paula1470

You will know when you get to the little town of Hana. You can turn around there or continue on a little further to the O'he'o Gulch also known as seven sacred pools. You can get either a CD or a book that shows where the sights are by mile marker. Some of the sights are't visible from the road so need to know where to turn off. You should get the Maui Revealed Book and I think it has the directions. There are other books too like Hana Highway Mile by Mile but the Maui Revealed is a must for a first time visit.

aucho53

Thank you again to everyone who has replied. This info is great! Paula1470 I will definitely check out the guide books on the Hana Highway as I would like to turn off for some of the sights as we're driving and we need directions.

Thanks so much for all your help!

paula1470

In the books, they tell you by mile marker so even if you stay on the road, it will alert you to some of the falls, etc. Then there places to get some great pictures and some must see's such as the Black Sand Beach, Lava Tubes, etc. If you past Hana, you will see the Sacred Pools and a little further a church where Charles Lindbergh was buried. Just google road to Hana and it will give you an idea of all the sights. Probably not time to do all of them but make sure you read about the must sees.

A fun thing that a lot of people do is to drive the road to Hana in either a convertible or an open jeep. My DD and her husband did it with a jeep, my younger daughter and I rented a convertible. It was really fun with the top down. Jeeps and convertibles are expense to rent so that's the only downside of that.

carolyn

The far point at the Seven Sacred Pools looking out to the ocean is one of my favorite views in the world. Don't miss that!

We have always just gone on all the way around the road without turning back. Once when the commercial was popular, we were on a small van tour and met another coming from the opposite direction. The vehicles were quite close together, and the other driver stopped and called out to ours, "Do you have any Grey Poupon?"

ChiSue

Driving 'the back side' of Haleakala is prohibited in many rental car contracts -- as is 'going over the top' of Maui from Kapalua to Wailuku (although that is more dangerous).

aucho53

Thank you all for the info on the Hana Highway. We actually did some reading and we're thinking we would like to drive to Hana, spend one night, drive to O'Heo Gulch the next morning and then drive back to Wailea. That way we don't have to rush anywhere and can make the drive more leisurely and have time to see more of the sights. This will be our biggest "adventure" on Maui aside from snorkeling and maybe going out for deep sea fishing. So we don't want to rush through all the sites to ensure that we drive back before sunset since I heard it's a tough drive in the dark.
As it's our honeymoon we don't want to be super busy the whole time and we are limiting the number of excursions to ensure that we spend time just relaxing and enjoying the beach.
What do you guys think of that plan?

Thanks again!
Layla

Tomsd

Driven rental cars all over Maui - from Hana around the back side - and also around the top end beyond Kapalua. And yes, most rental contracts prohibt the first - and never checked for the latter - where you do have some one lane passing spots - but just pull over and wait for the other car to come by.

Good plan to stay a night out at Hana - great place to see, and check out the Seven Sacred Pools, etc.

Have gone deep sea fishing off Oauh (caught a 32 pound Mahi Mahi) - and friends have also gone for Marlin, etc - off Kona - but never off Maui. Would like to hear how it turned out.

sylvia3

Tom's information (surprise) is dated; most rental car contracts specify "unimproved" roads, but Hwy 31 (past Hana, back to Hwy 37) is continually improved (I driven it many time over the past 25 years). The back side is a spectacular landscape, dry and rugged and surprisingly colorful, with stunning volcano and ocean views. I highly recommend it.

Tomsd

You should carefully read your rental car contract. The back side road - 31 - is "improved" but subject to the last rainy season. "Rugged" patches can "vary".

We did it with 4 people in a VW bug convertible - yes - years ago - and one stretch - the others got out and walked while I inched it over some big ruts.

Definitely worth doing.

sylvia3

Thanks, I've read my contracts each time, and stand by the facts as stated. No quotes.
As I said, I've done it many times, evidently much more recently than "some".

aucho53

Hi Everyone,

We will definitely check the terms of our rental contract but I doubt we will end up driving the back side. I think we will be simply turning around and driving back.

I will defnitely post a trip report when I get back to let you know about the fishing We love fishing and hopefully have a good experience.

Thanks again as always to everyone for your great feedback

paula1470

I think the condition of the back part of the road is better now than in the past. A few years ago I wanted to drive that section but the road was washed out and closed. I think you will have a nice time spending the night in Hana but for me, not something I'd probably do. It seems like a lot of work to pack up, check-out and then check-in at the next hotel. I guess if you were staying in a condo for the whole time, you could just take a few things with you for the night, but you'd still be double paying for that evening. Either way, I know you will enjoy it and I like that you aren't rushing around the whole time since it's your honeymoon.

Tomsd

ChiSue

We've had several guests 'double book', taking little with them on RTH for an overnight stay. Their main luggage is safe at the condo, and valuables are safe in the condo safe. There aren't a lot of places along the road that don't have a two-night minimum though.

aucho53

Hi Guys,

Like ChiSue says we will be "double booking" as we will probably be staying in a condo. We will only take with us what we will need for one night so we won't be bogged down with all of our stuff. I know it means a little bit more of an expense but I think for us (as it's a honeymoon) we want our pace to be leisurely and relaxing so the night in Hana is appealing to us.

ChiSue

Our DS and DIL did an overnight in Hana. Which reminds me, now is when we give you the talk about not being afraid of any huge but harmless cane spiders you may encounter in Hana. And the talk about being *very afraid* of the poisonous centipedes.