Scenic Road Trip: Exploring the Hana Highway on Maui

One of the most scenic road trips in the United States is Hawaii’s coastal Road to Hana. The 64-mile-long route on the island of Maui joins the towns of Hana and Kahului. It takes around three hours to get from one town to the other if you drive straight through, but stopping to see the many sights along the route is what makes this a unique adventure. Lush rainforests, steep waterfalls, ancient lava tubes, brightly-colored tropical flowers, unspoiled beaches, and monumental waves all wait along the Road to Hana, along with some of the world’s best homemade banana bread.

If you, like most visitors, do stop at the numerous roadside points of interest along the way, the journey can take a full day. While trying to visit every single attraction would mean spending a few days on the road, you can choose to rest for a night or two in Hana, enjoy some good food, and relax before beginning the journey back to Kahului.

Another thing to bear in mind before setting out on the Road to Hana is that the roadway itself is notoriously windy and narrow, with a few dozen single-lane bridges and over 600 curves. If that does not sound like a drive you want to take on, you can always book a van tour and let someone else do the driving.

For those of you planning a Road to Hana adventure, keep reading to learn all you need to know about this picturesque road trip.

Route Options

If you look at a map, the Road to Hana seems to be relatively direct. After all, the journey from Kahului to Hana is only about 50-some-odd miles.

Despite its fairly short overall point-to-point distance, your sojourn takes place primarily on a narrow, two-lane country roadway, comprised mainly of 59 one-lane bridges and 620 turns, many of which are quite sharp. For most of your trip, you won’t see speeds in excess of 25 miles per hour, and there will be a few areas where you will be yielding at a bridge crossing or find yourself crawling along in traffic.

The Road to Hana is not meant to be a drive that takes you directly to your destination, but rather a start-and-stop drive, with numerous points of interest and pull-off areas to explore. Vehicles are constantly pulling into and off of the highway, and if all you are interested in is making good time, you are going to miss most of what makes this trip so special. With this in mind, one should plan to spend an entire day experiencing the Road to Hana and do so with patience and adventure in mind, rather than the end of the trip.

When it comes to driving the Road to Hana, travelers have two options:

• Kahului-Hana-Kahului: No matter where you start your day, you will pass through Kahului and begin your trip from there, rolling along the Hana Highway past Hoʻokipia and through Paʻia where you will arrive at Mile Marker Zero, the official start of the route. From there, you are 35 miles from Hana. Once you make it to the town, you can simply turn around and go back along the same route.
• Kahului-Hana-Kīpahulu-Kula: When taking this route for the outbound journey, you are still starting in Kahului and going to Hana, but rather than turning around, you drive through the town of Hana, circle around Haleakalā, and follow the coastal road which takes you through Haleakalā National Park’s Kīpahulu District to the south shore, ultimately reaching the town of Kula.

Can’t-Miss Attractions and Sights

Twin Falls

One of the very first stops visitors come to on the Road to Hana is a pair of idyllic waterfalls located at Mile Marker 2. To reach them, you will have to hike along an out-and-back, 1.8-mile trail. If you work up an appetite during the expedition, no need to worry. There is a stand that sells smoothies and fresh fruit at the trailhead.

Ho’okipa Beach Park

Situated at Mile Marker 9, this beach is a windsurfer’s and surfer’s paradise, particularly during the wintertime when the waves are enormous. Although surfing here is only recommended for those who have a lot of experience, there is a lookout point that gives visitors a clear view of the action below.

Waikamoi Ridge Trail

At Mile Marker 9.5, a little past Ho’okipa, is a hiking trail that is often overlooked by tourists. A relatively easy trek, the 0.8-mile loop only takes about half an hour to walk and has the option to take a detour that doubles the length. Both the short and long versions of the hike take you through dense old-growth forests. Depending on the time of year you visit, the trail can be muddy, so sensible hiking shoes are strongly advised.

Maui Garden of Eden Arboretum & Botanical Garden

This 26-acre garden found at Mile Marker 10.5 offers over two miles of hiking trails that take visitors through stunning botanical gardens. From one of its lookout points, you can see Keopuka Rock, the first glimpse audiences were given of Isla Nublar, the fictional island in Jurassic Park.

Hana Lava Tube

Shortly past Mile Marker 31, make a lefthand turn onto Ulaino Road. If you go down a ways, you will see the Hana Lava Tube. This is a cave that was formed by a volcanic eruption. Make sure you have a flashlight if you plan on exploring inside.

Hana Town

Visiting this seaside town can feel like you are stepping back in history as it has remained largely unaffected by the passage of time. Although some visitors do stay overnight, it is also a great place to simply get out and stretch your legs if you are driving the Road to Hana trip in a single go. You can take a short tour of the Hana Tropicals flower farm and buy yourself some colorful blossoms, or go to the beach and spend some time just relaxing in the sun.

Wailua Falls

As you approach Mile Marker 45, these picturesque falls are visible from the road and hard to miss. To really soak in your surroundings, you can grab a nearby parking spot and get a closer look.

Haleakala National Park, Kipahulu District

Many tourists think that the Road to Hana stops when they reach Hana, but it reallys goes on to Haleakala National Park. Once you reach the end of the roadway, you can investigate the park’s secluded Kipahulu District. One of the main attractions is the out-and-back, four-mile Pipiwai Trail, that leads to Waimoku Falls and Seven Sacred Pools (Ohe’o Gulch).

Popular Stops for Food and Drinks

The beginning of the Road to Hana, Paia Town, is a fun place to spend time exploring. Visitors can have a delicious meal at hotspots such as Paia Fish Market, Cafe Des Amis, or Mama’s Fish House. It is also a good place to stock up on a variety of snacks for later, although there are many different options for food as you continue along your journey.

On your trip, make sure you take the time to stop for some homemade banana bread. The Halfway to Hana Stand is one of the most popular places to get banana bread. They also make and sell shaved ice and sandwiches. A little farther down the road, you can purchase gifts and food, such as pork tacos, at Nahiku Marketplace. When you finally reach Hana, don’t overlook the Hasegawa General Store, a one-stop market that has been around for over 100 years.

Safety Considerations and Tips on the Road to Hana

• Driving the Road to Hana demands close attention to the task at hand. The roadways are sometimes congested with visitors who don’t necessarily know where they are going, and unanticipated traffic jams around turns can cause sudden braking, sometimes leading to accidents. Always keep your focus on the roadway, drive with due care, and make sure you only park in designated parking spaces since doing otherwise can also cause traffic issues.
• Before you start out on your journey, it is a good idea to decide where you want to stop and what types of things you would like to do. This will help ensure you can see everything you want to see in the time you have available, that bathroom breaks do not become an emergency, and that you have the appropriate gear for your chosen activities.
• No matter how long you think the trip is going to take or how many places you plan on stopping, you are going to be on the road for hours. Make sure you have plenty of water and food since, with traffic, it could be quite some time before you reach another restaurant or roadside food stand. Packing a picnic is a great way to enjoy a leisurely outdoor lunch without worrying about what is nearby.
• Bring towels. Not only are there lots of opportunities to go swimming along the Road to Hana, but this area of Hawai’i also gets a lot of rain, so you are likely to end up wet one way or another.
• On the Road to Hana, cash is king. This is especially true if you hope to sample local fruits, buy a smoothie, or buy some famous banana bread. There are a few ATMs peppered along the route, but it is best to have cash on hand for the trip.

Road to Hana Tour Options

Van tours of the Road to Hana have risen in popularity since they make it possible for a large number of visitors to enjoy all the attractions and sights without having to traverse the serpentine road themselves. These group tours also help to mitigate some of the traffic jams as well. The tour guides all have different itineraries, but almost all of them take an entire day. Private group and family tours can also be booked and come with the added bonus of allowing you to choose where you will stop and the overall duration of your trip.

Accommodations in Hana

Although it is a fairly small town, there are numerous accommodations for visitors who want to stay a night or two in Hana. The Hana-Maui Resort, which is owned by Hyatt Hotel, is by far the most opulent, and Hana Kai Maui has oceanfront condominiums for rent. For more intimate overnight accommodations, you can book a three-room suite with an ocean view at The Bamboo Inn on Hana Bay.

The Best Time to Take the Drive

Not surprisingly, the Road to Hana is a lot more crowded on holidays and weekends, so visitors can anticipate the roads being less congested from Monday morning to Thursday afternoon. Bear in mind that rain is often an issue along the way. If you want to minimize your chances of being caught in a passing storm, you should go between December and March.

If you or a member of your family were seriously injured while driving the Road to Hana or simply vacationing in Hawaii, you should speak with a qualified Hawaii personal injury lawyer as quickly as possible. Contact the Honolulu personal injury law firm of Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner by calling (808) 537-2525 or filling out our online contact form to schedule a free and confidential case review with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys.