The world-famous highway to Hana is likely one of the must-do experiences when visiting Maui. It may be overwhelming planning what to see on this iconic highway journey when you may have restricted time. So we’ve rounded up all of the highway to Hana stops that we did on Maui’s epic coastal drive. You don’t have to see every little thing (except you may have the time) so we’re right here to assist you select what are the highest stops that it’s essential to make.
The Road to Hana, aka The Hana Highway, takes you from the surf city of Paia to the peaceable city of Hana. It’s simple to discover one of the best stops on the highway to Hana, all you want to do is comply with the mile markers. We have included the mile marker for every cease on the Hana Highway on this information. It is a good addition to any Maui trip.
The Road To Hana
Most individuals make a day journey out of the highway to Hana drive and start in Paia within the morning spending the remainder of the day working their manner out to Hana Town stopping alongside the best way. We as a substitute drove immediately out to Hana earlier than dawn to discover Hana Town and its close by sights earlier than making our manner again slowly within the afternoon. It was one of the best choice we made. We averted the visitors and had most of the high stops on the Road to Hana all to ourselves.
The Hana Highway is likely one of the hottest day journeys on Maui, so it could possibly get very busy quick. We advocate leaving early and driving immediately to the Pools at O’he’o Gulch a part of Haleakala National Park which is about half-hour past Hana. Getting there early beats the crowds and you may hike the Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls in relative peace and quiet after which, you may then spend the day slowly making your manner again to Paia.
Recommended Road To Hana Tours
Top Road to Hana Stops
Traffic on the highway to Hana from Paia to Hana is plugged and stopped later within the day. Seeing the sights in reverse order, helps you to benefit from the viewpoints and waterfalls at your personal tempo. Plus, we discovered the views on the best way again, manner higher than on the best way out as we had been on the best facet of the highway with unobstructed views!
Stock up Before you Leave Paia
Get your Maui self guided tour to discover the highest websites on Maui and verify with CarRentals.com to examine automotive rental charges. And see our suggestions for locations to keep in Maui at Where to Stay in Maui – The Best Hotels
Hot Hana Highway Tip
Before heading out, seize some gourmand picnic lunches to take with you on the Road to Hana. The Hana Picnic Lunch Company places collectively lunch and breakfast to your highway journey. Order the day earlier than 2 pm to be able to set out early within the morning. There are picnic tables alongside the route the place you may cease to benefit from the extraordinary ocean views. Or you may seize some banana bread and a espresso earlier than leaving and save lunch for when you arrive in Hana.
Note: The espresso retailers and eating places don’t open till 7 am, so if you need to decide up provides for the day, we advise doing it the evening earlier than and making a espresso out of your lodge.
1. Paia Town
Paia isn’t only a cease on the Hana Highway, it’s a vacation spot unto itself. Located on the North Shore of Maui, there are many issues to do in Paia to maintain you occupied. We recommend spending a few nights having fun with this surfer’s city. Ho’okipa Beach Park is a good place to watch the world-class surfers and windsurfers and Baldwin Beach is an exquisite lengthy sandy seashore that may be a must-visit.
Making our base in Paia we stayed on the hip boutique lodge, the Paia Inn, the place we woke early to make our manner to Hana. After selecting up a espresso at Paia Bay Coffee Bar and ordering a boxed lunch at CJ’s diner we had been on our manner.
2. Haleakala National Park
As we talked about above we drove immediately to the tip of the Road to Hana to start our highway journey. Going in the wrong way of the visitors.
The maps and guides may have Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools) as your final cease on the highway to Hana, however we like to be completely different, so that is the primary cease of our day.
Located half-hour past Hana at Mile Marker 42, this department of Haleakala National Park is beautiful. Once you arrive, you’ll stroll the Pipiwai Trail to a number of the most scenic sights on Maui. This stunning portion of the nationwide park homes a bamboo forest, the 400-foot-high Waimoku Falls, the Seven Sacred Pools ( Oheo Gulch), and the Haleakala volcano. This was undoubtedly the spotlight of our highway journey and we spent the vast majority of the morning right here.
It prices $30 per automobile to enter Haleakala National Park. This offers you entry to the nationwide park for 3 Days which incorporates the Haleakala Summit. So you may spend the day right here someday, after which head to Upcountry Maui and catch the dawn on the Haleakala Summit the next day.
3. Pipiwai Trail
The Pipiwai Trail is a simple path full of scenic views. The 4-mile climbing path is an exquisite scenic stroll that takes you thru enormous Banyan bushes and an unlimited bamboo forest earlier than you attain your closing vacation spot on the stunning and really excessive Waimoku Falls. If you might be into climbing be certain to take a look at our information Top 12 Hikes in Maui to Take your Breath Away for some nice recommendations across the island.
4. Bamboo Forest
The bamboo forest was a spotlight of the path. We have by no means seen such a pristine bamboo forest exterior of Asia. The bamboo was introduced to Maui by Asian migrants engaged on pineapple farms to use as scaffolding. There is a boardwalk that cuts by means of the forest and strolling trails placing you within the middle of this gorgeous scene. Make positive to spend a little bit of time right here, it’s beautiful and really uncommon to see.
5. Waimoku Falls
The finish of the path comes to the 400-foot-high Waimoku Falls. It’s postcard-perfect for images. We advocate having an excellent pair of water sneakers or Tevas as you’ll be crossing streams. By arriving early, we shared the waterfall views with just one different particular person. It was really spectacular.
Note: Obey the indicators not to get too shut to the falls. We noticed different individuals ignoring it, however have heard that there have been deaths at these falls due to falling rocks. It feels protected sufficient to take a look at, however it’s harmful.
6. Seven Sacred Pools (Oheo Gulch)
The Seven Sacred Pools (Also often called the Pools of ‘Ohe’o or Oheo Gulch) are one of many high sights to see on Maui and they’re additionally positioned within the National Park. They can get very crowded, so it’s price getting there early. It is a stunning cascading steps waterfall. It is a brief loop path of solely 1km.
Be conscious, the Seven Sacred Pools Trail is usually closed due to flooding and there have been deaths at Oheo Gulch obey the indicators and comply with the foundations.
Once you may have completed up within the National Park it’s time to make your manner again to Paia. We advocate stopping as a lot as doable at any scenic lookout that you could.
We stopped at most of the waterfalls and scenic lookouts on the best way again and actually loved driving on this path. For one, we had been now on the best facet of the highway to have the cliff views and two, we weren’t sitting in visitors till the night.
7. Wailua Falls
Wailua Falls is taken into account Maui’s most photographed waterfall and you may cease right here for some picture alternatives. It’s probably the most accessible waterfall on the highway to Hana and it’s a beautiful cascade of 80 toes over a rocky jungle setting.
Wailua Falls is positioned a mile marker 45 in your manner again from the Pools of O’he’o. You can swim within the plunge pool under these waterfalls
8. Koki Beach Park
Koki Beach Park is a pleasant picture cease since it’s a combination of purple, black, and white sand. It will not be an acceptable swimming space due to the sturdy currents, however it’s a good picture cease for a scenic view. It’s positioned simply exterior of Hana and is an effective spot to benefit from the gourmand picnic lunch that you just had packed earlier than leaving Paia.
The turn-off for Koki Beach is positioned at Mile Marker 51.
9. Hamoa Beach
Hamoa Beach is that good crescent-shaped sandy seashore that everybody is in search of. There is a parking zone right here, that fills up quick and you’ve got to stroll down a set of stairs to get to the seashore. The seashore is owned by Hana Maui Resort, so you’ll be sharing it with visitors who’ve entry to all of the facilities. But there are restrooms open to most of the people. If you keep the evening in Hana, it is a good seashore to spend a while at.
Hamoa Beach is positioned at Mile Marker 50 and there’s a parking zone right here. The stroll down is steep so be ready in case you have mobility points.
10. Hana Town
By the time we received to Hana Town (aptly nicknamed heavenly Hana), it was time for some meals. Hana is taken into account the “traditional Maui” feeling like a sleepy city you’d anticipate on the Hawaiian Islands. I think about that is what Paia was like a few many years in the past.
If you determine to spend the evening in or round Hana, it’s a terrific place to calm down for the day. You can take a look at the cultural middle, calm down on the seashore or take pleasure in some downtime on the spa. There is a picnic space the place you may seize a chunk to eat and calm down by the water taking within the ocean views or you may hit one of many eating places.
We grabbed snacks on the basic retailer as a substitute of choosing a sit-down lunch. There was an excessive amount of to see and we didn’t need to waste time consuming. So with our automotive stocked once more with meals, we had been on our manner. Whenever we’re on a highway journey, we want meals available.
11. Wai’anapanapa State Park
In a nutshell, Wai’anapanapa State Park is the place you get that basic picture of the Hana Highway. With stunning scenic viewpoints and a black sand seashore, it’s a must-stop for at the very least {a photograph}. There are some climbing trails, caves, and a blowhole to discover right here.
It is right here that you just’ll see the Pa’iloa, the basic black sand seashore of Maui. There is a stairway main down to the seashore the place you may stand up shut with the graceful black pebbles lining the shore.
Note: Wai’anapanapa State Park is positioned simply previous Mile Marker 32 and it’s essential to make reservations to enter the State Park.
12. Hana Lava Tube
This is your likelihood to go inside a lava tube if you happen to’ve by no means been. The Hana Lava Tube was shaped by lava flowing to the ocean for a two-year interval. As the outer layer cooled, the lava continued to circulate inside making a tube. Give your self an hour to see it. It is unquestionably one of the vital underrated stops on the Hana Highway the place guests can discover the 0.3 miles on their very own to discover the caverns, stalagmites, and lava tubes.
The Hana Lava Tube is positioned at Mile Marker 31 and the doorway charge is $15 per particular person for a self-guided tour. There are restrooms right here.
13. Hanawi Falls and Upper Waikani Falls
Two of the stops on the best way again which might be positioned earlier than midway to Hana are the Hanawi Falls and Upper Waikani Falls. You can hike to see them however simply be certain to discover a protected parking spot that doesn’t block visitors.
The falls are positioned at Mile Markers 19 and 24 respecively.
Upper Waikani Falls
If you need to cease at waterfalls, there are 18 alongside the Hana Highway. Upper Waikani Falls is usually referred to because the Three Bears with the papa, mama, and child bear waterfalls cascading at completely different lengths. You can go for a swim right here or simply calm down on the boulders and benefit from the views of one among Maui’s hottest waterfalls.
Hanawi Falls
Hanawi Falls may be considered from Hanawi Stream’s bridge, (one of many 80 bridges alongside the highway to Hana). The cascade of Hanawi Falls drops 200 toes into the plunge pool under. The water is chilly right here so it’s not one of many waterfalls to go swimming in.
Nearby there’s the Nahiku Market place the place you may get some espresso, tacos, sorbet, and different snacks that you could take pleasure in below the shade.
14. Halfway to Hana Stand
The highway to Hana is brief. If you permit early within the morning and drive immediately, you may be by means of it in 90 minutes. But if you happen to take your time, you is perhaps prepared for a relaxation cease and a brief snack by the point you get to mile marker 17. Another nice highway journey within the US is 17 Mile Drive in California.
This little store is understood for its banana bread made out of native bananas. They additionally promote Maui’s favourite “shave ice,” ice cream, and different snack bar favorites. There is even an atm if you happen to discover you might be working brief on money. There is slightly picnic space the place you sit below the shade to take pleasure in your ice cream too. If you need to strive one other nice banana bread take a look at Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread which is about 4. miles earlier than you attain Halfway to Hana.
15. Ke’anae Arboretum
What is sweet about this cease on the Hana Highway is that it’s free. The foremost attraction on the Ke’anae Arboretum is the rainbow eucalyptus bushes. We thought the Eurcaplytus bushes of Maui had been the good factor. They are an invasive species imported from Asia, however you may’t assist however cease to take images. They are eye-catching. It’s a brief path so it received’t take up an excessive amount of time on the Hana Highway to see them.
16. Honomanu Bay
If you need to see one other black sand seashore it may be finished at Honomanu Bay. This isn’t a well-liked cease on the Hana Highway, so you will see that fewer individuals right here if you’re in search of a spot with out crowds.
Located at Mile Marker 14, Honomanu Bay is a lush shoreline of Maui the place components of Jurrasic Park had been filmed. We snapped a shot of the coast from a helicopter. This is a cease on the Hana Highway that you just’ll need to do solely in case you have time as you may’t drive down except you may have a 4X4. So you will want to hike.
17. Garden of Eden Arboretum
When driving the Hana Highway, it’s simple to discover the stops on the highway as there are mile markers all alongside the highway. The Maui Garden of Eden is positioned on Mile Marker 10. There are 2 1/2 miles of maintained strolling trails and you may see the Puohokamoa waterfalls from the Garden of Eden. It ought to take out about an hour.
There is a cost of $15 to get into the Garden of Eden however it’s price it if you need to see the flora of the island. There’s an outdated mango tree, and strolling trails by means of the immaculately saved gardens. , so be sure to have the time to actually discover the gardens.
18. Canyoning at Rappel Maui at Garden of Eden
If you need to do one thing adventurous in Maui, Rappel Maui is positioned within the Garden of Eden the place you may ebook a full-day tour to rappel down Puohokamoa Waterfall. We’ve rappelled down a waterfall and it’s wildly enjoyable!
19. Twin Falls
Twin falls is one other waterfall cease on the highway to Hana. There are the decrease falls and the higher falls and it’s a brief one-mile hike making it an simply accessible waterfall for everybody to take pleasure in. It’s a terrific place for a dip in one of many swimming pools. We didn’t go for a swim however you may swim there. There can be a farm stand the place you should purchase snacks and smoothies.
Twin Falls is positioned at mile marker 2 and there’s a parking zone that’s restricted. There is just room for 50 vehicles at Twin Falls, so when driving out on the highway to Hana, we advocate stopping right here instantly as soon as you permit Paia as a result of there’s a good likelihood you received’t get a parking spot within the parking zone and can miss it. There is not any parking on the highway to Hana.
20. Ho’Okipa Lookout
We talked about Ho’Okipa Lookout as one of many issues to do in Paia. But when driving the highway to Hana, it is a nice cease for sundown on the best way again. Located simply exterior of Paia on the Hana Highway is Ho’okipa Beach Park. It is likely one of the greatest spots on the island for sundown and a terrific place to watch the professionals at work.
You can’t miss it since you’ll see all of the windsurfers capturing by means of the water as you method. The waves are enormous right here thanks to the right waves that break on its north shore. If you’re going to learn the way to Kite surf or windsurf don’t go right here. This is for professionals solely. Do what we did and go to Kahului Beach as a substitute.
21. Paia Fish Market
It’s been an extended day. (at the very least if you’re nuts like us) and supper time. One of one of the best locations to eat in Paia is the Paia Fish Market. Grab a plate of Mahi Mahi at this native favourite and reminisce in regards to the wonderful belongings you noticed at this time on the Hana Highway.
Where to Stay on the Road to Hana
There are just a few accommodations in Hana if you happen to determine to keep the evening which is a good thought to enable extra time to discover. The lodging on this facet of Maui as it’s extra of rugged and distant, however you may verify VRBO for trip leases within the space like this beautiful keep in Hana.
We recommend leaving early to beat the visitors. The Road to Hana can turn into overcrowded rapidly. If you may have two days, we advocate taking the total two days as there are many websites to see! There are a number of accommodations in Hana, we advise the Hana Maui Resort: Check charges and availability
We stayed on the Paia Inn in Paia and it was fabulous. It’s positioned on the seashore and is inside strolling distance of most of the high Paia sights. The boutique lodge has a hip vibe and affords yoga courses, contemporary Kona espresso, and stylish rooms.
Quick Tips For Driving The Hana Highway
Make positive to decide up The Road to Hana CD at any memento store in Maui. Turn it on in Paia and comply with their suggestions as you go. It performs some native music and it’s fairly entertaining to boot. Stop in Paia to decide up a field lunch at CJ’s Diner. Leave early, the roads are completely free and away from visitors within the morning and also you’ll have the freeway all to your self. Pack further water. Make positive to have sturdy water sneakers with an excellent grip for the waterfall trails. We recommend taking 2 days to actually discover the Hana Highway, one isn’t sufficient to see every little thing. There are lodging in Hana. Drive immediately to Hana stopping just for a number of of the waterfall and scenic ocean views to be able to get to the park earlier than the crowds. Allow at the very least 2 to 3 hours within the park to discover the climbing trails and make it out to the waterfalls. Once you might be completed within the park, make your manner slowly again alongside the freeway stopping in any respect the spots you missed on the best way out. Stop on the black sand seashore in your manner again to Hana from the park to see the locals picnicking and browsing. We discovered the freeway to be a extra scenic drive on the best way again to Paia so take pleasure in your afternoon. Pay particular consideration to the one-lane bridges, they are often difficult on winding roads.
About The Hana Highway
Maui’s Hana Highway is taken into account one of many world’s nice coastal drives and probably the most stunning drive in Hawaii. beginning in Paia and ending simply previous the city of Hana. It is just 45 miles (72 km) to Hana from Paia, however the drive can take a complete day if you cease in any respect the attractive sights alongside the best way. Read extra: The Most Amazing Facts About Hawaii
The twisting highway to Hana is full of 600 hairpin turns crossing 59 bridges. The slim highway clings to the facet of excessive sea cliffs and also you typically come face-to-face with oncoming visitors.
It will not be really useful for somebody who will not be used to driving, so if you happen to don’t have numerous expertise behind the wheel, we advise taking a tour of the Hana Highway as a substitute of driving it your self. But if you happen to like to drive, and don’t thoughts one-lane bridges, get your self a cool automotive rental and hop on this highway for an exquisite day in Maui.
To get to Hana from Paia you’ll truly take highways 36 and 360. But the Hana Highway sounds a lot cooler. We hopped on Highway 36 in the direction of Hana after which after 9.5 miles, we turned onto freeway 360 to Hana.
In some sources, you would possibly learn in regards to the Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach. This culturally delicate space is on personal property and is off-limits to guests. Please respect the posted indicators and don’t go to Red Sand Beach.
The Best Tip for Driving the Hana Highway
The greatest tip for driving the highway to Hana is to b-line it to Hana after which drive again slowly in the wrong way. We drove immediately to O’he’o Gulch very first thing within the morning. It is simply previous the city of Hana which we placed on our listing to cease at on the best way again. After exploring the paths and waterfalls, we then made our manner slowly again in the direction of Paia for the remainder of the day.
It was a terrific selection as we didn’t have to sit in visitors. Plus we had the Pipiwai Trail to the waterfalls and thru the bamboo forest all to ourselves. We had been grateful for our selection and felt fairly happy with our choice once we noticed the lengthy traces of vehicles on the opposite facet of the highway as we drove in the wrong way of all of the visitors.