Tips for Driving the Road to Hana
Posted on Wed, Mar 19, 2008 by Sheila
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.) See my detailed post on why you shouldn’t drive the back side of the road to Hana.
View Larger Map
Here are my tips for enjoying your drive on the Road to Hana.
- 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, the weather makes a huge difference. The scenery is vastly better with the sun.
- If you are prone to carsickness, then this drive may not be for you. Don’t even think about it, without using something to help you combat carsickness. Roll down your window for fresh air and to hear the birds and waterfalls when the car is in motion.
- Definitely plan to make a whole day of the drive there and back. Ideally, an overnight stay in the town of Hana
- 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.) 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.
- 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 or condo, don’t miss watching the windsurfers at Hookipa Beach.
To get an idea of what to expect from the road to Hana, see this video for a great flavor of this scenic drive:
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.
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Actually, it isn’t reverse psychology – it is the sad fact that the scum that breaks into cars here do not hesitate to smash windows. So if they have decided your car is the target, they will open the door with or without smashing the window.
Trust me on this one. I lost one window, and some stuff (that cost less than the window) about fifteen years ago. Haven’t lost a single thing since.
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That is an interesting twist in thinking, yet sort of logical. I You might start to have a bug problem after a while, though, I’d imagine. Like people that rent convertibles and leave the tops down overnight at their hotels. Eeeek.
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I’ve left the top down on our Jeep for 5 days now, and have not had a single problem with bugs or thieves.
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Just returned from Maui and we did the “Road to Hana” it was beautiful but a bit disappointed that all of the falls weren’t ‘turned on’ LOL!! There hasn’t been enough rain lately so some were dry and the few that did have water were difficult to get to unless you’re an avid hiker. By the time we got to 7 sacred pools it was over crowded (by our standards) so maybe coming from the back side would be better (maybe next trip). The drive after along the south side was SO worth the effort. Not as treacherous as some say – but if your not a confidant driver, I wouldn’t reccommend it – as its not all paved and can be very narrow. Locals were fine as long as you give them room to get around you and just use commons sense! Shakah always helps!
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We just returned from Maui and thoroughly enjoyed the Road to Hana, although it rained most of the day. Since Hurricane Felicia was approaching, we thought it best to go ahead with our plans and it was beautiful. We SWAM in pools with waterfalls during the rain, a very unique experience, and possible since there was no lightening as with Oklahoma rainstorms.
The Seven Sacred Pools were fabulous but crowded, compared to the other stops. It put us behind and we had to return to Central Maui in the dark, which was no fun.
Halfway to Hana had some great snacks and we made a lunch of it. Maybe we were really hungry but they were the best dogs and burgers we had had in a while.
Use Maui Revealed guidebook. It is by far the best of the three I purchased, and gave some wonderful tips for this excursion. Do NOT attempt this trip without some sort of guidebook or you will simply be following the herds and will miss some great views. Aloha.
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Aloha Robin – two points I’d like to make – first is you’re absolutely right you need some guidebook in Maui. Maui revealed is a good book in many ways – especially in conveniently landing visitors at places where they can do damage to the environment, cultural resources and themselves without telling you how to minimize those impacts.
Which brings me to my second point: don’t swim in the pools when it is raining heavily (like it was when you were here) as flash floods are common, and people *regularly* drown and/or are pushed over waterfalls during these times. A young woman visiting Maui died just a few months ago falling from a waterfall. Every year there are drownings in this manner.
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Point well taken. I should have clarified….Hurricane Felicia (which was downgraded to a tropical depression) was headed toward the islands but still a few days out. So, the rain we experienced was simply light showers and was actually very pleasant, although there was no sunshine. We did take our guide book’s recommendation not to swallow any of the water when swimming and not to swim with open cuts or sores, which I understand is especially important during the rain.
I thought Maui Revealed did a good job in warning the readers of various dangers, although we followed their less adventuresome recommendations, as we were traveling with my fit but 70 year old mother. We did not stray too far off the beaten paths. I can only comment on our experiences, which was very enjoyable and did not damage the environment or cultural resources in any way.
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Hi Robin – Thanks for sharing your experience from the Road to Hana. I’m glad you enjoyed it despite the bad weather. If you ever return to Maui and can catch a sunny day along the Road to Hana, try it again. It’s even better on a sunny day.
As you probably read in my post, I think the Maui Revealed Guide is the best I’ve found. The milemarker detail is very helpful, though there’s still an element of adventure in finding certain stops.
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My hubby and I’ll be flying to Maui from Canada in December for two weeks. We’ll be doing a circuit of the island staying in B&B’s on our way. We are looking forward to trekking the Hana Highway and appreciate the tips. Have read all these articles on Go Visit Hawaii and find them most informative. Thanks!
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Hi Alison – Two weeks in Maui in December? Sounds fantastic!
I’m glad you are finding the articles at Go Visit Hawaii to be useful. I write from my own experiences and I’ve learned a lot from my trips to Hawaii.
Thanks for taking the time to provide your kind feedback!
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Kool! I’ve never subscribed to a blog before. Thanks for your reply. Our plan is to drive from Wailuku to Napili via Lahaina, travel along the north shore through Paia to Hana, then Keokea, then Kehei finally retracing our steps to the Kahului airport. Since sending my note of Aug 26, I’ve read your articles about Highway 30 and how dangerous it is making me a trifle anxious. Someone also mentioned unpaved roads. Is there a website I could go to that would give me up-to-date info on Maui highways or can you put my mind to rest somewhat about the actual road conditions? We are looking forward to an adventure but perhaps this is beyond our criteria. We both ride motorcycles so know what a tight corner can mean. Any input would be appreciated. Thx, Alison
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Hi Alison,
The main part of the road to Hana is safe. It’s well paved. It does have lots and lots of curves and one-lane bridges, though, but nothing too challenging.
The article I wrote today related to driving way past the main sites of the road to Hana. At that point the road is unpaved. As long as you don’t drive past that you really don’t have anything to worry about.
I don’t know of an online map of Maui showing the unpaved areas. I sure wish I did, because it would have made my article much easier to write if I could refer to a map like that.
I’m going to have to review your route and plans and get back to you.
Will you be renting motorcycles on Maui?
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Hi Sheila: Gosh! You’re quick! Thanks for your help. I’ll explain a little further about our route and stays if I may … we arrive obviously in Kahului and will spend the next 3 nights at the Old Wailuku Inn then we’ll take Hwy 30 around the SW tip thru Lahaina and stay at Napili Bay for 3 nights. We’ll tackle the dreaded NW Maui road then across the top end through Kahului then Paia and so on taking 36/360 to Hana. We stay in Hana for 3 nights then head south on Hwy 31 then north on Hwy 37 to Keokea where we stay for 2 nights taking in the volcano and the highlands then through Makawao back to Kahului then south on Hwy 311/350 to Kihei for 3 days then once again back to Kahului and our flight home. No we won’t be renting bikes to do the trip; we have way too much junk to carry around but we are going to look into scooters for a fun day trip in Kihei. Hope this makes our voyage clearer. Alison
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Thanks, Alison. I’m going to have intermittent web access over the next several days plus my brain is zapped today.
Let me get back to you on the flip side of the weekend.
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I just wanted to let everyone know that I’ve updated this post to include a link to this great video of the road to Hana. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvxdpNci3I0
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Hi Alison – I’ve finally had a moment to sit down with a map along with reading your plans. You probably already know this, but you will be driving some sections of road that the major car rental companies “prohibit”. Now, the rental car companies are standing guard at these roads and stopping you from going there. Some tourist can and do drive those roads, but they are assuming a bit of a risk when they do.
I see that your plans include driving around the “top” or northwest side of Maui, too. Here’s an article I wrote on that: http://www.govisithawaii.com/2007/06/01/beware-of-driving-in-northwest-maui/
If you plan to continue with your route, try to pick a “skinny” car, because some of those prohibited roads are super narrow. I would suggest a jeep, but since you’ll be carrying luggage and such, a jeep isn’t very secure.
Hope this helps.
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Thanks for your reply, Sheila. Hope you had a relaxing weekend; sounded like you needed it by your August 26 blog.
Since then, I’ve called Budget in Kahului and chatted with Rose who was most helpful and gave me the skinny on kapu roads.
I’ve revamped our trip; it’ll mean doubling up on roads previously travelled but it’ll also give us a second chance to appreciate Maui’s beauty.
We are so looking forward to our trip.
Mahalo!
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Great post and discussion Sheilah! This is worth a tweet, so will do right now
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Just got back from a week in Maui! Super fantastic vacation. We did the Road to Hana with a tour on Tuesday and it was so much fun. We wasn’t able to go to the pools because of the weather outlook…all the beaches in State Parks were closed due to weather. We didn’t have any bad weather the whole time we were there. Everyone was so friendly and nice and helpful. Lahaina was a blast and the dinner magic show at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel was super.
Midge Neitz
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Number three “…Definitely plan to make a whole day of the drive there and back. Ideally, an overnight stay in the town of Hana.”
Great advice!
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I made this drive back when I lived in Hawaii and loved it. It took a long time but the scenery was well worth the drive. An amazing place I must say!
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my wife and i are planning a trip to maui the first week in march is it better to take the road to hana on a weekday? do you think the traffic will be lighter then? we will be staying in lahaina–about how long of a trip is it one way to the recommended turn around area? i am a very experienced driver app. how long will it take? should i buy the “mile by mile” or “maui revealed” guidebook in your opinion? any info anybody can give me will be greatly appreciated.
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sheila Reply:
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:37 am
Russ – I don’t think the day of the week really matters much when it comes to driving the road to Hana. In my opinion, the weather forecast is far more important. So, check the weather reports when you are there and aim for the day that looks the sunniest on the Hana side.
The amount of time it takes to get to say a good turning around point really depends on how many stops you make. I would allow approximately 3 hours one way.
I’m a fan of the revealed guides, with some exceptions. (Exceptions = the book seems to encourage trespassing which I absolutely discourage & the book can send you on a wild goose chase hikes into dangerous situations.)
My advice would be to get the revealed guide before you go to Maui. Carefully read and highlight the road to Hana section. Make yourself a cheat sheet of all the stops that sound interesting and note the associated mile markers and landmarks.
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thanks for the prompt response and advice we are really looking forward to the trip
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