rocky beach on a day with decent sized surf and wind, the beach literally whistles. It's a really neat phenomenon.

By the way, did you know that you can now save $10/person on our Maui Princess Dinner Cruise or a Snorkel Adventure to the island of Lanai? Well you can! Just use the promo code VIP20 after clicking on this link: Hawaii Ocean Project Adventures.

Coming to Maui and need to do a little research? The guidebooks presented here are all fantastic. For some visitors, a general guidebook is perfect, for others a specialized guidebook focusing on hiking or beaches might be better. We'll include a little of each in this article. At the bottom of the list, we'll also include a link to an online guide "book" that we think is outstanding. In fact, we use it more than the books currently lining our bookshelves. Just remember, the public libraries on Maui are stocked with guidebooks. For $10, you can get a 3-month visitors card and check out all of these books!

Fodor's Maui
Fodor's has a long history of producing excellent travel guides. Fodor's Maui does a great job of covering the basics: where to stay, where to eat, what to do. But the really nice thing about this book is a series of sections that gives historical backgrounds on such things as hulas and luaus, as well a nice fauna guide for plants and a mini-fish guide for what to expect to see while snorkeling. For a complete fish guide, we posted one here. Fodor's guides always have excellent maps and photos. Fodor's Maui is no exception.

Frommer's Maui
Our preference for a place like Maui is to have the guidebook broken out first by area/region, for example Lahaina, then show the lodging, restaurants and activities fall in that particular area. Frommer's Maui, though, divides their book by the activity, meaning you'll see the header "Lodging," then under that header it's broken down by region. Still, everyone has their own preferences. The information Frommer's does provide is deep. The maps and photos are nice. The section on the history of Maui is excellent, in fact it's the best of all of the books listed here. The "movies made in Hawaii" is a fun list.

Hiking Maui: The Valley Isle
This one is a classic. If hiking is your sole reason for coming to Maui, it's a no brainer that Hiking Maui: The Valley Isle should be your book of choice. It's easily the most in-depth and well researched Maui hiking book. That said, if you use this one, confirm your hike on Google first as it's been a few years since the last update.

Lonely Planet: Maui / Discover Maui
We always appreciate Lonely Planet guidebooks. To a book, they are easy to follow and the way they break down their sections makes sense. For Maui, they have two distinct guides. First is their complete Maui guidebook simply titled Maui. It covers what you expect in a multi-purpose guidebook... hotels/restaurants/activities. Like all Lonely Planet books, the pictures are vibrant and the content is well written. While their other book, Discover Maui, does cover lodging and restaurants, it's to a much lesser extent. Instead, it focuses on activities and adventures. If you already know where you're staying, we recommend this one. You can't go wrong with either book, though.

Maui Trailblazer
For a general "adventure" guide, this is our favorite book. When we first moved to Oahu, the Oahu edition is the book we chose. When we eventually moved here to Maui, it was again the first (and only) book we purchased. Maui Trailblazer is easy to read and well organized. It gives clear directions for hiking, surfing and general road trips. It also includes day-trip guides for Molokai and Lanai.

MauiGuidebook.com
Easily our favorite online Maui resource, this website is informative, well written and fun. If you're looking an interesting hike or a "hidden" beach, mauiguidebook.com will point you in the right direction. Being online, it's able to stay current. The photos are excellent. (MauiGuidebook.com)

You may be asking, "Where is Maui Revealed?" For the uninitiated, Maui Revealed is probably the most popular Maui Guidebook. It IS excellent, to a point. But it does things we just can't condone. Sure it points to "secret" places, but often at the cost of crossing private and sacred lands. If you use this book, please be respectful of your surroundings.

Did we miss one? Do have a favorite Maui guidebook? Let us know in the comments below. Mahalo!

Did you know Hawaii Ocean Project also owns a cafe on Front Street in Lahaina? It's called Ocean Cafe and it sits across the street from Banyan Tree Court Park. We chose this location because it's perfect if you're riding on a boat docked at Lahaina Harbor.

At the Ocean Cafe, they serve coffee from Maui Coffee Roasters, which, if you're not familiar, is roasted daily on Maui in small batches. Whether you like it hot or cold, black or with cream and sugar, or whipped up and frothed, the Ocean Cafe has your coffee needs covered. In addition to coffee, the cafe serves breakfast sandwiches, danishes and muffins for breakfast. For lunch, they offer sandwiches, hot dogs, and our favorite, chili dogs. Of course there's also chips, cookies, sodas, smoothies, water and more. You're allowed to take snacks on our boats, so fill up before your trip.

The Ocean Cafe also offers rentals for the beach, snorkel gear and even bicycle rentals. We recommend the tandem bike for just $25 a day. You can also book any of our ocean activities-- snorkel adventures, whale watch tours and sunset dinner cruises directly at the cafe, skipping the middleman.

So next time you're in Lahaina, swing by and say "aloha"!