Haleakala vs Road to Hana
 

Thanks to all for the many excellent postings about Maui. Your advice has been invaluable in helping us plan for our first trip in April! The problem that remains is this: We had planned to drive the road to Hana and take the entire loop around and see Haleakala on the way home, but now we can't because of road damage due to the earthquake. My daughter (who did a HUGE report in school on Haleakala) will be crushed if we don't see the crater, and my husband really wants to see some waterfalls. Is there any way to see both in one day? We are an active family and don't mind a full day. Another possibility for seeing waterfalls is that we are spending one day touring west maui-- are there any waterfalls to hunt down there? All our other days are spoken for (including three days of sitting by the beach, which I hate to give up!!!)

Is there any way to keep all the members of my family happy?

Thanks!

Haleakala to make your daughter happy AND give up part of one of your THREE days on the beach for the Road to Hana to make your husband happy. Stop and enjoy a beach along the way.

You may see waterfalls in central Maui: Iao Valley. Also , you do not need to drive all the way to Hana (I would) to see falls. They're all along that Road.

Enjoy your visit.

If waterfall viewing is the main priority, and your goal is to do both locations in one day (which I would not suggest) one option would be to drive only a portion of the Hana Highway and go only as far as it takes to see some waterfalls, turn around and go back. A good turn around spot might be Ke'anae. Look at a map. There is a road, sometimes labeled 365 that connects to Hana Highway someplace before Huelo. I've taken this road before and while I won't say it is a shortcut, it would allow you access to the Highway from Upcountry or vica versa.

You could always promise your husband a waterfall viewing adventure on your NEXT trip. :-d

-Bill

If you go to Haleakala for sunrise, you could see the crater on your way down, stop for breakfast at Sandalwoods in Kula (right before you enter Haleakala Park), and still have plenty of time to go on the road to Hana.As the previous poster said, you don't have to go all the way to hana to see great waterfalls.

I like starrsville's idea. You could either do Haleakala early in the day and then spend the afternoon by the beach or spend most of the day by the beach and head up to Haleakala late afternoon (sunset is beautiful!). We went to Haleakala twice during our week on Maui. It's amazing.

Absolutely positively don't feel you have to go all the way to Hana. My husband and I did, and after the first 5 or 6 waterfalls we were pretty bored! (I should probably mention that we also lived in Hawaii at the time.) By all means visit Haleakala early in the morning (dress warmly!), have a great breakfast on the way down, and drive part way to Hana after that.