With no public transportation on the island, renting a vehicle is practically necessary to see Maui's fabulous attractions — unless you plan to stay on the grounds of your hotel or travel with a tour group. For a bit of adventure you can even rent an exotic car or, if you have the appropriate license, a motorcycle.

Getting to your hotel: West Maui resort destinations are between 27 and 38 miles from the Kahului airport, about a 45-minute drive on the Honoapi'ilani Highway. South Maui resorts are between 12 and 19 miles from the airport, a 20-minute drive via Kuihelani Hwy 380 (if you're headed to Ma'alaea) or Mokulele Hwy 311 (if you're headed to Kihei, Wailea or Makena). If you're traveling to Upcountry Maui, you'll drive 10-15 miles on the Haleakala Hwy. (The Haleakala summit is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Lahaina and 2 hours from Wailea.) If you're headed east to Hana, it's a slow, winding, 52-mile drive via the famous Hana Highway. Allow two to three hours for the trip.

Finally, some areas on the island are best tackled with a four-wheel-drive vehicle, including Polipoli State Park (on the slopes of Haleakala Volcano), the fishing village of Kahakuloa in West Maui, and La Perouse Bay south of Makena.