Are there any areas of Maui that are closed to rental car traffic? There are in fact a few areas where you are advised against driving with a rental car. These areas are officially open to vehicular traffic, but they are listed in most company rental agreements as "no-go" zones. These areas are highlighted in red on the map provided here. 

WHAT AREAS ARE RESTRICTED IN MAUI CAR RENTAL AGREEMENTS?

Rental agreements state that if a vehicle faces any issues or requires towing in these areas, renters will bear all related costs, and the rental agreement is voided, and the renters may face fees for unauthorized use of vehicle.

Piilani Highway (Hawaii Route 31) between Kipahulu and Ulupalakua

Known as the Back Road to Hana, long stretches of this road are unpaved, with extremely narrow sections (one-lane), and at risk of rock slides, flash floods, and muddy conditions that can get vehicles stuck. The area is mostly unpopulated, there are no nearby service locations (i.e. stores, gas stations) and there is no cell phone service. At night, herds of deer numbering in the dozens cross the road in the gulches, looking for food and water – collisions with deer are frequent. Unmarked cattle-guards on the road can cause serious damage to passenger vehicles if the driver is not attentive. The Maui Mayor's office has repeatedly reached out to rental car operators asking them to discourage customers from taking this route, because frequent calls for emergency services place an undue strain on the County budget. Tow services from this area can cost up to $2,000 – that's if you can even get a tow truck to go there. We have many reports of customers with AAA who were denied AAA service because the AAA contractor simply would not go there. We know of only one tow company that responds to tow calls in this area, East Maui Towing & Transport, nominally based in Hana; contact them directly for terms and price. 

Piilani Highway (Hawaii Route 31) South of Makena

This is the road serving the famed La Perouse Bay, where Europeans first set foot on Maui in May 1786, and it is also the site of the most recent volcanic activity on the island. One of the main hazards here is sharp volcanic rock on the unimproved road or at stopping points, that can shred tires and make them unrepairable – not to mention hazard to low clearance vehicle with engine, transmission, and under-carriage coming in contact with road surface.

Kahekili Highway (Route 340) from Honokohau Bay to Waihee

This stretch on Maui's North end, also known as the West Maui Loop, has spectacular views, blow holes, and even shave ice and burger food trucks near the isolated town of Kahakuloa. It also has long extremely narrow (one-lane) sections literally cut into a cliff with hundreds of feet of sheer drop off the side. The road has been paved to allow for emergency access to the West Side from Central Maui in situations when the main coastal highway serving Lahaina is closed due to accidents or other hazards, but this road is not suggested for recreational thru traffic.

Other Unimproved Or Unpaved Roads

This includes many unpaved roads that serve AirBnB and other short term accommodations that have popped up all over the North Shore and East Maui from Haiku to Hana. Many of these accommodations are scenic, rustic, and delightful, but the roads that serve them are not paved and not maintained by State or County, and they receive only sporadic private repair and maintenance – if any. Vehicles with low clearance are at particular risk of being stuck or high-centered in the deep ruts, and 2wd vehicles are at risk of getting stuck due the frequently muddy conditions in these high rainfall areas. If you have booked a stay in this area, be sure to check with your host about the road conditions and the recommendations for vehicle access. 

EMERGENCY ALERTS AND CLOSURES

Portions of Maui are at unpredictable risk from landslides, mudslides, rockfall, wildfires, coastal flooding, flash floods from heavy rains, and other hazards. Unforeseen road closures seem like an almost daily occurrence. When planning an excursion, check the Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) for current MEMA alerts and closures.

WHAT HAPPENS IN CASE OF INCIDENT IN THESE RESTRICTED AREAS? 

Anything can happen, but you can sure that you will be having a very memorable, not necessarily memorable, adventure. We do have reports of people being forced to sleep overnight in their car because help could not reach them the same day and they were not near any place to stay for the night. This pales in comparison to the possibility of a vehicle falling off a cliff or getting washed off a bridge - yes, both of these kinds of incidents do happen. 

As with any risky activity (think unprotected sex), everything is perfectly fine and you can completely get away with it, until you don't. 

Related post: Maui's Back Road to Hana.