Maui’s famed Road to Hana is a twisting and turning adventure through the island’s dense rainforest to the remote town of Hana. The road’s two narrow lanes aren’t for the faint of heart, especially along waterfall cliffs and hairpin turns that must be taken at 10 miles per hour. However, the ride is worth cringe-worthy moments when you spot endless waterfalls and visit the black sand beaches of Wainapanapa State Park.
Having made the drive on a recent trip to Maui, I followed tips from locals, which I’m passing along for others to make the most of the road trip to Hana.
Leave Early
The Road to Hana gets very congested with cars and buses making the beautiful sojourn. From Hana to TK is more than 50 miles and takes about 3 hours without time to stop. Locals advised us to leave before sunset so that we arrived at the start of the drive once the sun came up, and beat all the tours that didn’t leave until later in the morning. For the first two hours of the journey, we had the road almost to ourselves, making it far easier to stop for photos and to see waterfalls (not to mention drive along the crazy turns!).
Pack a Lunch
The Road to Hana is very remote, with very little in way of snack stops. My resort prepared a Road to Hana picnic to take for the day, including snacks, drinks and a hearty lunch, with a cooler to keep items chilled.
Bring Supplies
Again, the road is very remote, and bathroom breaks may be rustic. Bring a roll of toilet paper, especially for the kids – you never know when you’ll find a stopping place! Be sure you have a full tank of gas when you depart, as well as cash for the few stops you will see along the way.
Purchase a Road to Hana CD Guide
Sold at every resort, the Road to Hana CD provides verbal directions for stops, as well as historic tales. Without this CD, we would have missed out on numerous hidden waterfalls and hikes, as they are not marked from the road.
Stop for Banana Bread and Shave Ice
Aunt Sandy’s is an institutional favorite along the drive. Stop here for her famous banana bread, shave ice and fresh fruit.
Visit the Falls
Of the numerous waterfalls, you will have a chance to see on your route, some of the biggest and easiest to see include the Twin Falls at mile marker 2, Upper Waikani Falls at mile marker 19, and Waialua Falls, which is after Hana and before the Oheo Gulch between mile markers 45 and 4.
Waianapanapa State Park. Maui, Hawaii
Walk Along Volcanic Sand
Stop at Wainapanapa State Park, which offers 122 acres and places to picnic with your lunch. Here, hiking trails take you along sea caves, blowholes, volcanic tubes and a black sand beach made of fine volcanic rock. You’ll want to spend some time at this park, and it’s a perfect place to stretch your legs.
Extend Your Adventure
Rental car agencies will advise you to turn around at the Oheo Gulch, which is also where busses turn back. Locals told me the back half of the road to complete a full circle afforded even more beauty. Instead of rainforests, the second half of the ride will be through desert hills and along cliffs with breathtaking views, often on dirt roads. As you wrap around, you will climb the volcano toward the journey’s end, where, if you still have time, you can take in more views and activities before descending to your resort. Take special note of the weather, however, as flash floods can turn dirt roads into impassable avenues. One local told me to look up to the volcano before continuing on: if it was sunny at the top, continue on!
Stay in Hana
When in Hana, you can stay overnight at one of the island’s most beautiful resort, Travaasa. The hotel watches the sunrise and offers an exotic stay with nature walks, spa treatments, an open-air dining. Accommodations include private villas and suites large enough to host your family with plenty of space.
Written by Lissa Poirot