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.
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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 and the windward Haleakala area. (See this link for the current forecast from Maui News.) 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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We enjoyed our Road to Hana day. We did Haleakala sunrise on our 1st day & Road to Hana on our 2nd day in Hawaii. Since we were still on East coast time, it was quite easy to get a really early start. I am prone to car sickness but I did very well. I did have on a Relief band so it was either that or the fresh air (converible) that helped. The only part that did bother me a bit was the road between Hana & Oheo Gulch.
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Hi Lissete – I’m glad you were able to enjoy the Road to Hana even though you are prone to car sickness. That’s good to know that the Relief band helped do the trick.
I totally agree with you on planning the early morning stuff for the first days. I come from Eastern time, too and it’s a piece of cake to get up early. In fact, it’s hard not to get up early. So, you might as well make good use of those early days.
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I too get carsick and airsick but have found a wonderful remedy which has to be prescribed by a doctor: a patch you put behind your ear that works for 3 days. It’s miraculous. Works on the twisty road to Hana. Please Note: I recommend you do not use the Maui Revealed. It has a very bad reputation on the island and is outdated and badly in need of an editor. Flash floods are not uncommon and full of bad and dangerous advice. Alternative to Road to Hana if you don’t have an entire day to spend on th road: Twin Falls Trail. It’s right at the start of the Hana Highway. There’s a series of waterfall fed lagoons along a mile trail. Nice people run it. It’s free and there’s a fruit stand where you can buy fresh fruit and smoothies.
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A nice open convertible will usually relieve car sickness along with a baggie of crystallized ginger to chew on. Remember if you’re taking Dramamine to take it at least 30 minutes prior (like if you’re leaving from Lahaina, take it then so it kicks in by the time you get to the beginning of the highway)
The road past Hana to Oheo Gulch is very narrow so if you’re going up to a blind turn, give your horn a quick little honk to alert anyone on the other side. I can’t count how many times we’ve encountered big dump trucks or big govt vehicles in the middle of an already narrow road. Gets the heart pumping!
Watch for flash floods at Oheo Gulch. It’s green on this part of the island because of rain and inland rain easily and quickly sweeps down the falls. So be aware of changes in water levels in your pool.
Remember as of right now you can’t go all the way around so if a trip to the Kaupo Store was on your trip, I believe the road is closed from the 2006 earthquake a mile or two before it.
Great post Sheila!
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Renee & Angie – thanks for adding your thoughts and tips.
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We noticed locals making it all around to Kaupo but they said it required four wheel drive. They’re saying the slides won’t be cleared until 2009. Most important on Road to Hana is letting locals by so they can go about their business. They will appreciate and acknowledge your good manners. Ditto on Maui Revealed comments. A diservice to this beautiful island, cheapens it. I recommend staying in Hana overnight and soaking up the sun on Hamoa Beach and taking a walk along the Wainapanap Coast. There’s a beautiful trail that hugs the shore.
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Jon – I totally agree on letting the locals pass, so that’s why I made sure to mention it in the list of tips. I didn’t grow up in Hawaii, but I grew up in a touristy area, so I know what it’s like to have to follow slow driving sight-seers.
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I appreciate all this first hand advice. I have printed it out for my upcoming trip. Thanks Sheila.
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LilliAnne – I hope you have a wonderful time in Maui. The Road to Hana is really, really beautiful! I hope you’ll enjoy it!
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I would stay overnight and enjoy it the way it was meant to be. Hana is so beautiful and natural. Make sure to respect the locals!!
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[...] a gorgeous drive. Jason & I both said more than once how much it reminded us of Maui and the drive to Hana. Very lush and green and wind-y! We headed straight for some lunch beside the beach before [...]
Could I get an idea of just how much time to allow for the trip to Hana and back? Is it feasible to take the Super Ferry from Oahu (arriving around 9:00 am), rent a car, take the drive, visit a red sand beach, and return before the Ferry leaves for the return to Oahu (8:00 pm)? If I had to make a choice between the red sand beaches on the east of Maui, or the south of Maui, which is the better choice?
Thanks to all who offer assistance!
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Hi Carol,
That’s a very good question. Here are my thoughts:
The road to Hana is best enjoyed on a leisurely pace. The roads are very curvy and there are many one lane bridges along the way that require you to yield to oncoming traffic. There will be many times you’ll want to pull over to look at the views and take photos. The road to Hana is more about soaking in the scenery than it is to zoom past it.
I’d be afraid that you’d be too pushed for time if you tried to fit with the Superferry schedule. Bear in mind that the ferry suggest you be at the dock 60 minutes before scheduled departure. So you’d need to have your rental car turned in and make your way back to the dock by 7pm.
As an alternative, consider flying to Maui for the day. Take an early flight that gets you there at about 7am and plan a flight that departs around 8pm. That should give you some more breathing room. Here are the inter-island airline’s websites:
Hawaiian Airlines http://www.hawaiianair.com/Pages/Index.aspx
go! Airlines: http://www.iflygo.com
Island Air: http://www.islandair.com/
Another idea is to take the ferry and plan to stay one night in Hana and go back the next day. The Hotel Hana is highly rated and very nice, though a bit on pricey side.
I hope this helps.
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I agree, I would not try to cram it all in and the Superferry hasn’t always been reliable if you’re planning ahead. If the seas are choppy at all, they can cancel it with little to no notice.
Have we done it in less time than the time you’ve alotted? Yes. But it’s because we got started early. It really is a beautiful drive and one we never get tired of but it’s one to be taken in.
I would recommend spending a night there if you can. There are a lot of lower cost vacation rentals if you’re trying to stick to a budget, you can browse through them here:
http://www.hanamaui.com/lodging.html
Hotel Hana Maui is very nice and luxurioous but VERY expensive.
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Thank you Sheila and Angie. Your advice is very much appreicated. I will have to consult with my traveling companion (my daughter who lives in Oahu) and see what she wants to do. We will probably only have the one day to visit Maui, so I want to get the most bang for my buck, if ya know what I mean.
I will look over the web sites y’all provided and give this adventure some serious thought.
Thanks again for everything!
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You’re welcome, Carol. I hope it works out that you get to take the road to Hana. It’s very, very beautiful. The scenerly you will see on the road to Hana will be quite a bit different than what you’ll see on Oahu. So, taking a day trip over to Maui is a good vacation/memory investment, in my opinion.
One more thing on the ferry and the drive. Some people report getting motion sickness the ferry. In fact the Superferry’s website has a page dedicated to preventing motion sickness: http://www.hawaiisuperferry.com/planning/preparing-for-your-voyage/preventing-motion-sicknes.html
If you might be prone to getting car sick, then it might make the road to Hana even more challenging if you come over on the ferry.
Le me know what you decide to do and how it all works out.
Happy planning and travels!
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Thank you so much for this great advice!
My husband and I are visiting Hawaii next April on our honeymoon and can’t wait to drive The Road to Hana.
Just have a quick question – can we fit The Road to Hana and Kipahula Falls into one day? We’re staying at the other end of the Island and so it would be a lot of driving to do it twice. We don’t want to rush either!
Thank you very much!
kate
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Hi Kate,
I’m glad you’re finding some good advice here.
I have to say, I’m not entirely sure that I know of Kipahula Falls. Might you be referring to the cascading waterfalls at the Oheo Gulch which is part of the Kipahula area of Haleakala National Park? If that’s the case, then yes, you’ll have time to see that on the same day you are driving the road to Hana. If that’s not what you’re talking about, can you provide a link or any other point of reference so that I can take a look?
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Realistically, how long would the drive to Hana take from Lahaina. I will be coming in on the ferry from Molokai and picking the car up around 8:30-9:00 AM, but I have to be back at Kahului airport by around 9:30 to catch my 11:00 PM flight back to the Mainland. Keep in mind, I am not one to take many stops, as I am very comfortable being in a car for long distances.
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Hi Bobby – First, I assume that you’ll be dropping your car off at the airport and not back in Lahaina. If that’s the case, you should have plenty of time to drive this scenic drive. Enjoy it!
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Yep! I will be dropping off the car at the airport (and surprisingly not paying a different drop-off fee) so thanks for putting my worries to rest, Sheila. What a great way to end my Hawaii trip, and what a great vacation to start off the new year!
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Just came back after a fabulous trip to Maui. The road is beautiful and challenging. We ended up coming back in the dark…don’t do it! Leave early before sunset. We were bummed that the road to Charles Lindbergh’s grave was washed out, so we couldn’t make it there. I have a question…we stopped at two black beaches – one was black pebbles and was a steep drive down a slope on the way there. I can’t find the name of it anywhere – not sure it was in any of our books. We also made it to the black sand beach at the state park. Does anybody know the name of the pebble beach??
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We will be driving a convertible with all luggage and possessions in the trunk,as we will be staying in Hana. Having heard about theft along the way, do we dare leave our car at various stops?
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@ Bobby – that’s great that you won’t have to pay a drop off fee for your rental car. Just another piece of advice – please pay attention to how long it is taking you to get to certain points along the drive so that you’ll know if you need to turn around. Also, since you won’t be getting an early morning start, it would probably be best to avoid long stops as you drive towards Hana so that you’ll be able to better judge your available time for stops when you turn around towards the airport.One stop I would not miss is Wai‘anapanapa State Park
http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/maui/index.cfm?park_id=41 As it has one of the most beautiful black sand beaches in all of Hawaii! After you return, please stop back by and let us know how your trip went.
@ Cathy – You’re right, driving the road to Hana in the dark creates a bigger challenge. Plus, you miss out on the scenery. I always advise getting on the road as soon as possible in the morning. I’m traveling at the moment, but when I get home, I’ll check my guide book to see if I can figure out the name of the black pebble beach. Do you recall if a waterfall fed pool was nearby?
@ Jane – Lucky you that you’ll be staying in Hana! Oh my, theft can be a problem, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. I have personally never had a problem with having anything stolen. In fact,when I last drove the road to Hana, we had a Jeep Wrangler and we stopped a couple of times for about a half hour and the souvenirs that I had purchased in Hana were in the jeep and weren’t stolen. Here’s a couple of thoughts for you:
- If you do have your luggage in the trunk, NEVER open the trunk or give any indication that there’s anything at all in the trunk. Even at stops where it appears that no one is around…don’t be tempted to open up the trunk. I’ve actually heard people say that the trees have eyes….meaning that thieves know where to hide that you’ll never know they are there, but they’re on the look out for signs that valuables are in the car.
- Can you leave your luggage (locked) at you Hana accommodation while you sight see? Even if you have to double back an by a half hour, the peace of mind that you’re valuables are safer.
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@ Cathy – would the black beach be at Waioka also known as Venus Pool? Here’s a flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mallady/432053874/
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If we are planning on driving the road to Hana leaving from the Maui airport…how long do you think it would take us to make the drive (one way)?
I think our flight gets us into Maui at 3:45pm so I guess we’ll probably start the trek around 4:30pm? Do you think we’ll have enough time to make it to our hotel in Hana before it gets too dark? If not…should we be concerned?
Thanks for your help….
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@ Jeff – It will probably take you about 1.5 hours to drive to Hana. Reference this Google Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=ogg&daddr=5031+Hana+Highway,+Hana,+HI+96713+(Hotel+Hana+Maui+and+Honua+Spa)&hl=en&geocode=%3BCRQOB6QAqvOTFSHXPAEd77az9iGz86mqWY1q-g&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=20.846818,-156.226165&sspn=0.432502,0.779343&ie=UTF8&ll=20.851112,-156.219406&spn=0.432489,0.779343&z=11
Now, if you get there before sunset depends on what time of year you go as sunset time varies from about 5:45pm to about 7:15pm. Here’s a link to a sunrise and sunset chart from Maui’s Haleakala: http://www.nps.gov/hale/planyourvisit/sunrise-and-sunset.htm One point to bear in mind is that much of the drive is on the east side and in the shadow of Haleakala, so that area will probably be darker a bit sooner.
Sounds like if you do end up driving in the dark, there’s a good chance it won’t be for too long. Just take it slow.
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Sheila you are the best! We are staying in a house on Hana for a week. I would like to make alot of plans to travel on the other more populated sides of the island but i am feeling a little like the drive to and back will be too much to do each day. What are your thoughts? Also we are planning on attending a Luau but because of the night driving i am a little scared. Isn’t there a airport in Hana and is it reasonable to fly back and forth?
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Hi Melanie – thanks for the kind words!
A week in Hana sounds like bliss! Not many people get the chance to explore that area as thoroughly as you will, so count yourself lucky!
You have presented a challenge about seeing the other areas of Maui from Hana. There is an airport in Hana and it has the code HNM. Pacific Wings tends to fly to the smaller airports in Maui. You can check them out and search for flights and fares here: http://www.pacificwings.com/index.asp
Since you’ll have the additional cost of another rental car and flights if you fly to either Kapalua (JHM) or Kahului (OGG), you might be better off staying in West or South Maui for a night and concentrate your sightseeing on the other side of the island over two days – scheduling your luau on the night of your stay away from Hana. With this option, you’ll probably save money and your valuable vacation time. Hope these thoughts help.
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Hey Sheila, It looks like it might rain the 2 days I’m in Maui. But I really wanted to see the black sand beaches. Any advice on how to get there. Is it safe to drive in the rain? Im staying in Kihei and wont get in until 1pm.
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Donyale – don’t try to drive the road too fast and you should be fine. I wouldn’t attempt to drive it the day you arrive since you won’t be getting in until 1pm so that you won’t risk driving the road in the dark.
The black sand beach along the road to Hana is called Wai‘anapanapa State Park and it is really, really pretty. You’ll get to it before you get to Hana. http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/maui/waianapanapa.cfm
You may want to skip the Kipahulu area (past Hana) since it’s subject to flash floods.
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Thanks Sheila! You Rock! Thanks for the advance! I’ll let you know how it goes!
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sheila Reply:
February 11th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
You’re welcome. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the rain holds off for your Road to Hana drive.
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we will be on maui for 2 days as part of a cruise. we plan on taking the hana drive. we want to do it in one day which means driving both ways on the same day. is that doable? looking for the best waterfall and maybe a place to swim/picnic along the way. thanks.
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dave – yes, it’s very doable. In fact, that’s what 95% of the visitors do. You’ll see waterfalls along the drive. At the Oheo Gulch in the Kipahulu area there’s some cascading waterfalls. Some people swim there when the conditions are good. You can read a little bit about that area here: http://www.nps.gov/hale/planyourvisit/kipahulu.htm
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Sheila, thanks for all the great advice. I am looking to do a one day trip as well. I want to do the two mile hike at the end to see some of the best highlights. I will be in Kaanapali and I can leave bright and early. Anyway, what are all of your can’t miss stops? I would leave at say 7am and plan to make the entire loop around the island. So what are the can’t miss attractions and are any of the stops after Lindbergh worthwhile? Thanks.
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Jim – I’m not sure if you’re aware of this or not, but all of the major car rental companies like Avis, Budget, Hertz, etc. tell you that you shouldn’t drive beyond Lelekea Bay. Now there’s not a rental car cop stopping you from driving it
but if you should have an accident or your rental car breaks down on unauthorized roads, your rental contract is void. So, if you drive it, you are taking that risk. Honestly, I think that the scenery doubling back on the 360 and 36 is worth seeing again.
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Okay, thanks I wasn’t aware of that. If I go and double back about how many stops do you think I can make in one day? I know it is a tough question depending on how long I stay at each stop but do you have any list of the “can’t miss” stops on the Road to Hana? I don’t want to stop at them all and then find out I missed out on some of the better ones.
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Jim – I sure wish I had a cheat sheet, so to speak, about all the must stops and that’s a great idea for a future post.
What I like to do, is try to drive all the way to Kipahulu with just a few stops along the way — stopping for a waterfall view or beautiful coast scene. The reason I like to drive all the way to Kipahulu is that I’ll know how to pace myself on the way back. Now, it’s inevitable that you’ll see a beautiful scene on the way to Kipahulu that you just can’t resist stopping for and that is fine. In general, those stops will take you less than 5 minutes.
For the most part, the stops are going to be obvious and just off the road to Hana. You’ll see pull outs for most of these places. I do think that the black sand beach at Wainapanapa State Park is a little less obvious, so do take note of that. It’s near mile marker 32.
Have you purchased a good guidebook yet? Maui Revealed is one of the top rated ones and does a good job of telling you the stops by mile marker. It would be a good idea to get a good guidebook and read the road to Hana section before you go to Maui and then you can decide on the diversions that sound best to you and you want to make the time to do.
Some cautions about the Revealed Guides — by in large the advice is good, but I have found a few times that these books tend to take you on a wild goose chase. So, if it feels like a wild goose chase, chances are it is. A second caution is that if the guide book tells you to take a trail or road, but the trail or road is on private property and marked with no trespassing signs, please honor the signs. A final caution is to be safe!
I hope this helps. Just remember that the road to Hana is more about the journey than the destination and you’ll enjoy.
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Very interesting! I’ve never been there!
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We did the Pride of Hawaii Cruise and spent 2 days in Maui – Our day on the Road to Hana was one of our absolute favorite!
Couple of tips – bring snacks, bathing suit, lots of water, and take your time.
We even purchased “I survived the Road to Hana t-shirts!”
We had one of the best hamburgers ever at the Hotel Hana for lunch! It was awesome – the views were incredible!
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[...] 4. A list with tons of user feedback from the award-winning site GoVisitHawaii.com. [...]
We will be in Maui for 7 glorious days! Do you think that it is better to drive the Road to Hana on a weekday or on a weekend?
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sheila Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Hi Susan – that’s a good question. From memory I’ve only driven the road on weekdays, so I don’t know how weekends compare. I would guess that perhaps there would be less large trucks on the road on weekends, assuming that they are not working on the weekends, so perhaps that could be a plus. I’m not sure it would matter much either way.
In my opinion, the weather is the biggest concern, so check the weather reports for Hana when you arrive on the island. Mostly sunny weather makes a huge difference in the scenery and overall experience.
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Me and my boyfriend are going to Maui for christmas and I definetly want to do the road to Hana and visit the seven sacred pools but I’m a little worried because I don’t know the area and want some advice on where to go and what to do there. I need some help! lol. I’v read most the posts but if there’s anything else we should know then it would be helpful :]. Thanks.
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I am going to Maui for my honeymoon at the end of September. I am renting a Harley for a few days. Do you feel taking the road to Hana on a motorcycle is a bad idea? Should we just explore other area on the motorcycle and take the car for the road to Hana?
Thanks
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@Samantha – the only other thing I might add is that you don’t want to wear shoes that you would be upset if they got muddy. This type of shoe is perfect for the road to Hana http://www.govisithawaii.com/2009/02/23/these-shoes-were-made-for-walking-in-hawaii/
@Ryan – you’ll probably find that you’ll be doing a lot of gear changing and breaking on the road to Hana. Also, check the weather and/or be prepared for a rain shower, just in case. Other than that, you’d probably enjoy the fresh air and scenery on a motorcycle.
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We did the road to hana in August of 2008…
It was beautiful-do it. If you get carsick-ride in the front seat or do the driving. Stop as many times as possible. Many of these posts tell you not to use Maui Revealed, however, this was the BEST thing we purchased. It was spot on for the attractions and the reason the islanders do not like it is b/c it deters sales of the CD’s and guided tours. The worst part of the drive is from Hana to the Oheo Gulch but it is well worth it. The roads were very narrow and having the tour buses trying to use the one way bridges coming at you was a bit “stroke” worthy. You will be happy you went on though. Plan for an entire day. The way back from Hana takes about 2.5 hours but the way there should take you around 4-6 depending on the stops you make. The stops are why you make this trip so don’t rush! Good Luck!
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My wife and I will be doing the drive in early November of this year. What will the weather be like at the time of the year and is the road any more challenging and narrower than the Pacific Coast Highway in California? Can we drive as far as the Lindbergh grave in a rental car?
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We are planning to travel the road to Hana in early November, can you tell us what the the weather is generally for this part of Maui at this time of year.
Thanks
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sheila Reply:
June 28th, 2009 at 9:28 am
In general November weather is still quite pleasant, though a tad more likely that you’ll encounter rain. See this link for Maui’s historical weather averages: http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USHI0031?from=search
I highly suggest that you check the weather forecast when you arrive and aim for clear day if possible. I’ve been on the road to Hana on cloudy and clear days, and the scenery is so much nicer on clear days.
I have only been on short sections of the PCH in California and the road to Hana is more challenging and narrow in comparison.
You can drive as far as the Lindbergh grave in a rental car. In fact, that’s not a bad turn around point.
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Good points, I’d like to comment on “lock your car” – I suggest the opposite. Leave it open and bring your valuables with you. Your window will get smashed without second thought if the door is locked. Better to lose non-valuables, than to have glass everywhere, no window to roll up when it rains, and maybe a big bill from the rental car company.
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Aloha Mark and mahalo for that alternative idea. Hmmm… a reverse psychology trick? It just might work.
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