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Itās world-famous for a reason! The Road to Hana meanders peacefully through pristine rainforests and sparkling waterfalls, presenting new and stunning vistas at every bend.
Sure, Maui is known for know for relaxing atĀ Ka’anapali Beach, snorkeling at Kapalua Bay, and and enjoying the sunsets in Kihei. But this epic journey to it’s remote east side is what sets truly Maui apart from the other Hawaiian islands.
Since The Road To Hana isĀ an absolute must-see on Maui, letās talk about how to do it and whatĀ to experienceĀ along the way.
With over 600 twists and turns and more than 50 one-lane bridges, driving the Road to Hana is truly an adventureāan all day adventure, to be sure!
How you prepare for your journey will largely depend on whether youāll be taking a guided van tour or driving in a rental car. In this guide we’ll cover both options so you canĀ decide which is best for your trip.
Before we get down to the nitty-gritty, itās important to realize that doing the Road to Hana, whether by guided tour or by rental car, is an all day event.Ā
If you plan a full day for The Road To Hana, you’ll enjoy the experience so much more, and you wonāt be scrambling like to get to yourĀ luau or dinner show afterward. Take our word for itāsave the luau for another night!
Since the Road to Hana is quite long and twisty, you may want to consider taking a guided van tour instead of driving yourself.
This allows you to completely relax and enjoy all the beautiful scenery without having to keep your eyes constantly glued to the road.
YourĀ friendly, knowledgeable tour guides also know all the hotspots to stop at along the way, so youāre sure to see the biggies.
Equipped with captainās chairs and panoramic windows, these fully air-conditioned vans are, in a word, comfortable.
These are not cramped, funky, little vans. Youāll be traveling in total style and comfort on your Road To Hana tour!
Youāll have plenty of time to explore, take photos, and stop at Mauiās favorite roadside āsnack shacksā to sample a variety of local goodiesāfresh tropical fruit, smoked fish, banana bread, and smoothies.
Youāll want to bring a little cash with you. Visa: Itās where you want to beā¦unless youāre on the Road to Hana!
Another advantage to a guided tour is that when youāre done exploring and ready to go home, youāll probably be ready for a nap. YourĀ comfortable captain’s chair is a great to catch some “Z’s”.Ā
Itās a relief to simply hop back into a luxury van, stretch out, and leave the driving to someone else.
Youāll definitely want to pack a bag to take with you for the Road To Hana. Hereās a list of things to bring with you to make yourĀ guided tour comfortable and exhilarating:
Some folks want the freedom to stop and go as they please or even spend a night or two in Hana. Driving the Road to Hana in a rental car allows for such liberties.Ā Itās much more about the journey than the destination!
Sure, Hana is a pretty, little town, but the real treat is enjoying all the stops along the way, as well as seeing the sights that lie just beyond Hana Maui.
Hereās a list of the most popular stops on the Road to Hana. In our humble opinion, you donāt need to see them all. Our recommendation is to giveĀ yourself a full-day, and pick out a few ofĀ your favorites.
This is an extremely popular stopā¦that you should seriously consider skipping!
By all means, stop and see Twin Falls, but we suggest you do it another day in combination with a Maui zipline adventure.
This is a cool place to stop. You wonāt see any waterfalls, but itās still nice to take a quick amble through the verdant Maui jungle.
The name says it all. In addition to the beautiful gardens, it also affords panoramic views of the ocean, and views of Upper and Lower Puohokamoa Falls.
Thereās an art gallery with beautiful locally crafted items, as well. Note that there is an entry fee of $15/person, so this may weigh into your decision to see it or skip it.
You might consider passing on this one. First of all, accessing the lookout requires that you go on private property marked with a āNo Trespassingā sign.
With that said, thereās a large hole in the fence with a well-traveled path right on the other side leading to a nice lookout.
Itās really up to you, but we suggest keeping things legit and visiting the Garden of Eden, instead. There youāre able to see each of these waterfalls from spots within the garden area.
This is a nice park with good views of Keanae Peninsula. Weāll let you make the call, but you wonāt have missed anything phenomenal if you skip it.
Donāt miss this! The Honomanu Bay Lookout offers great views of the Hana Highway as it twists along the rugged Maui coastline. An enchanting sight!
Itās worth taking a few minutes to check out Keanae Park. This is one of Mauiās most recent lava flows. Youāll find a lava rock shoreline, restrooms, and a banana bread stand. Very yummy!
These falls are totally worth your time! We recommend accessing them from the ocean side of the bridge (the end thatās closest to Hana). But if you decide to hike over to the falls, please be careful!
This park is a popular stop, but, in our opinion, you wonāt be missing much if you keep driving. There are restrooms here if you need a break; the waterfalls are only so-so.
The black sand is a lovely novelty to check out, and the rest of the park has some terrific attractions including caves and short hikes.
Reservations required in advance.
Welcome to Heavenly Hana! Seriously, you could probably breeze right on past Hana, and sleep well knowing you didnāt miss a whole heck of a lot! BUT since you just drove TheĀ Road to Hana, you may as well stop for lunch and check it out.
Dining in Hana is a unique experience, and although you wonāt find many full-blown ārestaurantsā here, there are a number of roadside food trucks, stands, and shacks dishing out some extremely tasty cuisine! Hereās a list of some local favorites!
There are also a few sites in the area that you might consider seeing:
Now that youāve had lunch, are youāre ready to finish what you started? Great!
The next three stops are among the very finest on the entire drive. Notice that the mile markers count downward on these next three stops? This is because itās a different highwayāHighway 31.
Unless youāre planning on spending a night or two here, youāll probably want to get back on the road somewhat quickly, since some of the most beautiful stops are to be found along the 12 miles of road that lie beyondĀ Hana.
A tad past Hana Maui and youāll find beautiful Hamoa Beach.
This salt and pepper sand beach boasts an idyllic, tropical setting, making it one of the most striking Maui beaches. Take a few minutes here to dig your toes in the sand and revel in the pristine, natural beauty.
Donāt even think about passing this one up; Wailua Falls is spectacular! Since itās right on the side of the road, you canāt miss it.
Park your car, and take the short trail to the base of the waterfall, where you can get a closer look. You can even take a dip if youāre feeling extra adventurous.
Naturally, we saved the best for last! This stop alone makes the entire drive worthwhile.
Not only are you greeted by a cascade of gleaming pools, but youāre also at the site of one of Mauiās most epic hikesāPipiwai Trail.
Since the Seven Sacred Pools are located within the Kipahulu District of Hakeakala National Park, there is a parking fee per vehicle.
However, the parking pass is valid for three days and includes access to the summit of Haleakala Crater.Ā So, be sure to check out the sunrise at Haleakala within that timeframe to get the most bang for the buck.
Of course, you donāt have to pay any parking fees at the Seven Sacred Pools or atop Haleakala Crater if you visit them as part of a guided tourāanother benefit ofĀ taking a guided van tour of the road to Hana.
Youāll find several great hikes in the 7 Sacred Pools area. The three āKipahulu Area Trailsā areĀ the most popular of the bunch, and Kuloa Point Trail and Kahakai Trail are the shortest of the three, each only about a half-mile round-trip.
If you want to tackle the best hike Maui has to offer, then Pipiwai Trail is what youāre really after. Itās much longer (about 4 miles round-trip) and includes a ramble through an incredibly lush bamboo forest.
Youāll see the impressive 185 ft. Makahiku Falls, and if that isnāt enough, at the end of your hike, youāll come to the crowning jewelā400 ft. Waimoku Falls.
It really doesnāt get any better than thisā¦anywhere!Ā Read more about The Pipiwai Trail in our Guide To East Maui.
If youāre thinking about driving the road Hana and hiking Pipiwai Trail on the same day, then you should consider booking a guided hiking tour instead of doing it on your own.
A guided tours ensures that youāll be in good hands with folks who really know their way around the roads and trails.
When itās time for you to call it a day and head back to your hotel, there really is only one way back, and thatās the same way you came in.Ā
We do NOT suggest driving the āback side,ā since it comes with many added risks that, in our opinion, really arenāt worth taking.
Besides, much of the back side consists of very rough roads and relatively sparse scenery.
And if these arenāt reasons enough, car rental companies make you sign an agreement that you wonāt drive the back side in their cars! Enough said.
If you’ve timed things right, you mayĀ drive throughĀ Paia right around dusk. Consider stopping here for dinner and a brief stroll around Paiaās charming shops and galleriesāif you have the energy.
Paia Maui has some excellent eateries, of which these are a fewĀ of our favorites:
When you get back to your hotel, take a hot shower, grab a seat on your lanai, kick up your feet, and enjoy a Mai Taiā¦or three! Youāve earned it!
Also, please give yourself a big pat on the back. You’ve survived the Road to Hana!
AĀ van tour exploring one of the theĀ most beautiful, and windiest roads in the world, is of course preferable. But if youāre adventuring The Road To Hana in your rental car follow these simple tips toĀ save some time and get you back to your hotel in at a reasonable hour.
A 2-day trip on The Road To Hana is an ideal way to enjoy the adventure. Hereās a list of some recommended hotels and B&Bs in the Hana area:
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