I recommend a car on every island. It just makes everything more convenient and easier to arrange your schedule. Since you said "to get around", I'm assuming you don't want to just sit on the beach at your hotel, and therefore you will definitely need a car. The possible exception I suppose is Oahu, if you do not plan to venture from Honolulu. Then you may be able to rely on buses and cabs -- but I still prefer a car. Plus, you'd miss 80% of Oahu if you do that. As for where to get one? I recommend using Priceline.com... you will get a better price through that website than you likely will through any regular travel or rent-a-car site. Grab a guidebook, read these forums, and check Hawaii-based websites for places to see and things to do... way too much to even being listing them here individually, especially when we have no idea what types of sights and activities you may like or be looking to see.

I am making my first trip to Maui in Jan . So I can not advise you but here is info on the public bus system on Maui

public bus http://www.co.maui.hi.us/bus/

I though am going to use the bus as much as I can ,I am traveling alone and do not want the rental car cost to be greater than my plane ticket from Pa.

I've been to Maui several times and never seen a bus - must be one given the link above but no way I would even think about going there without having a car unless you don't plan on leaving your hotel. Maybe you don't need one for the whole time but definately for some of the time you need a car - without one you will miss out on the best of what Maui has to offer.

'need' is an interesting word :-) No, you dont ..

Both my daughters have spent 2 weeks on Maui without a car (too young to rent one :-). They each spent a week in Kihei, and a week in Kaanapali/Lahaina,and went on plenty of trips(pretty much all the trip operators pick up from your resort.), and spent the rest of the time at the beach or hanging around the shops and restaurants in Lahaina and they had a great time, so much so that one is going back next summer, she will probably visit the exact same locations again.

The only taxis they took were to and from the airport, and Lahaina to Kihei mid-vacation. In Kihei they were just across from the beaches and could walk to the supermarkets simikar for Kaanapali I think.

Cant speak for Oahu, but I dont think it would be a good idea in Kauai not to have a car as I seemed to spend all my time there driving.

My wife and I have been to the islands every year since '86. Have been to all the major islands except Lanai. We leave for Maui and Kauai on Saturday. That said, we've ALWAYS rented cars on every island (including Oahu). You spend money to be there, so wasting time waiting for buses is not cost effective, considering the prices we just got, including all fees and taxes : $169.61/week on Maui (Midsize), $155.67/week on Kauai ((fullsize). Less than $25/day! ($12/day per person!). The freedom and time savings of having a car far outweigh the few dollars you MIGHT save taking buses and is far cheaper than taking cabs (see http://feeds.feedburner.com/paradiseDriver for a Maui cab driver's blog).

Check all the rental car sites, and, if you're a member of these: Entertainment.com, Costco.com and BJs.com. We're getting free one-size upgrades using online coupons from BJs. Entertainment.com is also great for savings on meals and lodgings. We have literally saved thousands on hotels and condos and restaurants in the islands over the years using the Entertainment card.

www.discounthawaiicarrentals.com

check out this site- it is what we used, based on recommendations from this forum, and it worked out very well- we were especially concerned because we had never rented a car before, but it went smoothly.

how does "www.discounthawaiicarrentals.com" work? Can you pick up at the airport?

discounthawaiicarrentals.com is basically a 3rd party booking site- we went through them and got a car through Thrifty. The price was much lower than if we had booked Thrifty directly, and they also didn't charge us a second-driver charge. You don't need to put down a credit card until you pick up the car, too. We booked through them, then called Thrifty to confirm and they had all the info, no problem.

Thanks.

Thanks for the input regarding Hawaiidiscountcars - I just booked with them and saved $5.00 - $8.00 per day with free shuttle to the ship. I had found some decent rates on other websites but they didn't have the shuttle. Since taxis cost extra, this made Thrify a good deal.