My wife, four-year-old son and I rented a ~'90 Westfalia from Aloha Campers this past spring (2017) from Aloha Outdoors. The "are you chill" questions on registration are relevant, and pleasantly reciprocal. In detail... As is made super clear up front, we were renting a vintage Westy for some camping around Maui. Warts and all. If folks aren't reading the bold print while making their reservation, then they are in a world of grumpy disappointment. After a somewhat last moment pickup reservation on our part, we were met by a nice lady who drove the three of us to Aloha Outdoors in Kihei. She not only checked us out on the van, but also ensured we were set with camping paraphernalia (chairs, etc), gave us a solid understanding of island options available and not available to us. We had already booked ourselves at Waianapanapa and Camp Olowalu, but were thankful for the miscellaneous detail. Our Westy was on the worn side of their fleet. The ice box was out of order, we were using the backup range by the first morning, little blemishes here and there, missing little bits like the front chair tables, etc. After 172k miles it is expected. Nothing dramatic. Driving the Westy was a bit more than initially expected. I've been behind the wheel of '72 VW Bus and other '60-'70 model cars, but was initially shocked by the driving characteristics of our Westy. It took 30-60 minutes to get into the safe groovy of driving her. (And once I was back home, I was hitting the brakes on my modern car too hard!). TL;DR: break early, having driving experience with older cars is super beneficial. Regardless of driving stress, it was an amazing trip. We had the black sands beach of Waianapanapa to ourselves at times, we met lots of great people, amazing sights, waterfalls, shave ice, etc. "Do you live Aloha?" Yeah. And Aloha Outdoors does too. On my last full day I backed the Westy into a rock. A bunch of bondo popped off the rear passenger wheel well. *Crap*. Afterwards I called the hotline to explain myself. The gentlemen was not pleased and said someone needed to inspect it when the VW was returned the next day. The next day the intake crew was unpulsed, photographed the damage to the owner, and ... I never heard back. Aloha goes both ways, and I appreciate that with these folks. My son still talks about this trip. "Makapipi" is his favorite new word. WE still talk about this trip. Highly recommended, get a Westy while you can. read more

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This made my time on Maui absolutely unforgettable. From the minute we were picked up at the airport to the minute we were dropped off, I was happy, comfortable, and excited about van life. We got the light blue van with automatic transmission (road to Hana with a manual trans-no thanks!) and Noelle went through the van's features thoroughly before giving us a map of the island and circling all the camping spots available to us and our van baby. After giving us our camping chairs and wishing us a great time, we were off! We drove the road to Hana with no issues, camped in the rain, camped in the wind, by the beach, under streetlights and in the middle of nowhere. This van trip was so much more than accommodations and transportation; it was a literal and figurative vehicle for the kind of life I want to live. Staying in a hotel on a tropical island is nice; you can sleep in AC, lounge by the pool. shower and change in privacy, eat 5 star food and never ever feel out of your element. Staying in a camper van is awesome; you can sleep under the stars next to the ocean, lounge on a remote beach and then nap there, cook inventive, delicious meals with your camping partner, enjoy their company, and be bored enough to do things you wouldn't normally do (talk story for hours, play cards, snuggle up and watch the sun set for an afternoon). It was pretty incredible to actually spend multiple days worth of quality time with my husband, not just occupy the same space while looking at separate screens. You meet so many people who love "your" van, who want to tell you all about the van they used to have, and who embody the elusive aloha spirit that makes human interaction worthwhile and meaningful. We made several friends who dined with us on my glamorous one burner concoctions, or who entertained us with their stories from so many various walks of life over beers shared in camp chairs around the van's "living room". The van isn't perfect- it's 30 years old, and obviously is not a rolling Hilton. If you're creative, adventurous, and willing to see the bright side of any situation, you will LOVE Aloha Campers. Sure, we had to pull over a few times so Bluebell could cool down, and the E-brake light stayed on the entire trip. The back door flew open once in transit, and one morning I woke up with wet toes after some heavy sideways rain. The fridge never worked, and the cooler only kept our beer cold for three days. But those experiences just didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. We lived in a VW van, courtesy of Aloha Campers, on freaking Maui. Plain and simple. We cannot wait until we have a van of our own, and it was all because of this trip. MAHALO NUI LOA!!!! read more

Aloha Outdoors - Big Swells at Haleakala at Kipahulu! - RV Rental Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

UPDATE: The owner responded by saying that my review was for the wrong company. Since I purchased their yelp deal, it was strange that I would review the wrong company. However, I wanted to be sure and checked back on my billing records. It clearly shows that it is the same company. Even their website gets redirected to alohaoutdoors.com. What is even stranger is the company they directed me to has the same icon logo as the company I am apparently confusing them with. REVIEW: We made a last minute decision to go with Aloha Campers, a huge mistake. We paid a premium to drive one of their "newest" cars which ended up being an old 2003 rundown Honda Element with a broken odometer. The amenities they claimed the car had wasn't accurate. There was no bluetooth, aux or usb hook up so we were stuck with the CD they so graciously provided or static from the radio. Sleeping bags had food wrappers in them and smelled like they had never been washed and the cooler had old food and water in it. Our battery burned out, they blamed that on us. We used the car to charge our phones one at a time when driving to use as GPS so I guess it is our fault if that is enough to take out a car battery. I've done multiple longer road trips and never had that be a problem. We were forced to pay their insurance but it didn't cover anything. Just beware that their insurance still requires you to cough up $1k before they will start covering anything. The car was damaged and they charged us $600 to "fix" it themselves with no proof that it would actually cost that much. At this point, it is clear that they pocketed the money for their much needed fleet update. You are honestly better off just renting from one of the big car rental places close by the airport for half the price with blanket insurance and stopping by a store to pick up camping supplies, it is still going to be cheaper than renting a car with them. Our bill ended up being $1.2k vs $150 if we had just gotten a regular car with full insurance coverage. Good luck. read more

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This is definitely the way to see Maui! We loved our experience with Aloha campers, Brendan, the owner was really nice, informative, and helpful. We spent three nights going around the island and loved every minute of it. The camper was clean, worked well, and was stocked with everything needed for a great time. We were warm and dry even in the down pours that occurred for pretty much an entire day of driving the Hana highway. I would recommend this as the way to see Maui, who needs a resort when the entire island is a playground paradise, and you can camp practically everywhere for no extra money! read more

Not one complaint. We loved renting the westy to camp with our 2 small boys in Maui! Everything worked fine except the fridge, but the cooler sufficed. It was fantastic on gas. It was fun to drive, great to have some comforts of home (even had a French press!) and a dry place to sleep when it rains. Falling asleep to the rain was fantastic. Finding places to camp as others have said, is the tricky part. We stayed at olawalu the first night which was basically a parking spot. Terrible, I will be reviewing them next. They do not let camper vans anywhere near the beach. Camp keanae was amazing. We stayed there nights 2&4I will review them as well. Kipahulu was awesome. We stayed there night 3. Stay tuned for more reviews from this trip. read more

We rented a 24' boat for 6 hours on November 5. They were very informative and helpful, giving us instructions on how to operate the boat and the best places to go while we were on the water. When we decided to come in a bit early, they accommodated us and met us at the dock. We would highly recommend this company. read more

Aloha! We rented a camper for only 3 days. We got grayish blue camper with automatic gear. Since we have a 3 year old daughter, we took our car seat. Already before the trip we knew we have to be ready for the fact that these cars are old, so there would likely be cockroaches, spiders, no air condition and so on. My father had similar vehicle so I knew what we are renting. The hand over of the vehicle went ok, except we were waiting one and a half hour extra because of a technical issue. We were ok with this because naturally felt better knowing that everything was checked. Owner gave us a tour and showed us the car and explained everything very professionally. He also showed us also where there are campgrounds, where to pay and so on. From three camps, two had different prices, than he told us (or are in booklet). We felt very mid-led in this regard. Although the engine had 106.000 miles, we had no problems at all. Only the speedometer was working other hour and there was constantly a red break light on. Later on, the technician told me there is a switch :/ for that. The speakers were terrible and only one was working and we were afraid that it will fall off from the door any minute. It was nice to hear the engine when you drive, but you can not really talk with anyone in the back. The camping itself was cool. Of course we saw cockroaches and spiders the size your palm, but cockroaches run away (they can get in the fridge too) from you and spiders you can just catch and release outside. We got giant spiders after camping on an organic farm. Our daughter was also fine with these things. If you don't freak out, child doesn't freak out either. After we returned car, I realized we probably got the worst (looking) car, so your experience should be much better. This was DEFINETLY a good experience overall! Camping in a such van is fun, challenging and exiting. But we should have done it long time ago...Like 25 years ago, so we could have really enjoyed this van! Today it feels like they don't put money back into the vehicles. Or they do, But because vehicles are old need much more care and money. Owner should DEFINETLY update vehicles since the concept and island living are awesome. We would pay more if there was a better one. Speaking about money, of course you don't save money traveling with camper vs private accommodation. Don't forget prices of the camps(if you do it the legal way and get permits). The permit fees are double if you are not a HI citizen and again it doubles during the weekend. What bothered me was the fact, that there is no camp providing electricity, which you could plug the van into. It would be a very different experience. In this case I recommend the owner of Aloha Campers to provide every car with a lantern style camping light. The current light in the car is just killing the battery, so you quickly become stressed about how much you can use the big light. Another suggestion is to provide ice in the ice cooler that is comes with the car, since the refrigerator is not working. That would be fair. It would be easier if we could just camp anywhere. Of course you have to have "permission" and stay in certain places. We asked "around" and yes. Police are checking people time to time. Since we don't have car insurance in the USA, we purchased one for 15$ a day directly at Alohas campers place. I DEFINETLY recommend to try renting a camper. I'm just not sure if a not well maintained car is the right option. Search for nice one. It makes a significant difference! I wish I could have rented my fathers old car (skoda 1203 ) from 1968! Mahalo for reading this! read more

Part of me, for selfish reasons, wishes their rating is low. That is, I don't want Aloha Campers to become so popular that I can't rent one of their cars. But it light of having a top 10 life experience - part and parcel of the Westfalia - I have to set the record straight: Aloha Campers is a gem. On an island of such biological diversity and hotels that strangle you with their exorbitant rates and miscellaneous charges - renting a Westfalia and traveling the island is the best way to experience the true Maui without breaking the bank. The vehicle was in excellent shape and their local insights made a difference. Cruising with the windows down, Hawaiian music playing and coastal scenery abound - you have no choice to have your soul shake with joy. Each night, we were able to park right on the beach, pop the top of the camper up and have views and sounds of the ocean. One night we had a beach all to ourselves. This is not for everyone. If you're looking for a manicured vacation, you'll be let down. This is for the adventurous spirit and those that want to go off the beaten trail. I highly recommend Aloha Campers...just keep a 'Westy' handy for my return. read more

Chris with the boat rentals is incredible!! I highly recommend renting a boat while in Maui, amazing what's possible when you captain your own boat! read more

Traveled in May 2016 I was looking for weeks to find the best deal for a Camper. Have traveled around Australia in a Camper was a great and very cheap way of traveling. I wanted to use the exact same approach on Maui and safe money by having your home with you at all times. It's clearly not a resort type of trip and more an adventure. A very great alternative if you feel close to nature. We got advised that you have to use Campgrounds and buy permits in order to camp. I can confirm that you will be fine if you keep moving. We have not paid for a single night and woke up every morining in front of beautiful beaches. It's just as easy if you keep moving. We got woken up by police once in Hana but that was the only time and after explaining, that we were coming in very late at night and didnt really know where to go, they let us stay and sleep there. The camper we have been given was great. No issues at all and the team at Aloha Campers was very helpful. Thanks again. read more

These guys are awesome! The vans are older but in great shape. Super friendly people! My girlfriend and I just spent 5 nights all around Maui! We camped on the beach, camped near fresh water caves, waterfalls, etc. we even got engaged! Thanks Aloha Campers for making our trip so amazing! read more

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Well what can I say about the trip of a lifetime? We got engaged in the Westy. We drove to Hana with no problems. We spent a magical time at a National Park. It was all because of two things: our adventurous nature and the best Westy in the world. We had "Ruby Red" and she was a gem! Brandon was totally cool and showed me everything I needed to know. The van was legit and had no issues. I would recommend Aloha Campers to anyone headed to Maui. We spent less for a home and car in one spot than anyone could manage with a hotel + rental car. Why would you want to sleep in one spot anyway? 10/10 read more

Aloha Outdoors - A classic Westy in action - RV Rental Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

We rented a westy from them for a 10 day honeymoon on Maui and had a great time. We were singing our joy to our van the entire time It was an old van with some hiccups. I mean, this thing is like, older than me. The engine was spooky at times (especially while climbing the mountain) and the fridge was broken, so we used a cooler. However, the engine did bring us all the way to the summit of Haleakala! The van drives really slow, but like, when you are behind the wheel you just don't care - somehow it just feels joyous. It corners like a forklift (good!) We loved that we had all of our stuff with us wherever we went, and we didn't have to plan or stress about anything - we could always camp somewhere close. They give you a list of free/cheap camp sites scattered around this tiny island, but you can also find some of your own. Every place they told us worked We felt like living in the van was the perfect way to see Maui. We recommend it to anyone who thinks that it sounds cool. It does require a laid-back camping spirit but for me and my new spouse it was perfect! read more

I rarely leave reviews, but given how integral Aloha Outdoors was to our Maui experience, they really deserve ones. My girlfriend and I wanted a unique (and cheap way) to experience Maui, and while we were nervous about relying on an old vehicle we decided to give it a shot. Every step of the way, the team at Aloha Outdoors was responsive and helpful - providing tips on best practices and easing concerns about renting a car older than me for a 5 day vacation in an island known for poor road quality. We rented an automatic Westy, and while she definitely had some wear and tear to be expected for an 80s vehicle, it ran perfectly and honestly was more comfortable than expected. All the bells and whistles (electronics + cooking amenities) worked perfectly and they hooked us with a stocked camping set up. Honestly, the perfect way to do a hands on trip to Maui is with an Aloha Outdoors Westy. Couldn't recommend it more highly - even having my parents rent from them when they got to Maui in the Spring! Thanks Aloha team for an unforgettable vacation. read more

I recently had the opportunity to turn one of my dreams into a reality. For all my life I have been drawn to 'hippie vans' as I like to call them. I've always wanted to own one, in fact. It's not quite in the budget for me at this moment in time but renting from Aloha Campers was the next best thing. I got to experience four days living my kind of life, at my leisure and that was more than a girl could ask for. My first time in Maui, things never really seemed to work out as I had planned. I learned to realize that the island had other plans for me, and that was okay. I discovered that I never want to spend another vacation at a resort, or doing things that only tourists do. So for me the Westy was the perfect option for both living out my dream, and seeing the all of the beauty that Maui has to offer. My trip started with a pick up from Marianne at the airport. She drove us me to the lot to pick up the van where I was greeted by Brandon. Since I had never camped in Maui before Brandon gave me a very thorough overview of all of the spots in the island to camp, and even went as far as to tell me where the best places to get supplies. He then gave me a tour of the van and all of the contents. Now she was no 'spring chicken' but she did have a certain element of rustic charm. I mean what can you expect with a vehicle that's over 30 years old. Having said that, Blue Jean Betty performed better than most of the vehicles I have ever owned. So I got in the van, went to Times for supplies, and headed westbound. The short drive up the mountain was completely breathtaking. I weaved through the tunnel, and back down as the sun was setting mirrored by the ocean I was drawn to a spot where I saw several people surfing in the water. I ended up at Papalaua. Conveniently located right off the highway nestled on a sandy strip in between the ocean and the mountain. I backed in Blue Jean Betty, popped the top opened the lift-gate and out the mosquito net on the back. I set up my bed, while it was still light and then sat outside and watched the surfers as the sun finally set. From my spot I could see Kaho 'olawe in the distance. What a sight! It's hard to believe that island is uninhabitable, what a shame?! I sat and 'talked story' with one of the residents and surfers that lives there. As we were talking Kyra came up and introduced herself. She said she was making homemade burgers and we were welcome to join. Everyone was so kind to me. So I sat and watched the shooting stars as the waves crashed into the shore. I discovered that there is nothing quite as wonderful as hearing the sounds of the ocean as you fall asleep. Now this campground may not be for everyone. There was no running water, or toilets and I could see how the sound of the traffic may be distracting for some. If you're a city girl like myself, it's just like home. I slept like a baby that night, my first solid sleep in weeks. There's also no comparison to waking up as the waves crash the shore. I made myself a coffee courtesy of the French press that was provided in my Westy and I sat peacefully watching the water. The beauty about driving around in a Westy is the freedom that it provides. You don't like where your staying, just leave. Very simple. I mean, I don't believe that could happen in Maui, but having options open is always nice. Another pretty cool thing, is that no matter where you go, people are happy to see you. The Westy attracts a fun loving, carefree and adventurous soul, who is likely just wanting to talk to you about your experience. I think I cried a little when my rental ended, but I know somewhere in my future, we will be together again. I will be renting a Westy anywhere I vacation now, when possible. That is until I own one, or die trying... Thanks Aloha Campers for making my dream come true. read more

Aloha Outdoors - RV Rental Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Our 5 days in Maui was absolutely unbelievable with our camper van rental from Aloha Outdoors. My friend and I booked Maui looking for an adventurous "girls trip". We booked our flights last minute and when we saw the prices of hotel rooms we quickly looked for different options. We are SO happy we found Aloha Outdoors. To us, it was 100000 times better than staying in any resort on the touristy parts of the island. We felt more like "locals" and had such a different perspective being able to move around and stay in different spots which we chose as we went along. We had an amazing experience and cannot speak highly enough about the service provided by Brandon and Aloha Outdoors, who made themselves available for any calls, questions, and inquiries we had during our trip. Brandon also mapped out the entire island for us, showed us do's and don'ts, and offered different options for excursions we could do. We used the map he marked up for us every single day and passed it on to a couple we met on our last night for them to use because it served us so well. The van was perfect for everything we needed during our stay. We slept comfortably, and had no problems finding places to park for the night. It was an amazing way to experience the island. Waking up to a different view of the beach, volcano, and mountains was an incredible experience. We even drove the Road to Hana and all the way around the backside of Haleakala on the unpaved, windy roads in our van. Parking is so easy on Maui and the van is easy to drive. We named our van "Nalu" which means "wave" so we were "Riding Nalu" all weekend! We had our own little system for setting up out bed and taking it down for our daily adventures. We woke up with the sun and went to bed shortly after dark to fill each day with more adventures in Nalu. The van was equipped with the softest bamboo sheets and pillows that made sleeping so comfy (and the sounds of the waves crashing helped too!). We woke up every morning and opened the back door and watched the sunrise and the waves crash before we started our day with fresh Maui fruits. We are adventurous and free spirited and do not require frills or fancy things for a good time. If you do, this van life will not be for you, and you should already know that. We only took one real shower in our 5 days and spend the rest of the times rinsing at beach showers and dipping in the ocean. There are hot water showers around the island that are available for you to use during the day, and there is also a rinse kit in the van- but we didn't use it. We brushed our teeth with water bottles and popped lots of squats in the trees. The van has everything you need if you are low maintenance and love being outdoors. Otherwise- find yourself a resort and save these kind people the trouble of your complaints with a lifestyle that doesn't suit you. People speak of having issues with theft in Maui but we never felt threatened by this with our van. It's not labeled and has tinted back windows and curtains- very inconspicuous. All in all we had the best 5 days of our lives in our camper van. We thought we would want to come home to our beds after 4 nights but we wanted to stay another month! We definitely plan to go back and experience much more of the island, and now we want to go explore other places via camper van! Enjoy! Aloha! read more

I'm writing this after an amazing trip to the island of Maui! And without Aloha Campers, the whole experience would have been different! Aloha Campers gave my wife and I the opportunity to see Maui the way it should be seen, which is up and close to the beautiful nature this island has to offer. Camping is definitely the way to go and Aloha Campers provides a durable, strong vehicle equipped with all the camping equipment you'll need. Upon renting the vehicle, we sat down with Noelle (who is super cool and friendly) and she showed us a map to orient us to the island of Maui, with all the available camp sites, all the nitty, gritty facts which only well-versed local would know, and the amazing attractions one can see when traveling around the island. We followed her advice for a week and would not have done any different! A huge thanks to her! The vehicle (Honda Element) was strong and the camping equipment was great, with no issues. It encourages you to get out and explore nature and to spend lots of time outdoors, which is a must when visiting Maui. Tons of space inside the vehicle and allows for a comfortable place to store all the bags, food, tent, and everything else one would need for a trip such as this. They gave us a cooler too which helped keep food cool. There was no issue at all with driving the vehicle up to the top of Haleakalā, the biggest of the two volcanos on Maui, which is over 10,000 feet high. In summary, great equipment and vehicle for a camping trip! I encourage anyone reading this, who may be debating whether or not to rent a camper or stay in a posh resort, to do the former. Maui is a beautiful place and that beauty can only be appreciated when you take out a camper and camp out on the various spots on the island. We saw hoards of tourists being quickly whisked around on day trips to see the sights we would see. Then they would all go back to their resorts. The issues is the real beauty of Maui comes out without all the hoards of tourists and renting a camper, camping, etc.. is the way to experience this. One has the opportunity to already be camped out on a quieter side of Maui and to wake up early, go for a beautiful walk or swim by a waterfall, etc.. all before the swarms of tourists come in. So go camp!! Kudos to Aloha Campers for their great car, equipment, and staff! I would put 10 out of 5 stars if I could, but thats not an option unfortunately! read more

Abousolutely the worst camper van imaginable. My husband and I are seasoned travelers. We back-pack, tent/car camp and own a camper van. The minivan we rented from Aloha outdoors was old and dirty ( someone's dirty sock, beer caps, sand and food around the seats when we picked it up) The "amenities" were ridiculously substandard: where to begin? The bed; OMG, the foam pad was so worn it provided no cushion at all. Also the bed configuration had a 3/4 inch drop about where your shoulder hit when lying down so we were forced to sleep with our head to the back. The cover was torn and the sheets were cheap, the pillows smelled bad and were stained. Two tiny back-packing towels completed the linen "kit"; these towels were supposed to be enough for the beach, dishes, feet, showers etc. We drove to the nearest Goodwill and bought a huge quilt to provide a pad for sleeping and a couple hand towels and beach towels. We also bought a frying pan as the one provided was about 5 inches in diameter. The 2 camping chairs were dirty and torn. The privacy "curtains" were several random-sized pieces of cloth none of which covered an entire window and there was no way to attach them. The front windshield screen was taped to the windshield and fell off the first day. We had to buy a battery because the key fob was dead the first time we tried to lock the car. The one gas canister "provided" for cooking ran out in the middle of the third meal and clearly was used and not full to start. The door leaked during a rain storm and soaked my husbands bag. But the worst part of this was the reply I got from the owner after I left my list of deficiencies with his worker upon returning their van. "Your point of view is certainly in the deepest minority of our over 1,000 customers annually" (no attempt to apologize for our troubles or even say he would fix anything.) if you look at the other yelp ratings they all seem to be old. The people who enjoyed their experience must not have rented this particular van. Also the owner said bad things about other people who had brought back his vans "dirty" and threaten to charge us a huge cleaning fee if we did the same. He said he doesn't put nice things in his rentals because "people just wreck them". This man clearly is not meant to be in the service industry. You will probably get a taste of his attitude when he replies to this review. read more

If you want to ruin your vacation, rent a camper from Aloha Campers! I am so disappointed with this company and their customer service. My boyfriend and I had 6 days total to be in Maui and we made a BIG MISTAKE renting a camper from this company. The refrigerator and the stove didn't work, instead they gave us a cooler and a portable stove. Unfortunately the stove they gave us couldn't be used inside of the camper since there was a gas leak coming from underneath the van, and everything reeked of gas. Therefore, causing a fire hazard, we needed to use the stove far away from the camper. Sleeping during the night with the gas fumes was very difficult, even with all of the windows and vents open on the van. Westfalia's were great back in 1988 however, they are not well maintained. luckily we had a bible inside the van so we could pray that it started and we made it back alive without having a gas explosion. Even neighboring campers complained of the gas fumes emitting from the van. First, they gave us this camper with the gas leak only filled to a 1/4 tank of gas, it was ok for the first day. The next day we went to Hana and decided to fill the tank, we were overwhelmed with gas fumes, both of us had very bad headaches, felt sick and we couldn't stop coughing. When we stopped to get some fresh air, we saw that there was a lot of gas leaking from under the camper leaving a rainbow (gas trail) on the ground. We were about halfway on our way back from Hana. We really didn't know what to do, so we decided to try to drive back, once we regained cell reception we phoned the company and informed them of the problem. The person who answered the phone at 5:30pm, at the time they were scheduled to close 7pm, as stated on the website. The guy told us that he was tired, had been working 12 hours a day and he could only help us the next morning. He told us that there was no camper available for us as a replacement. We had to spend one more night breathing the gas fumes and putting our health in risk. On next day we had to bring the van back to them, they told us that they were going to try to fix it, so we needed to change our plans and wait around until they called us back. After about 3 hours they called us, saying that there was a gas leak and they fixed it. We went back to the office and got the camper back, after driving for about 30 minutes we started smelling the gas fumes again, I called them and asked for another car, miraculously they had another camper available to give to us. We decided to accept it since they stated on their contract that there is no refunds. The other camper had no bed sheets or pillows, the stove and refrigerator didn't work as well. Thank God we brought our own bed sheets and made pillows using our clothes inside pillow cases. We couldn't handle the situation anymore and decided to fly back home one day earlier then anticipated. They didn't even offer an apology. What could of been a dream trip turned into a nightmare. I hope you can find a different company to rent a camper if camping is your plan. Hopefully you will find a company that respects their customers, is honest and has dependable vehicles. I definitely would not recommend them to anyone. It's hard to believe this company is still in business. read more

We just returned from a week in Maui. I will start by saying I can understand the frustration the original poster felt regarding camping in Maui. However, my fiance and I went with the knowledge that the campground choices were limited. This is a review soley of Aloha Campers. To that end, I will reiterate, they insisted that you could camp pretty much anywhere. Which I didn't buy. To keep this short and brief: DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY! Book yourself a hotel, condo, hostel whatever. You will be relaxed, you will be happy, you will enjoy your vacation. I spend a good chunk of the year in a tent. In my mind camping in a Westfalia is always an upgrade from my usual and we gave up on the Aloha Camper 4 hours into having it. 1. We had to wait a half hour for anyone to show up to help us. 2. The van was not ready for pick up and we had to wait some more. 3. We had to go back for a cooler after we got to the store, bought groceries and realized it wasn't in the camper. Now the worst stuff: 1. I couldn't open the sliding door. I am not a small woman, I lift, I'm a climber, I couldn't get it open. Seriously. 2. the lights for the rear license plate were hangiing by their wires unworking. 3. The insurance card in the van was expired 4. The fan didn't work 5. the passenger side window didn't roll down - this and the above were sort of a problem given there was no air-conditiong (as expected of course) 6. when you put the driver side window down all the weather striping came off. 7. The gear box was pretty well shot. 8. the brakes were metal on metal. That nice grinding sound was lovely to listen to. 9. the headlights didn't work. Someone could see us because of them but we couldn't really see anything with them. 10. The vent in the roof didn't open as the handle was gone. Those are the most major points. It was miserable. And for the first time in years I didn't look at Trip Advisor before booking so shame on me. Won't make that mistake again. I mean, I expected an oldish Westfalia but I have been in plenty which were older but in really nice working condition. This was beyond acceptable, especically the suspect brakes and headlights. I couldn't really see ourselves feeling comfortable galevanting all around the island in that condition. Needless to say we were lucky that we had the resources to call it, get on priceline and check into a hotel for the rest of our stay. So in closing; this is only a review of Aloha Campers not of camping itself on Maui. Save yourself the heartache and don't do it. read more

The pros: - nice concept - explore the island differently - decent price if you consider it's a car and a home (but it's not exactly a 5 star hotel room, don't get your expectations too high) - no mechanical problem at all. The van ran strong for its age. - if you like driving, the 4 speed manual is the way to go - stove worked well. - well supplied The cons: - you can't take the van to the summit of haleakala. Wich means you can't camp there unless you have another car. Wich was sad because it's one of the most interesting campground (probably the main point of interest on the island actually). On the website the FAQ gives yous a list of campgrounds you can go to but it is not exhaustive. And I found no where that specify that you can't go to the top of haleakala. It's only when we got the van that we were informed. So we had to rent another car for our last day just to be able to do that activity. We brought the van back a day earlier since we had another car anyways but the owner refused to issue a refund because of the minimum 3 days rental policy (we ended up having the van only 2 days), even though when I called to say I would come back earlier, the week end employee told me on the phone that they received my email and that everything was ok and my refund would be processed the next business day. Never saw that money again. - some utensils and pot were dirty from previous users. - we only hade one pillow case. Not that I care but check your inventory before you leave town if that's the kind of thing that bothers you. - some minor miscellaneous issues like the passenger door was very hard to open, we had to play a bit with the key in the gas tank door to get it open, etc. For me it goes with the old car experience but for some it might be annoying. - the speakers were really bad. Couldn't really listen to music because of the noise they make if you try to rise the volume a bit. For me this was a bummer. - no cup holder - bad/old exhaust. Smells gas inside as soon as you stop (ex: red light) - driving this thing is not easy. You have to like it. Especially the manual one. I can't talk for the automatic. read more

First off, I have to say what a unique expierence traveling across Maui with the windows down and the stereo playing in an old Westy us! You get a more "local" expierence. We were mistaken for locals almost everywhere we stopped when rolling up in our sweet ride. Also you get the freedom to stay where you want and not to be hustled with schedules and end destinations. Brandon was great! Gave tailored recomendations of activities and locations to visit based on our vacation goals. Also if you want to go up to the Summit, they have a seperate CRV that you can take up! I will say, it isn't a 5 stay hotel, but the expierence is totally unique with the old Westy's personality characteristics! If you want a cost effective and enjoyable way to explore Maui, this is the way to do it! read more

rented a van for three days and it was a nightmare. we did not sleep in it at all it was full of roaches. LIterally they were everywhere. Im so lucky i brought a tent, i was planning to sleep on the beach at least one day, but i ended up using it all three days. if you want to camp, your better off renting a regular car and taking some camping gear. pay the extra to the airlines in luggage than renting their death mobiles. the brakes gave out on the road to hana. When we complained , they acted like its not a big deal. CRAZY! Will never recommend them! read more

We had the best time in our camper van. There were no problems, but if you're wanting a new-feeling rental, I recommend the Element over the camper van. But if you are a westie lover, this is the place for you! So nice to camp Maui - then you can explore everywhere and just pull over somewhere to sleep. Really great idea. The airport pick up was late at night and went seamlessly; we were in our van within an hour of landing and on our way. read more

Great experience. We booked a Honda Element for four scuba divers. I was weary of the size of the Element, but it turned out to be a FANTASTIC car for us. It easily fit all four of us and gear. The interior works for people who are doing the beach or water stuff, and the floor does fine with sand. We didn't camp for our stay, so Aloha Campers removed the extra items from the car and we had plenty of room for luggage. They left a power inverter, USB adapter, first aid kit, and paper towels inside though, which were nice convenience items. The Element is comfortable and easy to drive. I think we got around 20mpg, including trips to west Maui, Hana and Haleakala. We arranged airport transfer to get the car, and they were flexible to get us where we needed to be and when. We were on a tight schedule, and Aloha Campers made it happen. We had a cab ride with uncle "Ron," a local taxi driver. It was about $40 for us to drop off the Element and cab to OGG, with 4 passengers and lots of dive gear luggage. The car was clean and seemed to be well taken care of, and I will much rather use Aloha Campers for future trips to Maui, even if it's just as a rental car! Thanks guys! read more

This was great! Such a fun way to explore Maui. Now, if you are a person who likes everything to be predictable and comfy and easy on your vacation, you should get a hotel or go to a resort and rent a modern car. But if you enjoy having great conversations with locals, listening to the ocean at night and birds in the morning, slapping away mosquitos, cooking delicious dinners with whatever you can fit in your tiny kitchen-on-wheels, surfing at dawn, heading out for the day without knowing where you'll spend the night, and other such adventures, this is the place for you! The staff are super helpful. The vans are at least 30 years old (and bless the heart of the mechanic who keeps them alive) and clunky in some ways, but staff is ready with assistance and backup supplies as needed. We had a great time and loved the whole experience. read more

Signed up for a Yelp account just to let people know what a great experience I had with Aloha Campers! Brandon and Richard were friendly, accommodating, thorough, and had a lot of knowledge about Maui and how to get the most out of the vans. Not only does the van cover your accommodations and transportation while you're on the island, but you also get the chance to explore nooks and crannies most people miss out on! Van ran like a champ, was reliable, and had everything we needed. Maps, cooler, cookware, bedding, and enough room for four to sleep and hang out comfortably. Very impressed, would absolutely recommend! Looking forward to renting from Brandon and Aloha Campers again in the future! Mahalo! read more

Aloha Outdoors - Our Westie all set up at the YMCA Keane. What a view to wake up to! - RV Rental Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Just came back from Maui and we rented the lovely Ruby Rose VW westy! So sad to part with this awesome van. We rented it for three days and it was perfect to explore different parts of the island. It was cozy and comfortable. It handled the roads and turns of the Hana Hwy easily and got great gas mileage! Thank you Aloha Campers for the experience!! Being adventurous and easy going is the key to exploring Maui. Highly recommend the YMCA camp for the warm showers and breathtaking views of the ocean! Renting one of their vehicles beats staying in a boring touristy hotel any day! We will be back for another sweet trip again for sure!!! read more

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Wish I could give 7 stars. I had forgotten my brand new iPhone in the van and they mailed it to me in California free of charge. They had no reason to do that other than the Aloha spirit runs through their core. The campers are well maintained and clean when you receive them. They have everything you need for an awesome way to see and experience the beauty of Maui. They truly want you to have a good time and are dedicated to helping out in anyway they can. The camper gives you the freedom to explore and to be closer with the spectacular nature on the island. Will definitely be coming back on my next Maui trip! read more

We did a five day trip in Maui with an Aloha camper. They picked us up at the airport and drove us to the "office", where we signed the required paperwork and took over the camper. The campers are all by definition pretty old (I think VW stopped making them 20+ years ago) but in decent shape. In Maui, the refrigerators don't work so he supplies a cooler - I would suggest getting a little slatted crate or otherwise to put in the cooler so everything isn't swimming in the water from melted ice. He also supplied us with an outdoor stove, which was handy because in the hot Maui weather we used that to cook outdoors rather than in the car. We had no issues whatsoever with the camper but make sure to get enough sheets for both top and bottom beds if you need them. Surprisingly, the campsites on the Island's west side are pretty shady so I would suggest anyone doing this trip head on out to Hana pronto and spend as many days there as possible. There is a killer grocery store in Paia where you can stock up. We camped four nights and on our fifth we got a hotel room at some resort on the east side where we enjoyed showers, air-conditiioning, and fancier food. Really fun trip overall. read more

We spent 7 days camping around Maui and it was fantastic!!! We loved our Westy and the service we received from Aloha Campers was fantastic. It was truly an adventure filled with memories that will stay with us forever. Having the camper allowed us to see the island in a totally different way that a typical tourist trip staying in hotels. We got to meet tons of locals and explore hidden, off-the-beaten-path locations. We would definitely rent from them again. If you are a camper and have a love of adventure, you should totally try Aloha Campers. read more

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My boyfriend and I rented a Westfalia camper van for a week and it was great! We drove around the island and stayed at different spots. The guys at the rental gave us ideas of where to camp, which was very useful. We went up to the top of Haleakala, and no problem at all with the van. As the guys at the rental say: "these vans are like grand'ma" and pretty much all is said. It is not brand new vans, but they do the work and allows you to discover the island in a very cool way and with a lot of freedom. Would rent again! read more

Was renting for a week long trip in maui. Before even going 5 mins away from the place, van started smoking and engine stopped in middle of the road! Thank god we were at a traffic light! The van is so old and dirty, would def not recommend(they said they just checked everything).Took them more than half hour to come to us even when we were so close! And we ended up taking the sleeping bags and tent because no way do we want those vans. Fun doesnt stop there, the guy was rude to us and complaining how they have to now fix the van which wasnt even our fault. When we got to our camping site, we pulled out the tent and guess what..it was so dirty and had wrappers in it and pieces missing...i didnt expect anything less from these guys, and it started to rain. I would never give my money to this place nor recommend anyone to do so either. The lady did give us another tent in the end but it was bad customer service to begin with! Steer clear of this company! read more

We rented one of Aloha Campers' VW vans for 28 days in February/March 2012. The van was fairly clean and in reasonable condition outside and inside. We were allowed to choose from some extra kitchen gear, like bowls, etc. It was a manual shift vehicle. There were no mechanical problems save for a tyre that slowly lost air. We went back to Aloha Campers after a few days for that and Ariel Ferrer arranged for a new tyre that was mounted at a Kihei tyre shop, but we had to insist that it was balanced, as it was a front wheel. Steep roads were no problem, although other renters told us they were unable to start the motor on the 9'000 ft summit of Haleakala. Not working were: air conditioner, reverse lights, fridge. The water pump leaked, so that things in that cupboard got wet. The two flames stove was supplied from a 3 gallon propane tank, which was enough for 4 weeks. We insisted that the tank was filled, as the propane filling station at "U-Haul" opposite Aloha Campers is the only one on the island that can fill these tanks. There was very little storage space, so that a lot of moving-about of things was necessary. The (not working) air conditioner under the rear part of the roof took up lost storage space. Ariel offered us to swap the van in case we were not happy with it. (Compare my entry about Happy Campers Hawaii). Ariel was very helpful and gave us some extra hints on camping. He assured us that he would supply help at any place on the island within three hours maximum. Unfortunately you will be talking to his answering machine most of the time. If you consider renting one of those vans make sure to get one with both stove flames working. There was only one flame working in the first van they wanted to give us and they wanted to supply a separate burner to be used outdoors. As we did not accept this we had to wait a few hours before another van with two working flames came in. As it got dark before we were able to leave, Ariel allowed us to stay the night in the yard. Camping on Maui West coast: We stayed at the private Olowalu Camp south of Lahaina. There is a separate area for campervans. All (numbered) sites are nicely situated in the coastal forest. The campervan sites, as well as part of the tent sites, are on the land side of the access road, roughly 50 yards from the frantic traffic of the highway. There are 2 cold open air showers in a small reed enclosure without doors, but no hot showers, and 4 chemical toilets (called "bathrooms" on the information panel at the camp entrance) for the roughly 90 sites. Plus one tap and sink for dishwashing and one washing-machine and dryer, which were out of order. There is also a power socket. $ 10 per person seems a bit pricey. Haleakala National Park: The campground in the Kipahulu section is a large grassy area. Part of the sites have shade. Campervans have access to most sites. There are pit toilets and no water. Hosmer Grove campground: There are few more or less level sites for tents. Campervans must stay in the parking lots (not level) or along the access road (more or less level). Waianapanapa State Park: Nice but not very level tent lawn, campervans in the carpark only. Internet permits only. County parks: The only ones left are Papalaua on the northern west coast: between beach and frantic highway traffic, chemical toilets, no water, and Kanaha Beach near Kahului airport: no lawn but partly shady for tents; campervans must stay in the carpark, where there is no shade; noisy air traffic. Free (wild) camping: Honolua Bay north of Kapalua (northern end of the west coast): along the 300 yards dirt road, some level spots for campervans. Camping is not allowed at La Perouse Bay (southern end of west coast). Other tourists told us they were urged to leave late at night. Pa'ia: Large gravel carpark roughly 300 yards up Baldwin Ave, right hand side before post office. This is the overflow parking of Mana Foods supermarket. We stayed several nights and no one bothered us. Quiet at night. Nice clean restrooms in Mana Foods. Ke'anae Peninsula off Hana Road: gravel carpark and lawn opposite restrooms. Koki Beach on Haneo'o Loop Road south of Hana: First beach on loop road (no sign), level area, no restrooms (restrooms at Hamoa Beach 1 mile south). Huakini Bay: lovely beach forest roughly 5 miles after Kaupo on Piilani Highway. Large area, level spots under trees on boulder beach, lonely, no amenities. Our most beautiful free camping spot. Waipoli Road from Kula to Kula Forest Reserve: steep paved road, no problem for campervans. Level spots in curves on grassy slope, or near hunter check station further up. Campervans can easily drive the Poli Poli Road (gravel, dirt) in dry conditions (we did). Camping in not very level carpark at Poli Poli Springs State Recreation Area (internet permit only). Olowalu Camp was the only place where we paid for camping. The camping situation on Maui is disastrous, mainly because a number of county campgrounds were closed. read more

We rented a minivan, a Vanagon, from Aloha Campers for 4 days. Very old (25 years), used. Ok. Very, very, very awfull and loud noises under the hood. Ok. The A/C does not work. Ok. The fridge does not work. Ok. The fan does not work. Not good when we were stuck in the trafic in Lahaina. The speedometer does not work. The milage is frozen at 175 570 miles, you don't know your speed... Who cares: you can't go very fast anyway. Need to press on brakes very heavily to reduce speed. Not very safe... At the Haleakala summit, no way to go back: reverse gear just not working. But, when descending from the summit, at gear position 2, the brakes started having problems, doing a klang-klang-klang, requiring even more pressure to "work", I really thought that this was the end. We stayed in 2 public camps (you must first do your reservations on internet) and one private: you can never access the camping with your van. We had to stay on the parking. And you can't simply stay along the beach: they close for the night and you have to leave. At Aloha Campers they suggested us a place on a beach after Napili. It was in fact a very steep dirt road with big cracks due to the rain. We were sure to never be able to go back up. And there was no facilities at all on the beach. What a useless advice from Aloha campers which just made us wast our time. Conclusion: 4 days of continuous stress. Never again. Do you want to risk your life for nothing during your vacation? read more

So sad to say that this crew was missing their Aloha. Of course, traveling in a Westy is the way to go hands down, however this crew is not the one to use. They provided a van with a tire about to blow (steel radial exposed), told us to bring the van back prior to our reserved drop off time, and then attempted to double bill us for services. I'm not sure what is going on with them as I see lot's of good reviews here, but I'd suggest avoiding this crew. If you want to van camp on a Hawaiian island, there's an incredibly kind couple on Kauai (Kauai Camper Rental) that will show you a whole lot of Aloha. read more

This is a super option for the right traveler! You MUST be open to an adventure on Maui, in order to truly appreciate your aloha camper. The cab driver who dropped us off at the Aloha Camper lot was nervous to leave us at the site (that should be a warning!). It's rather shady. However, Urselia (sp?) gave us all the necessary information and walked us through the van to make sure we were ready to go. We did have some of our camp sites reserved beforehand, which I would recommend. Do your research! The VW vanagon was great for being a 1987 VW vanagon. We stocked up on food at the Safeway in kihue and were on our way. Four days with the van was definitely enough to see the island. read more

A Westy is the best way to see the island! We didn't plan anything for our trip to Maui. Brandon took the time to show us everywhere we could camp and the best spots. This was helpful beyond any guidebook. The van was a joy to cruise around in. We'll be coming back! read more

My daughter and I rented a van from Brandon--who we learned from various calls is the owner, guy who books the rental, airport pickup, and mechanic. Brandon was chill, welcoming, answered our questions, and resolved a couple minor issues in a relaxed and professional manner. Van was well-used with some funky quirks: odometer had stopped working at 172,000 miles--van was still kicking and running like a champ; some dents and scratches and a "well loved" bumper; a temp gauge that started "hot" and "cooled down" as we drove; a little duct tape here and there...:-) Since I am a fan of quirky, I rather enjoyed getting to know the van, and by the end of the trip I was sad to turn her back in. :-( Everything was clean and stocked, with the exception of bedding. There was only one set of bedding (there were two very comfy pillows), but two places to sleep (my daughter wanted to sleep "upstairs"); To resolve this little oversight, I bought a blanket, we split the sheets and all was well (plus I have a cool blanket from Hawaii now). We drove the road to Hana no problem, we camped at the beach, and braved a storm with 60mph winds, during which we took advantage of the stereo to tune into the Maui reggae station. The van was a stellar place to change clothes in the parking lot at the county beach parks. All in all, for us and our style of travel, a fantastic experience. If one is unable to get into the take-your-time-and-don't-stress-about-things vibe (and isn't that the reason you came to Maui?), you will love this. If you are expecting the van to be a 4-star hotel, you might not enjoy this experience. I did; I will be back. read more

Having the camper van around Maui was pretty fun. Be aware if you are coming from the airport that there is a $45 one way pick up fee to the camper van location. After we dropped off our van we were stranded in an area that was pretty isolated for us tourists without internet data. We asked if we could use their wifi to book an uber back to the airport but they couldn't accomodate us. Thankfully there is a car rental location close by. If you are going here make sure you stop by Eskimo candy for delicious food. read more