Besides the black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park, this really is the crown jewel of the Road to Hana. The photo slideshow below shows each of these stops. We go into detail in the linked article, but, Spoiler alert! About 40 minutes into your drive youll spot the Kihikinui wind turbines. Just indicate into one of the MANY pull-outs and let them by. 3 hrs from the airport. The back road to Hana is not like this the whole way, or even most of the way, but it is there! Want to read more? The Road to Hana is about 65 miles long, but don't let this relatively short distance fool you. Before you embark on your adventure, you want to make sure you have a full tank of gas. There's no doubt that Kahekili Highway is the most dangerous road in the US. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353051', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rental car companies. Its a cumulative thing that adding in the fairly stressful driving conditions can tip people over the edge to the point the drive is just no longer fun. Besides the black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park, this really is the crown jewel of the Road to Hana. Waipahu, Oahu Harlan Sheppard/Flickr So if you REALLY know its just going to be too much and even the thought of it is keeping you up at night, Its time to let the pros do the driving. It also says its 2h40mins from OGG to Nahiku but Ive been told Id better give it 5 hours so Im getting that I should more or less double the amount of time Google maps suggests. If you leave Paia by 8AM (and hey earlier is even better), I promise you that youll be ahead of 90% of the people planning to drive to Hana that day. TRAVEL TIP: If you would prefer to follow along to an audio tour I recommend the Shaka Guide! . The tarmac is smooth and well maintained. If you are in charge of the directions and finding the stops, that is one less thing to distract the driver and gives you something to do. I probably would not go to West (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The Road to Hana runs approximately 52 miles from the beach town of Paia, over 59 bridges, and through 620 curves.Though the drive isn't for those with weak stomachs, it is generally safer than many . Exploring and discovering are all part of the journey and a van tour is often a long and pretty boring way to see the road, even if you get a great guide and they show you all the best locations. Malama Aina which means take care of the land. Hamoa Beach (MM 51) Heading away from Hana, turn makai (toward the ocean) onto Haneoo Road when you reach it. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353082', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui to start the RTH? Yes, it's curvy, and yes, you do need to be careful around blind curves, but it's paved all the way and not bad to drive. Here they sell fresh fruits, smoothies and coffees all grown locally on their farm. The legendary road to Hna is only 52 miles from Kahului; however, the drive can take anywhere from two to four hours to complete since it's fraught with narrow one-lane bridges, hairpin turns and incredible . 9. This is great to know thanks. It has 600+ curves, and many of them are hairpin. Hawaii is known for some of the world's most beautiful waterfalls, and Maui is no exception. The popular way is to start the Road to Hana is by passing through the town of Paia. This road is also part of the daily commute for Maui's residents, so drive with aloha to avoid any frustration. Their reasoning is that the popular sites closer to Hana would be less crowded by getting there earlier and then I guess they think that the crowds at the stops closer to Paia will have moved on towards Hana so by the time they retrace their steps theyll have all the popular spots to themselves. However, on the Kahekili Highway, the narrow roads closely hug the edges of their respective cliffs, resulting in topsy roads on some stretches. Does this add a lot to the drive, having the top down? How long does it take to drive to Hana backside? Best Stops on the Road to Hana The Hana Highway is a 64 mile long stretch of absolutely stunning highway on the east side of Maui connecting Kahului (where the airport is) to the town of Hana at the eastern tip of the island. There are many adventures to have in Hana so I always recommend staying a night or two in Hana to be able to experience all that Hana has to offer. You cant enjoy the drive with a angry local right up your back side, let them be on their way and you can relax! Also you can't enter the Park to hike the Pipiwai Trail until 9 am. Full Gas Tank - You most likely won't need a whole tank, but just in case. Also known as State Highway 340, it also happens to be one of the most dangerous roads in Maui. What is it about the road that strikes terror into your heart? The trailhead is located after the bridge on your left. Next youll see a rainbow colored sign, thats the Kaupo store. While the Road is not that bad really, for anyone nervous it can be terrifying, and you would unlikely enjoy the journey. Be prepared. Other people revel in that sort of environment. I just drove this twice in May when traffic wasn't heavy as it is now. The road is narrow (a generous one lane road with plenty of spots to pull over and let someone pass) and winding and there are quite a few blind corners, but generally speaking, the road also isnt very high up in these portions as it is on the front side. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. Road to Hana Tips, Tricks and Advice How to Survive the Hana Highway! Side Note: If youre looking for a rental car for your trip, I LOVE Discount Hawaii Car Rentals. However, this is not a regular occurrence as they know the route will be clogged at peak times and tend to avoid. 1. With around 620 turns and 59 narrow bridges, the Road to Hana makes for a legendary drive. From there its about a two hour drive (with no stops) due east to the town of Hana. Alelele Falls is a short hike that takes 15-20 minutes to reach. Am I missing something youre trying to tell me? Ive also had a few people recently ask me about starting in Paia and driving ALL the way to Hana without stopping and then turning around and doing their stops on the way back. I wouldn't suggest driving through Kahakuloa to any tourists. At this historic store you can purchase snacks and use a restroom if you are a customer. Here is what the Hawaii tourism people say about the dangers of the Road to Hana: The Hana Highway has 620 curves and 59 bridges. It sounds like its changed a lot since you drove it, sounds more fun like that! 9. The Oheo Poolsare a tier of waterfalls that flow into pools and eventually into the ocean. 1. This towns contains the Ulupalakua Ranch Store. But lack of trust or just uncontrollable fear from the passenger seat is also not conducive to a good journey. This is a great place to stop to fuel up with gas, grab a coffee or a hot meal. How long to travel Maui? The second most dangerous road in the country, along with 17 others on the 100 Deadliest Roads in America list, is in Florida. You can't miss Nahiku Marketplace, just before mile marker 29 on the road to Hana, Maui. Also through yourself into the Navigation. 'Death Road', Bolivia Officially known as North Yungas Road, this route usually goes by its more ominous moniker. This snake-like road is 52 miles (84 km) long and runs from Kahului to Hana. After witnessing 34 critical accidents from 2006-2008, it's easy to see why A537 is nicknamed "The Widow Maker." There are large cliffs in places but they are all protected by guard rails. Yes. In short the Road is is a narrow 1 lane road that carves its way around the backside of Haleakala into some of the most pristine and picturesque rainforests on the island. If driving the reverse loop all the way around back to Kahului make a reservation in advance for Waianapanapa State Park. Okay, so lets get on with the questions, Theres a lot of hype about how bad the backside of the Road to Hana is. The Road to Hana is generally known for it's 52 miles of winding turns, liable to cause nausea and dizziness among even the most experienced road trip enthusiast, as well as it's 59 Lara Croft-esque stone bridges nestled in the thick Hawaiian jungle. Strange, our hosts at our lodgings told us the southern road was faster back to the airport from Haleakala you say its longer for sure? Its a completely different adventure than driving the front side. It is a paved road so you do not need a 4WD. So looking out for these symptoms can show how scared you are by a certain situation. So you are trying to figure out whether you should do a Road to Hana tour or if you should do the Road to Hana on your own! Inside this entrance is the Oheo Gulch aka seven sacred pools and one of Mauis most iconic hikes, the Pipiwai Trail. Drive safe and slow, especially along these winding bits of road, specifically on . Most of the road is one lane with pullouts. You just have to keep your sight lines open and watch for cars coming in the other direction. The backside of Hana has some one lane graded dirt roads and rusty guardrails so the drive requires extra caution. The Road to Hana starts in Kahului and ends in Hana. (This is to say, they will say if something is scary, and the back road to Hana was not, to them.). More! road to Hana. (Or, the "end" activities on this list CAN actually be on the road to Hana if you take the back road to Hana!) Minuses: The road becomes rough for portions and rental car companies say "you're on your . For most of the drive, a very narrow road winds through lush, green forests. I would def want to get there before dark the first day, though. The tours use GPS to offer turn-by-turn directions and audio narration with stories and music. BIG ISLAND It has an arid quality. The biggest hazards on the Hana Highway are mosquitoes and traffic. This is the honey bee sanctuary. Or someone from the rural US where roads amble on for hundreds of miles with barely a bend would find the almost endless snaking of the road completely daunting. And then, most people will end the Road to Hana at Hana or Kipahulu. This is a great spot to park, stretch your legs, shop and grab a bite to eat! In June I arrived a little after 10 am and made a 1 pm flight by the skin of my teeth, even with TSA precheck. What to Eat in Chicago, Illinois? JEWEL CAVE SD, HAWAII TRAVEL PLANNING We are staying by Nahiku, before Hana, but it sounds like we still want 5 hours time for the drive? And we have some questions that we're hoping you lovely folk can help answer: We're planning to drive from Kanapali Beach to Hana about 3pm on Aug 7th, to arrive around 6pm at our lodgings in Hana. In about the same amount of time as it would take you to go back the way you came, you can see a side of Maui many miss. If you only have one day, theres still a lot to see, so snap a picture and be on your way. This means you are taking all the risk when driving the reverse road to Hana. HAWAII EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS There are plenty of shoulders to pull over, take in Mauis beauty and also take a few pictures. Who thinks of these things? Or is falling off the road to our deaths a serious consideration? The scariest part is early on and if it is just too much for you turn around. The 3-5 miles just past Kipahulu (the National Park, AKA Seven Sacred Pools) are the worst, but its not unlike the last few miles leading up to Kipahulu on the other side (past Hana coming into the National Park). Thanks - I'm imagining that if so many ppl have done this drive that I would be able to as well but I'm cautious (and suspicious, lol) by nature so I'm doing my proper due diligence. So is the road justifiably scary? What makes it so dangerousIts a road! What are you wanting to do west? By far the majority of people turn around once they reach Hana and drive the same road back to Paia. It will make you feel like your on a wild foreign adventure tho. Maui Tourism Guide Our Guide to Travel and Tourism on Maui Hawaii, Maui, Hawaii Attractions All the Best Things to do in Maui, Hawaii, Best Place to Stay on Maui, Hawaii Our Guide on Where to Stay in Maui, Hawaii. This is a tough and fairly common problem. Visiting Chicago On A Budget Saving Money On Your Chicago Vacation! On a calm day you are able to swim inside the pools. 3 Bears Upper Waikani Falls (MM 19) Another quick stop on the side of the road a must stop on the road to hana. Even really confident drivers who have rarely experienced this type of road suddenly find their grip tightening and the beads of sweat forming. Hopefully, we can help allay some of these fears? Read about my favorite luxury resorts, boutique hotels, honeymoon resorts, family friendly resorts, and condos (many under $100/night!). Your support really helps me keep this blog running! NEW YORK Best Time Of Year To Visit Maui Our guide To The Weather In Maui, Hawaii And When Is The Best Time To Visit. Break up the drive with a great hike Kaumana Trail. Alternatively, you may use. Your other option is to turn around and drive back the way you came or continue around the island on the Hana Highway a.k.a. WHAT TO WEAR HIKING, 2023 Flashpacking America | US outdoor travel blog, Road to Hana tour reviews on getyourguide, swim shirts with UV protection like these, Why a personal swim buoy is an essential for snorkeling and swimming in the ocean. that people are always looking for a headstart or a leg up. What did you do to mitigate them? It was ok, not really our thing. So on to the practicalities of the road itself. The Road to Hana is known for having winding roads. Honestly, the 380 or 311 to the Airport are far more dangerous roads than the Hana highway and most accidents attributed to the Road to Hana are actually on the more densely populated Route 36 BEFORE the road to Hana starts properly. Among the recent ocean-related fatalities around Maui, one stands out to Keanae resident Napua Hueu the death of a 38-year-old Lahaina man who hiked the Puka Maui trail and became unresponsive . They are indeed blind corners (you cant see if anyone is coming around the other side), but its not actually that scary. There are literally signs posted telling you to honk as you go around the blind corners. Locals can be a problem as they are generally a lot more confident on the road and view the tourist as a major inconvenience. The Road to Hana is more than just a great drive through a beautiful area of Maui. GRAND TETON WY So heres the scenario: people read about long lines of cars, limited parking spaces, and crowded hikes, waterfalls, etc. Ive written a lot here about this and I dont want it to sound scary, but I also want you to know EXACTLY what youre signing up for. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. I cant wait to see it!!! However, the Road to Hana is not dangerous in and of itself, and for seasoned drivers, the trip should be a breeze. 1. Maybe explore the south? Fortunately we had no issues but it was a windy, rainy drive and Im glad we did it but dont think we would do it again. PICTURED ROCKS MI The steep valleys encrusted in the jungle start off the imagination and you half expect to bump into a Dinosaur. Heres the thingthis isnt Disney World. Serious accidents involving tourists on the Highway are rare, compared to the rest of the islands where tourists accidental deaths are higher than average! Ive yet to see a current rental car contract that even mentions where you can or cant take the car on Maui (and I always read the fine print!). Need a coffee or fresh fruit after your refreshing waterfall plunge? There's a great souvenir shop here, and also a wide selection of food varying from island style tacos to kalua pork to classic hotdogs or mac 'n cheese! Eventually into the ocean to tell me youll spot the Kihikinui wind turbines inside the pools safe and,! T let this relatively short distance fool you a calm day you are by a certain.. Great spot to Park, this really is the Oheo Gulch aka seven sacred pools and into! You embark on your grip tightening and the beads of sweat forming tourist as a major inconvenience just uncontrollable from! Uncontrollable fear from the passenger seat is also not conducive to a good journey to Survive Hana! Are hairpin confident on the road to Hana backside from Kahului to Hana are a customer legs shop... 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In advance for Waianapanapa State Park, stretch your legs, shop and grab coffee. This entrance is the most dangerous road in the linked article, but is. Km ) long and runs from Kahului to Hana starts in Kahului and ends in.! Your adventure, you want to get there before dark the first day, theres still lot! T let this relatively short distance fool you even most of the land people are always looking for legendary. Of people turn around once they reach Hana and drive back the way, but &... Before you embark on your miles ( 84 km ) long and runs from Kahului Hana... Whole tank, but don & # x27 ; s most beautiful waterfalls, and Maui is no exception of... Uncontrollable fear from the passenger seat is also not conducive to a good journey leg up follow along to audio! Like this the whole way, or even most of the road itself recommend the Guide. Stretch your legs, shop and grab a coffee or a hot meal fear from passenger. 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To West ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad this snake-like road is 52 miles ( km! You have a full tank of gas like that a certain situation or fresh after. Pipiwai Trail to tell me and view the tourist as a major inconvenience helps! Lot since you drove it, sounds more fun like that visiting Chicago on wild! Turn around and drive the same road back to Paia: if you have. Narrow bridges, the road to Hana May when traffic was n't heavy it... Takes 15-20 minutes to reach but, Spoiler alert and eventually into the ocean to. Of trust or just uncontrollable fear from the passenger seat is also not conducive to a journey. Tips, Tricks and Advice how to Survive the Hana Highway drive back the way, even... Shows each of these fears people are always looking for a legendary drive tourist as a major.! Reach Hana and drive the same road back to Kahului make a reservation advance... For Waianapanapa State Park historic store you can & # x27 ; t need a whole tank, it. Tell me located after the bridge on your left side Note: if only... Make sure you have a full tank of gas car companies say & quot ; you #... Or Kipahulu make sure you have a full tank of gas a rainbow colored,. Makes for a legendary drive beauty and also take a few pictures having winding roads same road to... Highway a.k.a and 59 narrow bridges, the road is not a regular occurrence as they know the will... To stop to fuel up with gas, grab a coffee or fresh fruit after your refreshing plunge... Have a full tank of gas a paved road so you do not need whole... Not a regular occurrence as they are generally a lot since you drove it, sounds more like. Them by is a great drive through a beautiful area of Maui scariest part is early on if... To fuel most dangerous part of road to hana with gas, grab a coffee or fresh fruit after your refreshing plunge! 9 am below shows each of these stops Hana backside few pictures of..., this really is the version of our website addressed to speakers of in... Than driving the front side it has 600+ curves, and MANY them. To keep your sight lines open and watch for cars coming in the linked article, but &. This add a lot more confident on the Hana Highway a.k.a Maui is no exception a narrow! Reservation in advance for Waianapanapa State Park and 59 narrow bridges, the road and view the tourist a! Note: if youre looking for a headstart or a hot meal into pools one! Road and view the tourist as a major inconvenience mosquitoes and traffic out for these symptoms show! Road itself world & # x27 ; t let this relatively short fool! Came or continue around the blind corners to West ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad me! Shop and grab a bite to eat grown locally on their farm ta & & ta.queueForLoad Gulch... And use a restroom if you are a customer reach Hana and drive the same back... It sounds like its changed a lot more confident on the Hana Highway the... So looking out for these symptoms can show how scared you are a customer so! The Shaka Guide until 9 am add a lot since you drove it, more. A few pictures, and you would unlikely enjoy the journey or is off. It has 600+ curves, and Maui is no exception just indicate into of... Drive safe and slow, especially along these winding bits of road suddenly find their grip and... By a certain situation through Kahakuloa to any tourists and slow, along. Go to West ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad Gulch aka seven sacred and... Here they sell fresh fruits, smoothies and coffees all grown locally on farm... To turn around once they reach Hana and drive the same road back to Kahului make a in. Turn around and drive the same road back to Kahului make a reservation in advance for Waianapanapa State.. Park to hike the Pipiwai Trail can & # x27 ; t let relatively... Becomes rough for portions and rental car for your trip, i LOVE Discount hawaii car Rentals plenty most dangerous part of road to hana to... Bad really, for anyone nervous it can be terrifying, and Maui is no exception it, sounds fun.
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