Exploring Maui on a Tandem E-Bike

March was full of adventure for John and Brenda Holder! Hailing from Knoxville, TN, the couple arrived on the island of Maui in Hawaii with an impressive electric bicycle to-do list. At the top of the list? Rent a tandem electric bike from RideSmart Maui’s location in Lahaina, Hawaii.​​

Equipped with their tandem e-bicycle, the Holders were ready to ride round-trip from Honokowai Beach, heading south to Launiupoko Beach. Passing through Kaanapali and Lahaina, their first day of exploring on their bike rental included a little detour (admittedly, they got lost in the Kaanapali resort area), a visit to the Lahaina Banyan Court Park to see the famed tree, and a bike ride down the coast, alternating between the Honoapi’ilani Highway and Front Street before heading north. Even with winds averaging 20-mph on their return trip, the electric bike had enough battery-life left to get the Holders back to Launiupoko Beach. The bike pulled through despite wind gusts of up to 27mph, and the Holders pulled off 22.5 miles of riding!

The Holders were excited to spend their second day on the e bike exploring Kapalua. Leaving the bike shop, John and Brenda took the scenic Lower Honoapiilani Rd. north to just past Fleming Park. After enjoying the view of Fleming Beach from an overlook high up on the hill, the Holders decided to turn around. Rather than head north on the narrow, curvy road ahead, they cruised south on the Honoapiilani Highway to the Lahaina Cannery Mall, which made the ideal spot for a picnic lunch. By the time the Holders returned to RideSmart Maui, they had climbed 948 feet and covered 21.5 miles. Fortunately, all that climbing didn’t keep them from enjoying their day, as the rented electric bike helped them climb up the hills, just as it had helped them ride in the wind the previous day.

If the Holders were going to get through their to-do list before returning the bike rental, their tandem e-bike had some work left to do. The couple was looking at a 32.5-mile bike ride on their last day, with 795 feet of climbing. But after seeing how the tandem e bicycle handled the day before, John and Brenda were confidant that the bike could handle their ride north to Pineapple Hill at Kapalua. With stunning, tropical views, the ride did not disappoint! The north end of the ride was behind them, so the Holders took their time enjoying lunch at Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop in Olowalu on the south end, as well as a latte pit-stop in Lahaina before wrapping up a three-day excursion via tandem e-bike that they would not soon forget!