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Planning a trip to Maui in September, 2009. After much research, we have decided on the following:
- Fly into Maui
- 2 nights in Paia (Paia Inn)
- drive Hana Highway
- 4 nights in Hana area (Hotel Hana Maui)
- drive South coast along Piilani Highway
- 4 nights in Makena/Wailea (Maui Prince)
My question is this, there is plenty of info on the Hana Highway, but not a lot on the Piilani Highway. I know part of it is unpaved and that it was closed for several years due to an earthquake. However, is it now open and safe to drive? Has anyone done this recently? Is there an easy way to get from the end of the highway to Makena area? Should we just forget about it altogether and take the Hana Highway back to the Wailea/Makena area?
Any input is appreciated. Thank you!
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South of Hana Piilani Highway - Maui - Safe?
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Too bad no one has answered you. I would be interested too. This is the latest news I could find by googling.
http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/509354.html?nav=10
You could call the visitor center out at the 7 pools and ask them. They always have good info on that road. I don't think there is any way to drive down to Wailea from the Piilani Hwy. Today there is a locked gate on the road we used to take in the '70s.
You are staying in our two favorite Maui hotels. You will have a great time, I'm sure.
I have not taken the back way around so can't help you on what it is like.
The road re-opened in October. So you can go all the way around now, except:
Right now the road is closed (May 4 for 3 weeks) about 1/2 way between Hana and Ohe'o Gulch to replace the Paihi Bridge that was damaged. It will reopen around May 25.
It also has some temporary closures, mostly just a couple hours, during the rainy season because of landslides. But in September you should be OK.
Paihi Falls is the one with the darker blue "pin". The bridge is about where the 31 is on the map.
http://www.waterfallswest.com/waterfall.php?id=193
The part of the road that was closed for two years was several miles south of Lindbergh's Grave. That was due to a landslide due to the earthquake & unstable rocks in the area.
This is a good Maui map. Notice that if you take the southern route back completing the loop, you will still end up close to Kahului Airport. There is no shortcut to Makena. A private road does show up on some maps. But you can't use it.
http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/assets/resources/49.pdf
Supercilious and dust56438, thanks for the responses. There doesn't seem to be a lot of info on this issue and I appreciate what you have a provided. I will make some calls to the visitors center and ranger stations when we closer to the trip to get the latest. Thanks again!
We were in Hana at the Hotel Hana Maui in April of this year and the Piilani Highway past Kipahulu was open and folks were using it apparently. The coincerage at the Hotel will know what is happening. It sounds like a wonderful trip.
Thanks iamq. I actually read your great review of the hotel on tripadvisor and it got me very excited to go. We're really looking forward to it!
On another note, it is apparent that there is no easy access to Makena/Wailea from the end of the Piilani Highway. It looks like it goes up over the mountain and then back up toward the airport. So, if we were planning on staying in Makena, it looks like we would have to do quite a bit of backtracking to get there if we took this route. That has caused me to retink our last stop a bit. I'm thinking that maybe would should stay somewhere in the upcountry or possibly Lahaina/Kaanapali.
Any one have thoughts on this or suggestions? Thanks!
Don't miss staying in Makena! That part of the island is so wonderful. The beaches are gorgeous. If you take the Piilani Highway around, you will drive through upcountry and that is a lovely part of the island that you should see. Even if you decide not to do the Piilani and go back to civilization via the Hana Highway, I would recommend that you still stay in Makena.
I wrote a trip report here on our recent trip to Hana. Click on my profile and you will see it listed under my trip reports. There is also a trip report from our 2007 trip where we stayed in Makena.
Have a great time.
The route to the Maui Prince will be the same distance from Hana as the route to Lahaina either way you go.
Stick with the Maui Prince. It is on a superb beach.
Iamq and Marginal, thanks for keeping me on track for Makena. You've helped me remember why I initially decided to spend time on that part of the island to begin with (get too caught up in maps and driving directions sometimes). And, iamq, thanks for directing me to your review of HHM! See my comments on your thread. Off to read your report on Makena.
Just returned from Maui on Thursday.If you do not take Piilani highway you are missing an adventure of a life time. While some of the road is narrow and unforgiving for the most part it is a relaxing beautiful and completly fulfilling drive. It took us longer to get home on this highway than the drive to Hana, only because of the stark beauty and untouched rural nature of this road. It gives you the feel of an untouched place where you could get lost if you chose to. There are Rainforests, Savanahas, the back side of Haleakla, lava flows, old churches, and just miles of beautiful scenery. The road is bumpy and probably not to good after a heavy rain unless you have four wheel drive, but it is definetly an adventure not to miss.. Just watch the locals..they tend to drive the road pretty fast and come up on you quickly, just pull over let them pass and enjoy the ride.....