The Road to Hana is a beautiful scenic drive in Maui that many people like to do. If you drive it straight without any stops then it will take about 2-3 hours each way from the north side of the island using the main road that most people take. We decided to take two days and do the full ring road. We also decided to listen to those who had gone before us and drive the road “backwards”, heading south first. It was a much nicer drive and there was hardly any traffic going this way.
We downloaded Shaka Guide (a GPS audio driving tour) to our phone and purchased the tours that we wanted to take. It was so worth it! We plugged the phone into the car and it felt like we had a personal tour guide along with us pointing out every turn to make, every time we should pull over, and quite a few things we should know about the island and Hawaiian history/culture.
Here are some things to know about the road to Hana, especially if you decide to drive all the way around: 1) The road is very narrow. It is only 1 1/2 lanes most of the way so you will need pull over frequently to let cars pass.
2) The road on the south side (aka the backside or the back way) is not fully paved and really bumpy. We found the dirt road sections actually smoother than the “paved” road.
3) there are 49 one lane bridges on this road
4) This road has over 600 curves, many too narrow for more than one car at a time, and the speed limit is 15-25 mph for a good portion of it.
5) The views are amazing everywhere you look. There is ocean on one side and lush greens with waterfalls on the other side. Plan enough time to pull over often, you will want to.
Another stop that many make is the gravesite of Charles Lindbergh, the first person to make a solo transatlantic flight, the first transatlantic flight between two major city hubs, and the longest transatlantic flight by almost 2,000 miles, thus it is widely known as a turning point in the trajectory of aviation history and advancement.
Lindbergh spent his last years on the Hawaiian island of Maui, where he died of lymphoma[213] on August 26, 1974, at age 72. He was buried on the grounds of the Palapala Ho’omau Church in Kipahulu, Maui. His epitaph, on a simple stone following the words “Charles A. Lindbergh Born Michigan 1902 Died Maui 1974”
In this part of the Haleakala National Park you will find the Pools of ‘Ohe’o, aka Seven Sacred Pools. There are really about 20 pools that cascade all the way to the ocean. We reached this spot at the end of our first day.
Here is information from the National Park Service that will help you have a safe and enjoyable visit.
Dress for hot, humid, rainy weather.
Fill up your gas tank and bring food. Neither are available in the park.
Bring water, sunscreen, mosquito repellant, and wear sturdy shoes.
Paying the entrance fee with a credit card.
Kīpahulu is remote. Emergency medical assistance is at least one hour away.
– National Park Service
The last stop we made for the day was at Wailua Falls. The 173 foot waterfall is prominently featured on the opening credits of the television series Fantasy Island. It is right off the road and there is a small parking lot across the street from the falls. We learned from the Shaka Guide that in ancient times, Hawaiian men would jump from the top of the falls to prove their manhood.
We spent the night at the Travaasa Hana. This is a unique boutique hotel with no TV or air conditioning, though the place was beautiful and the staff very friendly.
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