Advice about where to look for rentals on Maui (Kahului: school, living)

[Cygnet09]

Hello,

My husband and I are both heading out to Maui in early June for interviews (we are both veterinarians) and would like to spend part of our time there looking in to where we should consider renting.

Assuming we are hired, my husband would work in Kahului, I would work in Kihei and our girls would go to school on Lower Kula Rd off Kula Hwy. Does anyone have any advice for where we should look that would be convenient for getting our girls to school and then getting to work?

During our last visit in August we stayed in Haiku, which we loved and we would prefer to live upcountry if possible. Makawao? Pukalani? Kula? Or somewhere down near Kahului?

Thank you!

[winkosmosis]

It's a long drive from Kula to Kihei. There used to be a road between upcountry and Kihei, but it was closed down. Upcountry people don't want riff raff from Kihei bothering them. Supposedly there is going to be a new outlet mall in Kihei and the building plan includes a road to upcountry-- not sure where but I'm guessing Pukalani.

If you want to live upcountry, of course you should live in Pukalani. Kahului is a stripmall sprawl that you definitely don't want to live in.

[Calico Salsa]

Yup, any you named, although the main roads in Makawao can get clogged up during 'commute' times.

Pukalani or Kula seems best, depending on the hours you need to get anywhere. Living near where your girls will go to school means the possibility of them getting rides with other parents. Then you can start your long drive to Kihei and your husband's shorter but still significant drive to Kahului.

Check with the school to see if there are any rideshare programs at the school. Do they have a bus? That would help with timing and schedules.

People on the mainland drive a lot, but I notice here on Maui even a 15 mile drive seems enormous to everyone - us included now that we've lived here a while. An hour to work or dinner in California was expected. Here a run from Kihei to Kahului Costco means we plan to make 5 other stops while in town, let alone ask the neighbors if they want anything. Different mindset. But admittedly a nicer drive here. No big trucks on the roads. No freeways, just a couple of highways.