Live in Lahaina work in Wailuku, doable? (Kahului, Kihei: sales, rentals)

[makp715]

We are looking at moving to Maui next year, we had talked about the midwest, but some things changed and we need a consistant climate. In looking at home sales and rentals etc, we are wondering what distance is reasonable?

Both my husband and I have lived 45 min or more from work before, driving highway speeds. But everytime I have looked at the map between Lahaina and Wailuku there has been at least one road closure.

[maywin26]

It's doable, but not advisable. There is only one way to get there and there can be a lot of traffic at times. There is something different about living on the island and what we were used to when it came to distances. I really can't explain the phenomenon. It used to take me ten minutes just to get to the nearest grocery store where I used to live. Thirty minutes to get most places. Now if I have to drive that far it seems like a chore.

[Koale]

Originally Posted by makp715

We are looking at moving to Maui next year, we had talked about the midwest, but some things changed and we need a consistant climate. In looking at home sales and rentals etc, we are wondering what distance is reasonable?

Both my husband and I have lived 45 min or more from work before, driving highway speeds. But everytime I have looked at the map between Lahaina and Wailuku there has been at least one road closure.

and it is a real bumber considering there is only one road that gets you from Lahaina to Wailuku until you reach N. Kihei Rd. If you get stuck in a traffic jam you sit there...for hours. But, it's doable.
Koale

[winkosmosis]

People do it, but it sucks

[MauiPartTimer]

I'd advise against any commute in/out of West Maui for the reasons stated above, and certainly not for a job with regular workign hours. Too much of a crap shoot.

I've even postings for jobs in West Maui where they've said you must live in West Maui.

To the OP, was there a specific reason you're planning on living in Lahaina?

[whynot?]

Have lived in Lahaina (Ka'anapali) for over 12 years. Wouldn't advise this UNLESS family happiness in West Maui priority exceeds job happiness in Wailuku. I'm sure others do this commute, but not sure WHY (unless County/State professional job AND strong preference for West Maui locale for family, etc.). "Road closure" between Lahaina and Wailuku usually means traffic-accident-with-fatality (or grave injury). Occasionally, but rarely "rock slide on the Pali" and/or "rock slide due to earthquake" or "FIRE!"

We have many friends who commute from Wailuku or Makawao to Lahaina, but usually for high-paying jobs that "go the other way."

Best of luck.

[8o8state]

you could always commute by bicycle as the shoulders on W Maui are very wide and pretty well maintained. Although there is the possibility that you may incur the wrath of angry motorists stuck in traffic for hours while you whisk by on a bicycle, perhaps even with a smile on your face. If I lived in W Maui, I would totally commute everywhere by bicycle, but I realize this is not a viable option for everyone. What the responses say here is spot on, in many areas there is only one road to get to/from and if there are closures, construction, or an accident, you might be stuck in traffic for a very long time.

[winkosmosis]

Originally Posted by 8o8state

you could always commute by bicycle as the shoulders on W Maui are very wide and pretty well maintained. Although there is the possibility that you may incur the wrath of angry motorists stuck in traffic for hours while you whisk by on a bicycle, perhaps even with a smile on your face. If I lived in W Maui, I would totally commute everywhere by bicycle, but I realize this is not a viable option for everyone. What the responses say here is spot on, in many areas there is only one road to get to/from and if there are closures, construction, or an accident, you might be stuck in traffic for a very long time.

That's a long bicycle ride, and the shoulder isn't broad in all places. Every year a few pedestrians and scooter riders on the shoulder get hit by cars.

[makp715]

Thanks for the comments, no specific reason we were looking there except a decent priced rental caught my eye.

[MauiPartTimer]

Originally Posted by makp715

Thanks for the comments, no specific reason we were looking there except a decent priced rental caught my eye.

That probably has somethign to with why a rental would be priced decently. No coincidence that most non-hospitality jobs are Kahului and Wailuku. If you're working anywhere but Lahaina/West Maui, the commute's gonna...what's the Hawaiian word for "suck"?