In my opinion, few drives are more beautiful than the Road to Hana on Maui. It’s a curvy coastal road with views of cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, and miles and miles of  rainforest. It’s a well paved road, but you do need to keep your wits about you when you drive it because of the many sharp curves and one-lane bridges.

Before we dive into the tips, let me be clear about what I mean about the Road to Hana. Take a look at the Google map below and notice Highway 360, also known as the Hana Highway. That’s the majority of the road to Hana. I want to make it clear that I am suggesting that you originate your drive from the Piilani Highway (Highway 31) that brings you to Hana from the South. (Note: that most if not all rental car companies advise that you don’t drive on the unpaved sections. When you rent your car, do check with your rental car company for advice on what road you must avoid.  Now, nobody is going to stop you from driving the unapproved sections, but take note that you assume risk if the car breaks down or you have an accident.)
View Larger Map

As you plan which day you are going to drive the road to Hana, carefully consider the weather forecast for Hana. I’ve driven the road on a beautiful sunny day and on a mostly cloudy and partly rainy day. Of course everyone would prefer the sunny day, right? Well, of course, we all do, but since I’ve had the opportunity to see the contrast, I can tell you that on the road to Hana it makes a huge difference. The scenery is vastly better with the sun.

Another important point I should highlight is that you should probably be prepared that you could encounter some unwelcoming locals. On our most recent drive on the road to Hana, a local truck bullied a long string of traffic to move over. They honked their horn for spurts of 30 seconds or longer at a time and yelled out curse words at “haoles” — in that context, a derogatory description of a visitor. After we were able to safely pull over, we ended up following this truck for the next 25 miles. We also noticed locals frequently driving over the double yellow lines. I’ve had very pleasant experiences on the road to Hana, but I’ve had some bad ones, too. I hope your experience is a good one.

A final point I’d like to highlight before we dive into the tips is that if you are prone to carsickness, then this drive isn’t for you. Don’t even think about it, without using something to help you combat carsickness. Roll down your window for fresh air when the car is in motion.

Here are my tips for enjoying your drive on the Road to Hana.

• Definitely plan to make a whole day of the drive there and back.
• Try to get an early start, say leaving the South or West Maui resorts around 6:ooam. You’ll avoid traffic with an early start. Most of the places to stop along the road to Hana only have room for one or two cars, so the earlier you get going, the more likely, you’ll be able to find a place to pull off to look at the waterfalls and views. The last time I drove the road to Hana, I couldn’t get my group going until 7:00am and finding places to pull off were rare.
• Avoid driving a long distance on this Road to Hana at night.
• Share the driving time with your travel companions, if possible. The drive can be stressful for one person. Consider whether you should add an additional driver onto your rental car contract as most contracts only allow one driver as a standard. Additional drivers can be added for a fee and can be added for specific days only.
• Get a good Maui guidebook that will detail what to see along the way. Find one that provides references by mile markers. (I’ve used Maui Revealed in the past and found it was a good reference. Just make sure you never trespass or do any hiking or swimming that are beyond your skills. If it looks dangerous, it probably is!)
• I’d advise that you read the road to Hana section in your guidebook and highlight areas that sound interesting to you well before you set off on your journey. Pay particular attention to the mile markers as they will be about the only landmark that will guide you to the stops that interest you. Note that mile markers change depending on what road you are on. Though it may seem like the same road, you’ll actually be driving on three separate highways – 36, 360, and 31 and they each have their own mile markers and it can get kind of confusing. To me the most confusing point is once you past Hana and transition from Highway 360 to 31, the mile markers start counting down from 50.
• If you notice a local driving behind you or a long line of cars, please be considerate and pull over to allow cars to pass as soon as you find a safe spot to do so. (See more tips about driving with aloha.)
• Do drive beyond Hana to the Kipahula area which about 10 miles beyond Hana. See the Oheo Gulch with the cascading pools and spend a bit of time walking around this area. Note that this area is part of Haleakala National Park. So, when you purchase entry into the park, it is valid for both entry points for 3 days from purchase. See more about visiting the Kipahulu area. (Spring/Summer 2009 advisory: the former graveled parking lot is being dozed and a temporary dirt lot is in use. If it has rained it will be extremely muddy, so be careful to avoid the mud and not get stuck.)
• Another popular point of interest just beyond the Kipahulu area of Haleakala National Park is the grave site of Charles Lindbergh that you will find at the Kipahulu Point Light Station, a Maui County Park. It’s tricky to find Look for the a paved one-lane road on the ocean side of Highway 31 just after mile marker 41. The best landmark is a carved wood sign that says “Maui Stables”. (There’s also a private property sign, but that refers to the property itself, not the road.)
• I like to drive all the way until the paved road on Highway 31 ends between mile markers 39 and 38. Then I drive back to Hana and stop into the Hana Hotel for lunch on their lanai. The hotel grounds are beautiful and it makes for a nice relaxing break from all the driving. Alternatively, I’ve picked up lunch from Tutu’s at the Hana Bay Beach Park. Tutu’s is cheaper than Hana Hotel, though when you pay$6.75 for a burger and $2.95 for small fries, it ain’t cheap, that’s for sure.
• Don’t miss the black sand beach at Wainapanapa State Park. I think it’s one of the most beautiful black sand beaches in all of Hawaii. Personally, I like to make this stop on the way back towards central Maui, but that’s just my personal preference.
• Bring sunscreen, water, snacks, and mosquito repellent, particularly if you are going to do any hikes.
• Make sure you have a full tank of gas before you start the drive. Gas stations are few and far between!
• If you think you might do any swimming, then wear a swimsuit and bring beach towels.
• If you have quick drying clothes, wear those and/or bring a breathable waterproof jacket as it wouldn’t be unusual to find yourself in a brief shower.
• I highly recommend that you wear shoes that you don’t mind if they get muddy. This type of shoe is great for the short treks and waterfall hunting on the road to Hana.
• Always lock your car if you are going to be leaving it.
• Don’t forget your camera with lots of film/memory and fully charged batteries.
• On your way back to your hotel, don’t miss watching the windsurfers at Hookipa Beach.

Have you driven the Road to Hana? What did you think of it? What tips would you add? Please share them.

Looking for other great things to see and do on Maui? See my recommendations of the top 5 things you must see and do on Maui.