We hoped to stop at the garden of eden but it had a long line of cars so we kept going, we made a reservation at the black sand beach. We can now offer our visitors 20 years of expertise on this beautifully scenic drive. You cant enjoy the drive with a angry local right up your back side, let them be on their way and you can relax! Hanawi Falls is located right after Mile Marker 24 on the Road to Hana. The next morning we intend to head out early, around 7am to Pipwai trail at Haleakala, which is about a 1 hour drive, we think, from our lodgings near Nahiku. Sipping pineapple wine is an unusual thing to do in Maui and is one of the best things to do Upcountry Maui although I recommend that you spend a separate day exploring as there are many cool things to do Upcountry. Every time we come we think we will skip it this time, but instead find some reason to make the pilgrimage. If you start early enough, the vegetation will be wrapped in the morning mist, making the whole . Hana, the quaint little backwater town has just the one road leading in or our and this is the drive of a lifetime! Driving a car is dangerous. An out and back drive if you will. 2) Youll experience the best part of the drive (what youre most expecting to seecrazy lush vegetation, wild jungles, waterfalls, etc) early in the day when youre still fresh and excited (and not 6-8 hours in when youre starting to run on fumes energy wise). Im there answering questions every day and there are 7500+ other friends who have a ton of Hawaii information to share! There is little cell reception, you driving around an active(ish) volcano into the wilds of an already pretty remote island chain. Speeding on the road to Hana is super dangerous and you might also have to deal with slow vehicles: spend one night in Hana in stead than rushing your visit! Check your rental agreement and insurance this activity may breach your contract as this area of Maui is usually forbidden by rental car companies. 9. You land in the morningcoming from mainland or another island? Rating: In a nutshell: If you like the road less traveled, continuing on past Hana around Haleakala is an adventure worth taking. One of the best places to view Hanawi Falls is from the Hanawi Falls Bridge. Dont miss it! . The Road to Hana is one of the best things to do in Maui! There's no doubt that Kahekili Highway is the most dangerous road in the US. We are aware for some the road is a terrifying prospect and we are not trying to diminish that. (try our Is the Road to Hana Worth it or Hana Highway Guide for more detailed descriptions). (This is to say, they will say if something is scary, and the back road to Hana was not, to them.). Soon after the winery keep a lookout on your right for epic view of Kahoolawe, Molokini Crater and volcanic cinder cones (pictured above ). : @kapenamorgan, What to expect driving the backside road to Hana. 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. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353082', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui to start the RTH? A lot of locals go off the road in there even and die. Travel to or from the region of Hana to any other major population center takes several hours by car. So just drive the route thats going to give you the best overall experience and dont be worried about trying to be too strategic. IDAHO You can wear mosquito repellent, but there's not much you can do about the traffic. Hiking Shoes - If you want to hike. 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. It's one of the most beautiful drives in the world. Google maps said 2 hours but I guess this is what happens when a bot gives you directions? Soon you will come up on St. Josephs Church, this is such a beautiful piece of Maui. We have written extensively and lyrically about the road in our other articles and we imagine if you are seriously questioning the journey you are pretty aware of what the road is so we will not go in too deep here. GULF ISLANDS FL 8. Even really confident drivers who have rarely experienced this type of road suddenly find their grip tightening and the beads of sweat forming. The bridge was completed in 1926 and is one of the 80 Hana . According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Hana Highway - Road to Hana: Road to Hana Day Trip (From C$293.76) Small Group Road to Hana Adventure Tour with Pickup (From C$293.76) Small-Group Road to Hana Luxury Tour (From C$472.71) Famous Road to Hana Mercedes van with Waterfalls, Black Sand Beach & Lunch (From C . As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I probably would not go to West (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? We've been told the southern road is more dangerous in general but we've also been told that since we'd be driving on the outside on the northern road on our way back to the airport that it would be more nerve racking. The Pools at O'heo. If you havent already, you will soon understand why thisis a perfect spot for them. Finally, the highlight of the back road to Hana is the Kipahulu entrance to Haleakala National Park. Eventually, the Hana Highway turns into the Piilani Highway. Read more about the backside of Hana Here! You are driving the Hana Highway to the town of Hana! This part of Maui is known as Upcountry. Nahiku Marketplace. Well over 50 in total and most of the single lane for both directions. It is also known for having a lot of one-lane bridges that only allow cars to drive through in one direction at a time. If the Road the Hana is proving scary, that Back route will scare the Bejebous out of you! You can read Road to Hana tour reviews on getyourguide. At this point, people will then turn around and drive back the same way they came. And then, most people will end the Road to Hana at Hana or Kipahulu. Snorkeling at Molokini is one of the best things to do in Kihei. In general I did not find the main part of the Road to Hana to be particularly dangerous or scary. Standing up and talking in front of others caused untold anxiety and could only be faced with a LARGE amount of dutch courage. Period. Also through yourself into the Navigation. as Upcountry. If we arrive at the airport at 10am, you would suggest to simply start driving out east to Nahiku and not see the west at all? The sheer remoteness of the area also plays on the mind. Heres my best tip for driving past Hana: always try to follow a car in front of you. That said, of course DO take care while you are driving the Road to Hana! These activities past Hana town will still be considered Road to Hana activities since people typically do them as a part of their Road to Hana trip! What makes this drive so special? The trailhead is located after the bridge on your left. More! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352716', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. Top Pick! Anytime you start toward Hana after lunch you will start meet cars headed toward you and that will slow you down on the 59 one way bridges. Want to read more? And yes, I have driven the Road to Hana in reverse, but really only because I used to live upcountry in Kula and it was the quicker way to get to Hana from my house. 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. Starting your journey to Hana on this side is a great way toexperience this side ofHaleakala volcano. Its a must do! And if you just want more details (more! ALL OF THIS BEING SAIDif this makes you nervous, if youre not an easy driver, if youre not used to trail driving or driving outside of a city, if you have an overwhelming fear of heights or significant anxiety, or if you question the safety for ANY reason, its always best not to go! Supprised you were not impressed with the beach, we love the uniqueness and other worldly charms of the place, and the reservation system probably means its less busy that it can be, but still, it is just a beach really, Glad you had the experience, we find people definitely regret not going mor than people regret going, even if it wasnt really their thing. We will land in the morning, (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Even though the road covers a relatively short distance, the turns and low speed limits . It is a paved road so you do not need a 4WD. This trip takes approximately 7.0 hours to complete and the Road to Hana is considered the 5th most dangerous road in the world. 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 . 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. Drive safe and slow, especially along these winding bits of road, specifically on . The road leads you through flourishing rainforests, flowing waterfalls, plunging pools and dramatic seascapes. **Paia Historic Town. I think nearly all of us have some kind of phobia, some irrational, spiders, birds, outdoors, speeches, heights, flying. So glad you are going to get back and finally see it, Finally getting to drive the road after missing out will probably make the journey all the more special! Whether on your own or on a tour, you will see the gorgeous scenery of the rainforest, including . For full transparency,I have sprinkled some affiliate links in this post. What makes it so dangerousIts a road! And most of all, for the most part, speeds, are LOW! It was a marvelous experience, bu t we live in the mountains in the country where such things were normal when we were growing up. 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 . Yikes. 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. The other feature of the highway is the endless bridges. There are twice as many awesome things to do on the road to Hana as there are on the back side to Hana so again that will also be an all day excursion hence why I recommend staying a few nights in Hana. The Road to Hana is a 64 mile stretch of road that starts in Kahului and ends at Kpahulu. The southern part of the highway connects Miami with the Florida Keys by miles of bridges. This is the wrong way to do it. Need a coffee or fresh fruit after your refreshing waterfall plunge? Its possible that some companies offer roadside assistance coverage that you can purchase additionally and maybe this portion of the road isnt included in that. If you're leaving from Kaanapali and planning on a one-hour stop en route, yes, 5 hours to Hana. 5) Is there any general safety advice you guys would give? ARIZONA (This is NOT like the Hana Highway normal route around the north side, which is paved all the way.) Copyright 2023 Lincoln Travel Co ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, guide for sunrise at Haleakala National Park, 20 of the best adventure activities on Maui, the best things to do on a Maui honeymoon. There is nothing but sharp - blind turns, one way roads, one car bridges on roads that continuously turned and not wide enough for two cars. Get your car inspected . JEWEL CAVE SD, HAWAII TRAVEL PLANNING You can drive the road to Hana yourself, or take a tour in a van . Guoliang Tunnel ( China) You have tried and that is all anyone can ask, but if its too much head back. Just my opinion, and I've done it several times. If you are enjoying the sights and driving at a leisurely pace, be mindful enough to pull over and let local drivers pass. 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! PEARL HARBOR HI FLORIDA, U.S. NATIONAL PARK SITES Know that theres a possibility that youll have to reverse if a car is coming in the opposite direction. Attracted by the popularized Road to Hana, day-trippers begin to flood in by midday. So, you will want to look into driving the back road to Hana further to see if you feel comfortable with it! After growing up on these the road to Hana was no problem. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. ), this will be on your mind all day ruining the trip. 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. 2) Is this too late in the afternoon to see safely in early August? 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!). We've been researching the attractions on the Hana Highway since 2002 when the highway first made a major and incredibly positive impression on us. Ahhh, the backwards Road to Hana. If theyre open ; ) Ill note here that the National Park does NOT have water or snacks for sale so since the Kaupo Store is undependable, make sure you have everything you need once you leave Hana. Serious accidents involving tourists on the Highway are rare, compared to the rest of the islands where tourists accidental deaths are higher than average! Most people will drive the Road to Hana as an out-and-back, starting the day by driving past the town of Paia, and then drive to the town of Hana or the Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park. Theyll give you the very best prices, you dont have to reserve with a credit card or pay until you show up, you can cancel and re-book anytime if you find a better rate, and they usually have a special that adds additional drivers for no fee. Charged Cameras - Many photo opps await you! We respect your privacy. However, it also comes with a fearsome reputation, and strikes fear into the hearts of many. Driving in a caravan (even when you dont know the other people) takes away a LOT of the stress of creeping around blind corners plus the lead car has to sort out all of the passing issues with other cars ; ). 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