Is a scooter or moped able to get you around the big island?
Monday, March 8th, 2010 at
2:09 am
We are debating between a moped or a rental car. Obviously the mopeds would be cheaper since we are under 25. We just aren’t sure how many places we will be able to reach on a moped. Does anyone have any experience in this area?
Mopeds on any island are only good if you plan to stay in a certain area, like Honolulu or Kona. The Big Island is BY FAR the biggest island. The land mass of all the other 7 islands combined don’t even make up half of the Big Island. The Big Island is so wide spread that even with a rental car you’d need several days (like 3 or 4 days) to see it all.
If you go to the Big Island you must visit Volcanoes National Park, and there’s no way to do that if you have a moped. You also can’t drive a moped up Mauna Kea. If you rent a moped in Kona then you’re stuck in Kona. You couldn’t even make it to Waimea Valley.
Spend the extra money and get a rental car. That way you won’t be stuck in one are. There is a lot to see on the Big Island but the sites are spread out.
By-the-way, rental car companies will tell you not to drive Saddle Road (road that cuts through the middle of the island). The only reason they say this is because they don’t want to have to come all the way out there to get you if you break down. There’s nothing wrong with the road – the entire thing is paved, it’s has unique scenery, and it’s the only way to get to Mauna Kea, which a rental car can go to as well. Just make sure you have a full tank of gas.
I visited the big island around 3 years ago and rented a car—a moped would not be able to get you around–the island is big and the highway around it is pretty fast moving
A moped would be fine if you’re staying in Hilo, or Kona but outside of that, I’d not recommend it. It’s long distances between towns and most of that driving will be on roads not meant for mopeds. A motorcycle would be fine, but I think you’d be in the same situation as renting a car so you might as well just bite the bullet and rent the car.
I would get a car. The Big Island is actually pretty big, and could be dangerous driving around on a moped. Waikiki, yes. Big Island, no.