The Road to Hana
The Road to Hana is one of those epic drives you have to take, if you can handle the 59 bridges and 620 curves! The drive is around 44 miles long one way, from the intersection of Hwy 36 & Hwy 360 to Kipahulu at the 2nd entrance to Haleakala National Park (don't confuse this with the summit entrance to the park where you can go watch the sunrise or sunset) where the Pools of O'heo & the Pipiwai Trail can be found. This will take you 2-3 hours without stops. If you continue on around the 'back' of the island, it adds on another 50 miles to get to Maui Veterans Hwy in the middle of Central Maui.
This drive is not about getting to the town of Hana, it's about the drive itself. You can drive as far as you want and turn around or keep going. Definitely plan on a 12 hour day if you want to go all the way around 'the back side' or to Kipahulu and back to your room or condo. It's best to get an early start, 6am-7am, so you can get ahead of the crowds and the tour buses and so you can return to town before the sun goes down. Pack food and drinks, especially water, though you will come across some smoothie stands, fruit stands, banana bread stands, and a few small food places along the way.
Many people have heard that the Road to Hana is a scary, unpaved road along steep cliffs. The road is actually paved all the way to just past Kipahulu and you'll only find unpaved road if you continue around the back side of Haleakala. If you are uncomfortable at the thought of driving yourselves then book a tour. See here for tour ideas.
This road is meant to be driven slowly. However, locals also use this road to get to work and home, so if you can pull over safely and let them go by, please do so.
If you see available parking at a waterfall, then stop. Some stops on your list may not have available parking so you may need to skip it or do it on the return trip if you turn around and head back towards Paia.
The following is a list of all the stops on the Road to Hana, you won't be able to do them all in one day. Choose a few, make stops at waterfalls when there is available parking, and plan additional time for any hikes you plan to do. A note about the mile markers, they start over at #16 on Highway 360 and then after Hana Town start going backwards. I've listed the stops in clockwise order of your drive from Paia to Kipahulu, if you drive the back way first then just reverse the order of stops.
This drive is not about getting to the town of Hana, it's about the drive itself. You can drive as far as you want and turn around or keep going. Definitely plan on a 12 hour day if you want to go all the way around 'the back side' or to Kipahulu and back to your room or condo. It's best to get an early start, 6am-7am, so you can get ahead of the crowds and the tour buses and so you can return to town before the sun goes down. Pack food and drinks, especially water, though you will come across some smoothie stands, fruit stands, banana bread stands, and a few small food places along the way.
Many people have heard that the Road to Hana is a scary, unpaved road along steep cliffs. The road is actually paved all the way to just past Kipahulu and you'll only find unpaved road if you continue around the back side of Haleakala. If you are uncomfortable at the thought of driving yourselves then book a tour. See here for tour ideas.
This road is meant to be driven slowly. However, locals also use this road to get to work and home, so if you can pull over safely and let them go by, please do so.
If you see available parking at a waterfall, then stop. Some stops on your list may not have available parking so you may need to skip it or do it on the return trip if you turn around and head back towards Paia.
The following is a list of all the stops on the Road to Hana, you won't be able to do them all in one day. Choose a few, make stops at waterfalls when there is available parking, and plan additional time for any hikes you plan to do. A note about the mile markers, they start over at #16 on Highway 360 and then after Hana Town start going backwards. I've listed the stops in clockwise order of your drive from Paia to Kipahulu, if you drive the back way first then just reverse the order of stops.
Stops on the Road to Hana
- Twin Falls - Easy and beautiful hike to the lower waterfall or you can keep going a mile to the next waterfall which is recommended for advanced hikers only. Food stand with banana bread and smoothies, and facilities. Parking is now limited at this stop so get there early and pack your patience! There is no parking allowed on the side of the road anymore.
- Kaulanapueo Church - A Protestant Church dating back to 1940 with with a quaint cemetery.
- Huelo Lookout - Great little roadside stand with smoothies and other snacks
- Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees - Hawaii's famous colorful barked trees, it's hard to find anywhere to park along the road but if you find a pullout take it and walk back to the trees for a quick photo.
- Waikamoi Ridge Nature Trail - an easy loop hike with a shorter 10 min walk or longer 30 minute option filled with trees, ferns, and scenic overlooks
- Garden of Eden Arboretum - open 8am - 4pm daily, $15 per adult, $5 per child, under 5 free. This is one of my favorite places. A lush garden with all sorts of plants, trees, and old bamboo. Stunningly beautiful stop with some short walks around the property. Great views of Puohokamoa Falls and views of scenery used in the Jurassic Park movies.
- Honomanu Bay Lookout - a great view of the Road to Hana weaving through the jungle. You can find a large parking lot with the best view just .4 miles past mm 14.
- The Keanae Peninsula - A favorite stop! Watch for the sign on a sharp curve and take a narrow road down to the peninsula where you'll find the ocean waves pounding against the volcanic rocks and great views of the mountains. Stop at the little cove on the right before the parking lot. The famous Aunt Sandy's banana bread stand is here and restrooms are available.
- Ching's Pond - A popular swimming hole where you can find brave locals cliff diving 25'. You can jump from the lower rocks below for a safer trip but always use common sense. Check for the depth of the water before jumping and jump at your own risk.
- Halfway to Hana - food stand, restrooms and the obligatory photo of the Halfway to Hana sign!
- Wailua Valley State Wayside - blink and you'll miss it! Three parking spots, one handicapped, and a set of steps up to a lookout giving you great views of the ocean and mountains.
- Upper Waikani Falls aka Three Bear Falls - Beautiful set of three waterfalls viewed right from the road. A small area to pull over and park just before or after the bridge.
- Pua'a Ka'a State Wayside Park - a good stop to stretch your legs and use the restroom. Take the trail across the street from the restrooms to a small waterfall and fresh water pool.
- Hanawi Falls - a 200' waterfall cascade best seen from the bridge. A small area to park just before or after the bridge.
- Nahiku Marketplace - a great little roadside market with handmade gifts and art, and several food trucks offering different cuisines.
- Kahanu Garden - Off of 'Ula'ino Road, drive past the Hana Lava Tube and on the right you'll see the National Tropical Botanical Gardens. Here you'll find the only accessible view of Pi'ilanihale Heiau, which is the largest Temple in Hawaii. This ancient temple took hundreds of years to complete and sprawls over 3 acres.
- Kaeleku Caverns aka Hana Lava Tube - a $12 self-guided tour that takes about 40 minutes through 140' of cave. A fun adventure for all members of the family. Take flashlights or pick some up there.
- Wai’anapanapa State Park - One of the most popular stops on the Road to Hana, you'll find picnic tables, sea caves, a black sand beach, hiking trails, and gorgeous views of the blue ocean crashing against black volcanic rocks. A reservation ticket is now required, you can get it here: dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/maui/waianapanapa-state-park/ For more information on the black sand beach, click here.
- Hana Town - A quiet, true Hawaiian town that some visitors enjoy strolling through.
- Wailua Falls - one of Maui's most photographed waterfalls, this is an 80' cascade down the lush jungle walls with a pool at the bottom. Wear sturdy shoes for the short and slippery hike. Find parking just past the bridge.
- Hamoa Beach - surrounded by shade trees and cliffs, this beach may be a quiet place to go, facilities available. For more information on Hamoa Beach, click here.
- Koki Beach aka Red Sand Beach - click here for directions on how to get to this beach; while a popular beach, you have to go through private property to access it. The trail is also unstable and several people have injured themselves. My recommendation? Give it a pass.
- Kipahulu & Haleakala National Park:
- Seven Sacred Pools - great place for photography, the pools are sometimes closed due to landslides or flooding
- National Park Visitor Center - Haleakala National Park is one the United States' 62 National Parks.
- Pipwai Trail - plan 2 hours for this great 1.8 mile hike (3.6 round trip) through a bamboo forest to 400' tall Waimoku Falls. The trail follows a stream complete with pools and waterfalls, past a banyan tree, over a bridge, and through the bamboo forest. Take plenty of water and wear sturdy shoes.
- The Backside of Haleakala - if you continue on past Kipahulu you will see an entirely different view of Maui. The beginning of this section of the road is narrow and unpaved for about 10 miles, just take it slow around the corners. After that the road widens out and is paved. You'll see the back of Haleakala, the ocean, black goats, and a side of Maui that most people don't get to see. The road then turns and heads upcountry where the scenery again turns lush and green.
- Palapala Ho'omau Church - a pretty, simple church that is the location of Charles Lindbergh's grave. Look for the stables to tell you where this spot is and please be respectful of the area.
- Alelele Falls - Where the road drops down to sea-level and a rocky beach, you'll find a white bridge with Alelele Falls stamped on it two trails heading up the mountainside. This 60' waterfall runs best in the winter months after a rain, but there is a pool at the bottom that you could wade in.
