The women, who all work at Kapalua Land Co., are Vanpooling.

Vanpool Hawaii is a carpooling program in which riders are loaned a vehicle but pay for gas and a monthly fee. Insurance, maintenance costs and emergency roadside service are covered by the program.

"The biggest benefit is the savings on gas," June Higa, the driver of the Vanpool, told The Maui News.

Higa estimated she used to shell out $320 for gas each month while driving her own car but now pays $60 a month for her commutes.

Her co-worker, Diane Melsheimer, said she feels less stressed and more relaxed when she comes to work now that she doesn't have to drive.

"In that regard, it's very nice," Melsheimer said.

For the women's efforts, the Lahaina Bypass Now group has awarded them its monthly "Way to Go!" award for July which recognizes community members and businesses that use creative forms of transportation in their commute to work or in their daily lives.

"The group's use of Vanpool Hawaii is a smart, economical and convenient way to get to work," said Theo Morrison, executive director of Lahaina Bypass Now.

Morrison said more cars could be taken off the road if more drivers opted to carpool. That would lead to "greatly improving overall traffic conditions."

Lahaina Bypass Now is dedicated to creating a better quality of life for Maui residents and visitors through various approaches to transportation solutions. Its ultimate goal is to see the construction of the long-awaited Lahaina Bypass.

The state announced last week that the construction of the bypass has been delayed as archaeological sites were discovered during recent field surveys. Groundbreaking and construction were supposed to begin this month.

Vanpool Hawaii is a transportation demand management program of the state Department of Transportation. To qualify, there needs to be a driver and at least three passengers.

Cost is $55 per person a month for a van and $70 per person for the use of "Cool Pool" vehicles such as SUVs. The cost includes insurance, maintenance, repairs and roadside assistance. Participants pay for gas. The primary driver also has the vehicle for personal use.

Currently, Higa said the group is looking for three more riders.

They do not need to work in Kapalua but need to work somewhere along the way in places such as Lahaina and Kaanapali.

Higa's Vanpool meets in Maalaea; three of them live in Wailuku and one lives in Kihei.

"It's really worked out well for us," Higa said.

The group is enjoying its use of a 2007 Dodge Caravan

"We are just loving it; it has the new car smell and everything," Higa said with a laugh.

Higa had wanted to Vanpool in the '90s but didn't get support from the company's administration then.

This past spring, Maui Land & Pineapple Co. pitched the Vanpool idea to its employees in Kapalua and offered incentives, including a $50 gas card for a one-time fill up.

Higa said she wanted to carpool because, "it just seemed like there was so many of us driving into the same place."

Higa and Melsheimer were already carpooling on their own for several months until they found out about Vanpool. Then they added fellow workers Lynn Teruya and Tatsuko Cloutier to the new Vanpool group.

Melsheimer, who participated in a Vanpool program in Colorado before moving to Maui two years ago, said if members just plan their time, they can make Vanpool work.

She said people cite problems with Vanpool such as needing to run errands during work or not being able to make it to afterwork commitments.

But Melsheimer said those excuses are not valid; she has found a way to run errands on her days off and is still able to volunteer at night at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

"I have time to do that, it's not impossible," she said.

But she added that having an employer who is flexible about work hours is important.

For information on Vanpool see www.vanpoolhawaii.com.

To make a nomination for the Way to Go! award series, send information to info@lahainabypass.com.