Transportation Options


    Now that you have found accessible accommodations for your holiday, the next biggest challenge facing the disabled traveler is figuring out the transportation, especially if you are an electric wheelchair user or do not do car transfers.  On Maui we are fortunate to have quite a few transportation choices.  We have one national wheelchair accessible van company, a wheelchair accessible taxi and an accessible tour company on island.  We have the mainstream car rental companies like Hertz and Avis that are equipped to install hand controls also.
    We have had guests staying at our condo that have solved the transportation challenge using one or a combination of the following three options. 
 OPTION 1 - RENT AN ACCESSIBLE VAN

 Wheelchair Getaways     1-800-638-1912               Wheelers Van Rentals     1-877-735-6365




This option gets you from the airport to the condo, enables you to get the groceries and allows very easy access to all the wonderful activities available on island.  The vans are new or near new.  The downside of this option is the price. 


 
OPTION 2 - HIRE THE ACCESSIBLE SHUTTLE (MINI-VAN)

Hire an accessible shuttle (mini-van) to take you to the condo.  On the way you can ask the driver to stop at the grocery store. 

The amenities within wheeling distance of the condo include 4 miles of white sand beach, Ma'alaea Harbor (with tourist boats), Maui Ocean Center (Aquarium) and the Shops and Restauratns at Ma'alaea Village. 

Maui Public Bus which departs from Ma'alaea Harbor (.66 miles from our condo).

Polynesian Adventure Tours has a couple of accessible vehicles, which pick you up at the condo for scenic day tours of Haleakala and Hana.     

          Wheelers Van Rentals                    (877) 735-6365     advance notice is needed

          Maui Public Bus                              www.co.maui.hi.us/bus

          Polynesian Adventure Tours           (808) 877-4242    48 hour advance notice needed

     This option limits your mobility on island but costs less.  Wheelers Van Rentals has a wheelchair accessible mini-van.  Polynesian Adventure Tours has accessible vehicles, but caution that the Hana tour has limited accessible bathroom facilities.   Maui Public Bus system is wheelchair accessible and the drivers are knowledgable and friendly.  We used it and it works great.

OPTION 3 - HIRE THE ACCESSIBLE SHUTTLE AND A CONVERTIBLE

     We chose this option for 3 weeks in May 2000 and it worked wonderfully.   The disabled guest takes the accessible taxi to the condo while another in the party rents a normal vehicle (we chose a Mustang convertible).  Having the electric wheelchair around the condo and Ma’alaea offers the basic freedom that we were used to.  Transferring into a car was a new skill that Amy and I learned.  This option gave us wonderful scenic drives around Maui, over 1,000 miles in total.  The downside was limited access outside the vehicle for shopping and restaurants. 


Our drive around West Maui (manual wheelchair in back seat)

 
 
...or try a little of each option.