Maui car rental - looking for advice

Looking for advice from anyone who has rented a car while in port at Maui. We'll be on POA - arriving at 8 a.m. on Nov. 16, staying overnight and departing at 6 p.m. on Nov. 17. We'd like to do the Hana Highway on Nov. 16 and sunrise at Haleakala on Nov. 17 plus explore on our own, avoiding excursions - ship or otherwise. We've rented a car on Maui previously, but on a land vacation, not a cruise, so we know what the drive to Hana is like, as well as to Haleakala in the dark! Interested in others' car rental experiences - how easy is it to keep the car overnight, parking at the port, etc. Thanks in advance! :)

We had no problems, just be prepared to pay for parking overnight.

Here's the info I found on the subject; will be trying this out on our upcoming POA cruise.

If docking at Kahului, take a complimentary car rental shuttle bus to nearby Kahului Airport (about a five-minute ride) to rent a vehicle from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National or Thrifty. If your cruise ship overnights there and you'd like to keep your car, there's free parking right across from the tour bus pickup area outside the terminal, but it's small and will be filled up if you get back late. Other options include airport parking for a fee or leaving your car in the Maui Mall parking lot overnight.

Thank you both.

I am expecting to have to pay for parking, yes.

VideoTech - will be interested in hearing how it works out for you!

If you are docking in Kahului, there is plenty of free parking for cruise ship passengers. There is a parking lot right across from the port, but that is very small and fills up quickly. The guard will tell you about the other lot, just a few blocks away. I don't remember the street names, but it is right on the main street behind an old building- across from a shopping plaza. From there, there is a walkway to the port. Very easy, and free. When we were there, most of the cruise passengers used this lot.

I received free parking at the pier too. Ask the guards they will help you find the correct lot! Even the "far" lot was about 100 meters from the ship.

Upcoming cruise will be our third. Never had any issues with parking. My recommendation is as others have said, be prepared to pay.The small lot does fill quickly. Last year we did get back to the lot around 4:30 and got the last spot