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tour bus or car rental?

Nanaimo, Canada
Level Contributor
360 posts
13 reviews
6 helpful votes
tour bus or car rental?
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Just wondering how difficult or easy to drive our rental car from Kihei to see sunrise at Haleakala in late July?

I'd prefer driving myself so can stop when wish on return trip.

If taking tour bus/van, any suggestions?

Thanks for your help.

St. Paul, MN
Level Contributor
1,207 posts
18 reviews
8 helpful votes
1. Re: tour bus or car rental?
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The hard part is waking up in time to get there by sunrise, but it's easier if you do it early in your trip while you're still on mainland time. You might want to consider going up for sunset. There's many switchbacks, but the road is good, and driving isn't hard. One advantage of a bus/van, is that the driver/guide will usually "talk story" on the way. In any case, dress warm. It is usually about 30 degrees colder at the top.

S W Arkansas
Level Contributor
13,602 posts
20 reviews
9 helpful votes
2. Re: tour bus or car rental?
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Easy in a rental, just have to wake up early Anytime is beautiful on the summit. We allow 2 hours from Kihei for the drive.

Kapaa, Hawaii
Level Contributor
74,197 posts
3 reviews
11 helpful votes
3. Re: tour bus or car rental?
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Shouldn't be a problem. We did it quite a few times in our 1998 Sentra Beach Mobile!! It's a fairly easy drive, especially from Kihei.

Mount Holly, North...
Level Contributor
138 posts
33 reviews
43 helpful votes
4. Re: tour bus or car rental?
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It's not very difficult to drive there for sunrise....you just have to be OK with waking up in the middle of the night to get all the way up to the top in time. It's not a relaxing drive up, either, if you are the least bit nervous about driving narrow hairpin turns up a mountain. Having driven up in daylight, I would now be a little aprehensive about driving up in the pitch black. You might consider visiting Haleakala for sunset instead....take a couple of hours before sunset for the drive up and take your time to sightsee on the way, it's beautful. There are stopping points and short trails at various points to wander along on. Then end the trip at the top for a spectacular sunset above the clouds. We brought a blanket and just hung out for an hour or so at the top before the sun went down. It was very peaceful, and not rushed. The drive down, while dark-ish, isn't pitch black and by then you will be slightly familiar with the driving conditions. And you won't be exhausted for the drive back to Kihei and the rest of the day! Make sure you bring a blanket and warm clothes for the top. Have fun!

5. Re: tour bus or car rental?

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