How to Drive in Hawaii (Kihei, Kailua: rental, condo, credit)

[Jungjohann]

Was just out for a spin down Kihei Road here on Maui. Trying to get onto the road from the drive up to my condo and make a right hand turn, NOBODY will let me in, even though the traffic light about 100 yards up the street is red. Drivers, mostly tourists, are blocking the intersection, and I'm just asking myself, "What the hell are they thinking of?" It is an Island, I've verified that, surrounded by water, so I think Maui qualifies in that regard, there really aren't that many places to go, SO WHY THE FRIGGIN RUSH!!!!!!!!! Anyways, finally make my right hand turn, go to Foodland etc. Coming back, there's a FedEx van in the opposite direction, trying to make a left hand turn into a driveway. All kinds of traffic in front of me, and behind me, I know the FedEx guy, stop my car, blink the lights at him, he throws a shaka, and makes his turn.....In the mean time, some total idiot tourist in a rental Jeep, has gotten about as close to my rear bumper as he can, and is honking his horn and going all haole ballistic. I'm driving a small sportscar, if it had been my 4WD F150, I would have slipped it into 4WD and started to backup..Point being, if you're new to the Islands, or are visiting, show a little Aloha on the road, and be hohomonawanui, as in patient. It's not like you're driving from NYC to LA, and Lahaina, Iao Valley, Hana and Haleakala aren't exactly going anywhere,,,Well, maybe Haleakala....... End of rant, I'm now malianui

Aloha

[hotzcatz]

Yuppers, if you go too fast on an island you'll fly right off of it. Happens all the time, folks go rushing around all lolo like and then *poof!* they aren't here anymore. The folks that drive with respect they will be here next week.

[Jungjohann]

You know, normally it doesn't bother me that much, tourists in a hurry, cause you can almost hear the conversation from the tourist car........

Honey......Honey.......HONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! We've got to be at the Old Lahaina Luau in 30 minutes, just cut that guy off!!!!!

But Sweety, we'll never get there in 30 minutes, just look at the traffic!!!!!

Honey, just pass that jerk!!!!!!!!

But Sweety, this is Kihei Road, it's only two lanes!!

Just pass him anyways, what a jerk, letting that FedEx van turn like that, we could be a lot closer to the red light if that idiot hadn't stopped!!!!!!! Pass him!!!!

Sweety, don't think we should, what about the cops????

Cops schmopps already, we paid good money for our 5 day three Island vacation, and we're going to make the best of it, just pass him already!!!!

Sweety, what Island is this anyways?????

Eh.............could da kine happen

[leilaniguy]

We got those down here in Puna too, and we have the ones that stop dead in the middle of the road to take pictures or read maps. At least most of the tourists are in convertibles so they're easy to spot and avoid.

[stan4]

As an avid Hawaiian tourist, every time I go, I take the opportunity to relax and enjoy my walks, my drives, and the peaceful surroundings/aloha spirit.

Mahalo for always making us feel welcome.

[brkbowma]

I agree totally jungjo, tourists should slow down and be courtious of other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Locals will almost aways stop and let you turn, the tourists pay no attention. I am a tourist, we come every year to Kihei, so I feel like I can call us out on this.

[MadRussian]

It's funny but every time I get back from Hawaii to East Coast, for at least week I can't drive in normal mainland way. I drive everyone around me crazy going 20 mph in residential areas and 45 mph on expressway.
... but after that I become normal driver and go 75-80 on expressways and 55 on rest of roads

[Loysum]

I don't even take the freeways where I live..I am from Hawaii and don't think I'll ever get used to people driving 80 miles per hour plus......jeepers.....it's an accident just waiting to happen. I am one of those people who actually drive the speed limit and know I drive everyone nuts asthey try and get around me.

[HankDfrmSD]

Originally Posted by Loysum

I don't even take the freeways where I live..I am from Hawaii and don't think I'll ever get used to people driving 80 miles per hour plus......jeepers.....it's an accident just waiting to happen. I am one of those people who actually drive the speed limit and know I drive everyone nuts asthey try and get around me.

Every six months I move back and forth between Kailua, Oahu and San Diego, so for six months I Drive Aloha, and for the other six I Drive California, or get run over!

It takes a while to make the transitions!

Hank

[jde]

I have to give you islanders credit where credit is due. When we were in Maui in September I remember thinking how the grocery store parking lot looked like a circus! All the tourists just driving around in circles! Then I went in the store and with my cart load of groceries got in the express line! A Hawaiian woman behind me never said a word. When it was my turn to check out the cashier not very nicely told me I was in express. The Hawaiian started laughing and saying, "Put it back!". I was humiliated and started to put the groceries back in my cart. Then I asked the cashier if I should switch lanes and she sighed and agreed to check me out. I felt all eyes were on me now and couldn't have been happier to get out of that store.
I think it would get old having to put up with the tourists driving like maniacs and making silly mistakes, but the Hawaiians have a laid back personality that deals with it.