10 Best Stops on the Road to Hana
The Road to Hana is an adventure. This, at times, one way highway along Maui’s north coast is not for the fainthearted. It is a 64 mile stretch from the starting point of Wailea to Hana - and then you have to come back! Don’t let Google Maps fool you - it will definitely take you longer than 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Know Before You Go
Start early! Like 7 or 8am early. This drive will take you all day, and starting late means traffic and crowded places of interest.
The road has many nicknames, one being “The Divorce Highway.” There are 617 hairpin curves and 59 one-lane bridges AND the speed limit is 25 mph or less. This drive can be harrowing, y’all.
Bring a car charger! It’s a long day and between Googling things and taking photos, your phone will be running low on battery. There is hardly any service on the road, so I recommend downloading Google Maps beforehand.
Get a parking and entry reservation for Waiʻānapanapa State Park (black sand beach) a few days prior to starting this adventure. Same day reservations aren’t available. When we went, reservations were not mandatory, but they are now and you do not want to miss this spot!
Practice Aloha. If a local pulls up behind you while driving just pull over and let them pass, otherwise they will drive on your tail until you do.
When you arrive in Hana, there is a back road that creates a loop instead of turning back the way you came. Some brave souls take this loop, however we did not. Many rental car companies (ours included), prohibit their vehicles from being driven there due to pot holes and getting stuck in remote areas. If you are feeling extra adventurous, try it out and let me know how it goes!
10 Best Stops on the Road to Hana
Paia Town - Stop for gas and go to Secret Beach to see sea turtles!
Twin Falls - Mile Marker 2; The hike to see Twin Falls is unique and beautiful. Plus, when you arrive to these picturesque waterfalls, there is a large area to swim. If you are worried about time, visit only the lower falls to save time.
Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees – Mile Marker 7; Have you ever seen a tree with rainbow colored bark? Stopping to snap photos at these trees is a must! They are without a doubt some of the most stunning trees I’ve ever seen.
Half Way to Hana – Mile Marker 17; If you have a craving for some banana bread, stop here! Banana bread plus a few other local shops selling goods and food. This is a great place to take a break and stretch your legs!
Coconut Glen’s – Mile Marker 27; If you make only one stop on the Road to Hana, make it this one. Glen’s ice cream is mouth watering and he is quite a character as well! I highly recommend the coconut ice cream - its about as natural as you can get!
Hana Farms – Mile Marker 31; Another great place to stop and grab local goods and produce. There is pizza and baked goods as well.
Waianapanapa (Black sand beach) – Mile Marker 32; Have you ever seen a beach with black sand? This is one of the most unique places you will ever experience. Shiny black sand, bright green foliage, and the perfect blue water make this beach something out of a dream. When we went you did not need to make a reservation to visit (2018); however, you now need to pay and have a reservation in order to visit the beach. Make sure you check ahead of time so you don’t miss out on this one!
Hana Town – Mile Marker 34; YAY HANA! We made it to Hana around lunch time and stopped at Hana Bay Beach Park to eat some of the BEST poke I’ve ever had in my life. We didn’t spend too much time in Hana as we had to drive back to our resort.
Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach – In Hana town near the Hana-Maui Resort; As we were eating lunch, another traveler mentioned this stop to us. We drove over to the beach and had about a .5 mile hike to the red sand beach. This was just as cool as the black sand! This hike is definitely higher up and more on a cliff than others we did - so be careful and make sure you bring good shoes!
Wailua Falls – Mile Marker 45; This spot is incredibly popular because of its accessibility and photogenic appeal! You can see these falls from the road, but I highly recommend getting out and taking some photos before leaving.
BONUS STOP (if open): Na'ili'ili Haele Stream & Waterfalls (aka "Bamboo Forest") - Unfortunately, this spot has become too dangerous to allow people to visit it anymore. When we were randomly told about it, people were still able to go and view the falls. Access is restricted by East Maui Irrigation (EMI). Can become dangerous to nearly impossible depending on conditions/how far you go - flash floods and broken legs became all too common! If they ever enhance the safety of the area and do allow tourists to visit it again, I highly recommend adding it to your list!
Until next time,
