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Road to Hana in 2 days without spending the night???

Road to Hana in 2 days without spending the night???

Old Apr 20th, 2014, 04:47 PM
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Road to Hana in 2 days without spending the night???

I know there are plenty of forums and questions and guides to the Hana Highway. So many in fact, I'm quite confused. I really want to go beyond Hana and hike through the bamboo forest to the waterfalls. However, I also want to take our time and do other stops, and NOT spend the night since we already have our condo booked for our entire trip in west Maui. My question is - could I do halfway to Hana in one day, stopping at the Garden of Eden, etc and do all those sights on day 1. Then on day two, bypass these sights and go straight straight pass Hana and do the hike, and do the later half of Hana stops on the way back? Does this make sense at all, and does it eat up too much of my time? Is there a more efficient way to do this without feeling rushed and pushed and missing sights. Or should i just double book a room and stay in Hana for one night?
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Old Apr 20th, 2014, 04:50 PM
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That's a whole lot of curvy driving - in order not to spend the night.

I would try to find the least expensive room in Hana and spend the night and enjoy yourselves on the way out and maybe around the bottom end of the island on the way back the other way.

Get a styrofoam cooler and load it with ice and food/drinks and enjoy your trip.
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Old Apr 20th, 2014, 04:59 PM
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Yea, that's what I was thinking. Thank you.

Any advice on Haleakala...is the sunrise really worth getting up at 3am or will sunset do?
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Old Apr 20th, 2014, 06:13 PM
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I think that sunrise up there is something that you do once, for the 'experience'. If you don't go, then you have a blank page in your Maui scrapbook!
Take lots of clothes..... 30 degree temps with 30 mph winds, is not your typical tropical scenario. The puddles up there were all frozen. I was used to the cold, but still a bit surprised. It was an interesting morning, even repeated it a few years later. Stubborn, I guess.
The 3rd time, we went up at 9:00 a.m. and biked down. No group, just DW and I. A nice ride, but again, once was enough.
Give it a shot!
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Old Apr 20th, 2014, 06:27 PM
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I did see the sunset from Haleakala and it was spectacular- I am not a morning person!
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Old Apr 20th, 2014, 09:38 PM
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I am going to do the sunset not the sunrise, 3am is just too early for me.
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Old Apr 21st, 2014, 02:59 AM
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I did the Haleakala sunrise. I "thought" that I was ready for the cold. The shock of the cold dissipated once I was able to see the sun. I thought it was worth the drive and the cold. IF you can layer your clothing and use the outer most layer as a windbreaker - throw in a nice warm cap and you should be set.

As a side note, I went for the photos. I have a camera which is touch screen. The cold and wind made selecting photo options difficult. I shot most of my photos on "Auto". Somewhat satisfied with the results.
__________________________________
Getting back to Hana. I left early in the morning and started my trip. I do not know how many times that I stopped to shoot photos, BUT I hiked through the bamboo forest to the Waimoku Falls. I then walked around and shot some photos of the 7 Sacred Pools. I left there and took the meandering trip back with some brief stops to shoot a few photos. I think that I had a good time. I made it back to enjoy a beautiful sunset and dinner.
________________________________
BOTTOM LINE:
ONLY you can make the trip memorable and well worth the time. I DID.

I hope you have a wonderful trip.
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Old Apr 21st, 2014, 06:16 AM
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I've been dragged up for the Haleakala sunrise a few times; join the line of cars on an unfamiliar road in the dark, freeze your toes off, and see the clouds (then avoid the bikes on the way down). Never once thought it was worth it. However, the sunset! Simply amazing. Bring your picnic, park in one of the west-facing pullouts just above any clouds (after enjoying the drive up through the climate zones, the eucalyptus, and seeing the crater), and enjoy.
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Old Apr 21st, 2014, 09:34 AM
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I've only been up mid-morning to Haleakala because none of my family wanted to get up in the middle of the night and/or drive it in the dark. It was plenty spectacular then too.
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Old Apr 21st, 2014, 05:12 PM
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It's easier to do the sunrise if you are already jetlagged from the east coast. I've done it twice because I was awake at 3 a.m. anyway., with the five/six hour time difference.
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Old Dec 15th, 2014, 07:16 AM
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We struggled for the same reason, as accommodation is so expensive, let alone paying twice. But it really makes it a wonderful experience by taking your time. We have gone to Hana 3 times and will be going again this year. Last year, two of my girlfriends and I went for an overnight excursion leaving hubbies at home and it was so much fun. Found a place for $160 per night. We took along picnic food, stopped at a gorgeous spot along the way, then overnight ex at Hana, stopped and did the bamboo hike and had a blissful swim at Oheo Gulch,, right across from entry to bamboo hike and then did the drive home. You won't be sorry to spend the extra money doing this!
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