Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For car rental in downtown Lahaina,
Hertz
(256 Papalaua St., 808/661-7735, 8am-4pm
daily) has a desk in the strip mall on the inland side of the highway by the Subway sand-
wich shop.
Taxi
In West Maui, taxi options include
West Maui Taxi
(808/661-1122),
AB Taxi
(808/
667-7575), and
Paradise Taxi
(808/661-4455). A ride from Lahaina to Ka'anapali is about
$15, and from Ka'anapali to Kapalua about $25. Going rates for a cab ride to Kahului Air-
port from Ka'anapali are about $100, so you might want to think twice about that plan to
take a cab to the hotel. For longer trips in the island's most comfortable vans, call
MJ Taxi
(808/283-9309)
Shuttle
Both Kapalua and Ka'anapali offer resort shuttles within the resort and to select areas
of West Maui. The free
Kapalua Shuttle
(808/665-9110) runs throughout the resort for
guests on an on-demand basis between 6am and 11pm. There's even complimentary trans-
portation to the Kapalua Airport five times daily.
WHY DO LOCALS HONK IN THE TUNNEL?
As a general rule, locals don't use their car horns. After all, this isn't Manhattan.
Maui drivers are much more apt to wave each other into traffic and throw a big
shaka
out the window than to ever think about touching their horn. For youth who
have never left, the only reason cars even have horns is to say hi to your friend as
you drive on by.
The one exception to this rule, however, is in the tunnel on the highway between
Ma'alaea and Lahaina. When you pass through its dark interior, it isn't uncommon
to hear passing vehicles lay on the horn like a cabbie in a traffic jam.
The reason has nothing to do with acoustics or pedestrian safety. It revolves
around a local superstition that honking in the tunnel will help ward off spirits. Vari-
ous iterations exist, with backstories range from mischievous
menehune
(mythical
Hawaiian little people) hiding all your stuff from you to the feared “night marchers”
coming for your soul.
If soul-seeking night marchers don't sound like guests you want to invite on your
vacation, play it safe and do as the locals do. Go ahead and honk as you pass through
