Meet My Maui Hero, Roy

 Stardate 11.16.2025

The last thing travelers want to do is wait in line.  Before I introduce Roy, to you let me set the stage.  We said our goodbyes to our new additions to 'Ohana, my extended family residing on the Big Island including the staff at Panielo Greens and some magical creatures. One of the staff people told me she and her dad are the Big Island pickleball champs.  More on that later.  Let's get back to Roy and how he helped me understand how to navigate long lines at the rental car place in Kahalui.

My wife, my mother, and I waited longer for our rental car than our inter-island flight time from the Big Island to Maui.  Roy stood just outside the entrance door to the service desk.  When I tried to enter, Roy put his hands up.  Then he pointed to another line behind me and said, "You need to go to that line and wait to get in."  Thoughts of being in the same situation one week earlier when we got held up at the rental car line on the Big Island erupted like a volcano.  I asked my mom and my wife to please take a seat off to the side while I chatted with the others waiting in line to get a rental car.  I told stories about past Island travels helping to make Maui time go faster.  Roy walked over to assist another passenger.  I asked one question hoping to find support and Roy answered.  When I asked a followup, question, Roy walked away to get back to his front door post as chaos was ensuing.

Judging by the way the line was moving, I estimated it would be about two hours to pick up our vehicle.  I finally made it to Roy's spot at the front door.  That's when I asked if the recall is still going on because that's what I was told was the holdup when we stood in line on the Big Island.  "I don't know about that," Roy answered.  My bs detector was finally telling me that Roy tells it like it is.  So I asked, "Are these lines like this all the time?"

"Yes," he answered.  I entered and snapped photos of the long line while chatting with Sara from Seattle where my day job has the home office.  We heard from someone ahead of us in line that if you have a fast pass you could move downstairs.  Sara promised to hold my place while I took a chance that someone could help me retrieve my lost account and missing password.  Moments later, Sarah abandoned the long line as well.

The manager himself helped me when I approached the front counter.  2 minutes later I had the keys.   So did Sara.  The nightmare was over.  Here's my best advice if you're planning to get a rental car in Hawaii.  Sign up for preferred services.  Store your passwords somewhere safe.  Make sure you say Aloha to Roy when you pass by.  The world needs more travel helpers like him.  Aloha.  Have a great day.