Fi

We are planning a trip to the BI & Maui in April/May, and I really like the sound of Hana as a place to relax at the end. I've read about it and it sounds like a tiny place, but really we just want peace and quiet, some hiking and a nice beach to spend a bit of time on (not too bothered about swimming though). What I'm wondering really is 1)Is it likely to be dry/sunny enough to spend time on the beach
2)Would 4 or 5 days there be way too long? Any other thoughts would be much appreciated.

islandgirl

Hana will be wonderful, wet... dry...
sunny... rainbows... scrumptuous!
I wouldn't stay longer than 4 days, unless you want utter quiet.
It is lovely, and the secret beaches (search them out) are heavenly for lingering.
Enjoy!

alex

We spent 4 days there in the mid-1990s and thought is was great-though it is quiet after sundown. You may wish to investigate both Red Sand (really) Beach, very difficult to reach, and Hamoa Beach (beautiful, though not easy swimming).
Hana is a fascinating town that seems as though it is frozen in time. While there see the Hasegawa General Store, the baseball field, once home to the San Francisco Seals baseball team (great place for spring training), and the reminders around town of the disasterous tsunami in the early 1940s. There's plenty to do and see nearby including Oheo Gulch ("Seven Sacred Pools"), Lindbergh's grave, Fagan Memorial, Queen's Bath, a black sand beach (Waianapnapa State Park)and access to Haleakala National Park.

aaa

It isn't accurate to say that Hana is quiet after sundown. Hana is quiet ALL the time and it is dead after sundown !! This is about as quiet as any town can get. Is this what you want ??

Fi

Dear aaa - Thanks for the 'warning' about Hana being SO quiet - yes, for a few days/nights at least, the absence of anything 'to do' in the evening will be welcome!

alex

Fi: It isn't quite accurate to say Hana's always quiet before sundown, at least on the main drag. There are a large number of day-trippers who flow in during the day and flow out at night. I was amazed at the number of them during a shoulder season, mid-September. Still, it is still after dark, hence the nickname "Heavenly Hana."

oh please

Hana Hana Hana. That place must be so filled with confused tourists by now they need a tourist evacuation unit. You people are sooooooo picky. I bet the locals laugh at you.

joan

We enjoyed our two night trip to Hana in September, and wished we could've stayed for 3 or 4. With the trip in and out, we really only had one full day there. There was alot we didn't get to see.

Anyway, you didn't ask, but I have to share the great place we rented, very romantic with outdoor shower, Japanese soaking tub, and gourmet kitchen. I found the first mention of it here on this forum. It was walking distance to Hamoa Beach too:

http://www.hamoabay.com/

Also, we had an unexpected treat: we dined on a Sunday evening at Hotel Hana Maui, and it was buffet night. I'm not a big fan of buffets but it was very good and the best part was a Keoki children's hula show as part of the evening. Beautiful.

Bring some groceries with you so you can cook in, and you can get most anyting (for a price!) at the Hasegawa general store. By the way, it rained our entire drive to Hana, but we didn't let it stop us. It was fun and cooling! Enjoy!

Fi

Thanks for the comments, everyone. Does anybody have any insights weather-wise, please? I will probably post again about accomodation when I have done a bit more research. This is all so useful!

aaa

Alex, it must be really quiet where you are from because I didn't think it could get any quieter than Hana !!

Russell Farquer

Fi...Spent 4 days, 3 nights in Hana in Mar 02. Very enjoyable....Had oceanfront cabin. Was nice to sit and watch the ocean....Prices at the hotel resturant were on the high side(budget traveller here)..and the Ranch Resturant was closed...So did most of our cooking "at home". A few days in Hana gives you time to explore and relax. Why and how people do Hana in a day trip is beyond me.

enjoy..

Fi

Thanks all of you for the useful information. I was beginning to wonder if we were mad to be planning on spending a few nights there, but I don't seem to be the only one who thinks it' s a good idea to chill out a bit rather than rushing it.