The Hawai'i Driver’s Guidebook
Driving Help

Luckily, you have many sources of help with driving while on the Islands. Your most likely calamity will be occasionally getting lost, which can just be part of the experience, if you let it.

MAPS are bountiful and you can find them attached to most of the free tourist booklets that frequent shopping centers, gas stations, airports, etc. Have fun pronouncing the street and town names! (here's one for you: Kawananakoa Street in Wailuku, Maui)(see the Words to the Wise section for the Hawaiian version of commonly used English words )

If you get tired, or are lost, try stopping at a convenient spot to relax and ponder your situation in a more rested state. Someone may come along to help, or you may just get to like being lost!

If you want to be helpful, try pulling over for faster moving vehicles, assist others who may be lost or just smile and wave (shaka) to those you pass or come in contact with -- it’s the Island way!

Hawai'i is rapidly installing EMERGENCY PHONES ) along it’s highways on the Islands. These phones are solar powered and have a blinking blue light on the top of them. They are for emergency use only, so don’t think you can use one to make dinner reservations!

Hawai'i has an abundance of great ROADSIDE STOPS, including beaches, parks, bamboo forests, beautiful views, quaint towns, not to mention tourist attractions! So stop often for a repose from driving.

If you're driving a RENTAL CAR, remember there are roads you are not suppose to drive on, such as the last section of the Hana Highway between the Seven Sacred pools and the winery near Kula Hospital on Maui, and the road over the Big Island between the two volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. If you drive on them anyway and break down, you may want to get help from someone other than the car rental agency.

So what are the chances of you NEEDING HELP? Most likely that will take the form of: getting lost, a flat tire, or over heating your car. If LOST, which can happen easy in unfamiliar territory with very unusual names - remember to use your maps and ask for directions. Plus asking for help may just inspire a local to tell you more than directions, if they're in the mood to "talk story" (share life stories). If you are going to drive on the "forbidden" roads, check to make sure your car has all the tire changing equipment when you rent it, in case you get a FLAT TIRE. As you've heard, it can get hot in Hawai`i, especially if you are cruising along plains of black lava rock near the airport in Kona, so watch your car's temperature gauge so you don't OVERHEAT it.

You shouldn't be afraid to ASK LOCALS FOR HELP. Just be aware of the island's version of the "evil eye", called "stink eye" (see the Tourist Survival Guide chapter). You'll know it if someone gives it to you, which is your sign to back off and leave. It's rare, and you will mostly find locals are eager to assist you, as well as other tourists.

Finally, for those interested in bring a Vehicle to Hawaii, here is the dope on that. Matson is really the only one who does it, others will charge you more and use Matson anyway, so stick with the source. The cost is under a $1,000 currently -- exactly how much depends on where you ship it from (port); where your shipping it to (which Island) and what kind of vehicle you have. You are not suppose to have personal items in the vehicle when it ships -- you can anyway, but Matson will not be liable for the loss of them. Expect anything small and of any value at all to disappear. Check the physical condition of your car out good when it arrives and as soon as you can have the mechanics of it checked too, as those seamen can be tough on a car! See the Reference page for contact information.

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