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Kahului Gateway

Every Maui zone starts at Kahului, even though the zone maps do not show it: the airport is the only way in. This is the logistics page for it: where to sleep, where to eat, who drives, how to get a car, and where to find a surf shop.

Researched

This gateway page is a first, light version. Every listing is a real local business found on paper and not yet verified in person; prices, hours and details are strong starting points, not gospel.

Logistics

Getting There

Kahului Airport (OGG) is the island's gateway for the Maui North, Maui South and Maui West zones (reported on the zone pages). It has a consolidated Rental Car Center reached by a 6-minute tram ride from the terminal. A rental car is effectively required to cover Kīhei and Wailea, or Lahaina, Kāʻanapali, Napili and Kapalua, in a reasonable time. Pāʻia is roughly 10 to 15 minutes east of the airport on Hāna Highway, and Haʻikū a few minutes further.

Hawaiʻi is part of the United States: US citizens have no entry formalities, and visitors from abroad follow US entry rules for their passport. Check the official source.

Logistics

Getting Out of the Airport

  • Rental car: the Rental Car Center is a 6-minute tram ride from the terminal (reported on the zone pages).
  • Shuttle: SpeediShuttle and Robert's Hawaiʻi Maui Express serve resort areas (reported on the zone pages); local operators are listed below.
  • Maui Bus: fixed routes serve the airport on 90-minute headways but are not built for surf gear (reported on the zone pages).
Logistics

Around the Island

  • Pāʻia and Haʻikū: 10 to 15 minutes east of the airport (reported on the Maui North page).
  • Kīhei and Wailea: covered on the Maui South page.
  • Lahaina, Kāʻanapali, Napili and Kapalua: covered on the Maui West page.

For the full route notes, see the Getting There section on each Maui zone page.

The gateway

Stays

Kahului & Wailuku

  • Wailuku GuesthouseWailuku Bed and breakfast with a high rating. About 3 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.3 from 87 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Howzit HostelsKahului area Hostel with a top rating from over 1,000 reviews. About 3 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 1,000 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Banana Bungalow Maui HostelWailuku Hostel with about 1,000 reviews. About 3 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.3 from about 1,000 reviews. Google Maps listing

Chain airport hotels are left out.

Pāʻia

  • Mangolani InnPāʻia Inn with a high rating. About 1 km from Pāʻia in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 120 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Pāʻia Inn HotelPāʻia Hotel with over 200 reviews. About 2 km from Pāʻia in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.3 from about 200 reviews. Google Maps listing

Pāʻia is 10 to 15 minutes east of the airport (reported on the zone page).

Kīhei

  • Pineapple Inn MauiKīhei Cottage inn with a high rating. About 7 km from Kīhei in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 82 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Kohea Kai MauiKīhei Hotel with over 400 reviews. About 1 km from Kīhei in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.2 from about 400 reviews. Google Maps listing
The gateway

Where to Eat

Kahului & Wailuku

  • Tante's Island CuisineKahului Hawaiian restaurant with over 1,000 reviews. About 1 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.2 from about 1,100 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Kalei's LunchboxMaui Lani Restaurant with a high rating. About 2 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 350 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Oyako TeiWailuku Family restaurant with a high rating. About 1 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 210 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Faithful GrindsWailuku Restaurant with a high rating. About 1 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 260 reviews. Google Maps listing

Bakeries & Coffee

  • Stillwell's Bakery & CafeWailuku Bakery with a high rating. About 2 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 670 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Momona Bakery and Coffee ShopWailuku Bakery and coffee shop with a high rating. About 1 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 860 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Wailuku Coffee CompanyWailuku Coffee shop with a high rating. About 3 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 810 reviews. Google Maps listing
The gateway

Transport Companies

Shuttles & Taxis

  • Maui PickupKahului Transport service with a top rating. About 7 km from Kahului Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from 27 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Island Locker LifeKahului Airport shuttle with a top rating from nearly 180 reviews. About 3 km from Kahului Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from about 180 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • CB Taxi MauiKahului Taxi service with a high rating. About 6 km from Kahului Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from about 140 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Maui Airport Taxi-ShuttleKahului Taxi and shuttle service. About 6 km from Kahului Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.1 from 82 reviews. Google Maps listing

The zone pages also list the shared-shuttle operators SpeediShuttle and Robert's Hawaiʻi Maui Express (reported); ratings for some shuttles are mixed, so confirm board-bag rules.

Car Rental & Campervans

  • Frank's Friendly CarsMaui Independent car rental with a high rating. About 2 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 280 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Maui CruisersMaui Independent car rental with a high rating. About 5 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 260 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Cruisin' Maui Rent-A-CarMaui Independent car rental with a top rating from over 500 reviews. About 3 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from about 500 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Mana Vans HawaiiMaui Campervan rental with a top rating. About 3 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from about 140 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • North Shore VansMaui Campervan rental with a high rating. About 1 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 100 reviews. Google Maps listing

The airport's Rental Car Center is reached by a 6-minute tram and holds the major agencies (reported on the zone page); those brands are left out here. A car is effectively required.

The gateway

Board & Luggage Storage

We found no storage listing that confirms it takes a full board bag. Ask your accommodation first. Chain luggage-storage networks are left out.

Luggage Storage

  • Island Locker LifeKahului Airport shuttle that also advertises lockers; ask whether it takes a board bag. About 3 km from Kahului Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from about 180 reviews. Google Maps listing

Locker sizes rarely fit a full board bag; ask your accommodation first. The luggage-storage networks are left out.

Surf Shops

  • Hi-Tech Surf SportsKahului Surf shop with a high rating from nearly 350 reviews. About 2 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 350 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Maui TropixKahului Surf shop with a high rating. About 2 km from Kahului in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 160 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • Maui WaveridersKīhei Surf rentals and shop with a high rating from over 600 reviews. About 4 km from Kīhei in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 620 reviews. Google Maps listing
  • 808 BoardsLahaina Surf shop with a high rating. About 8 km from Lahaina in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 240 reviews. Google Maps listing
Onward

Getting Out to the Zones

Maui: see Maui North, Maui South and Maui West.

Logistics FAQ

Questions People Actually Ask.

Which airport do I fly into for Maui?

Kahului (OGG) is the island's gateway (reported on the zone pages).

Do I need a rental car?

Effectively yes for every Maui zone; the Rental Car Center is a 6-minute tram ride from the terminal (reported on the zone pages).

How far is Pāʻia from the airport?

Roughly 10 to 15 minutes east on Hāna Highway (reported on the Maui North page).

Is there public transport?

Maui Bus has fixed routes serving the airport on 90-minute headways, but they are not built for surf gear (reported on the zone pages).

Do I need a visa?

Hawaiʻi is part of the United States; visitors from abroad follow US entry rules for their passport.

The fine print

Disclosure & How This Page Works.

Straight talk: Some links on this site are affiliate links — if you book through them, Secrets of Surf Travel earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link places and people we’d use ourselves, and coverage is never for sale. Nothing on this page is an affiliate link today; every listing link is a plain courtesy link.

Every listing was researched in 2026 and has not yet been verified in person. Prices, hours, and policies change; treat them as strong starting points and confirm directly with the business. And per the No-Reveal Code: you will find no surf spots on this page, ever.