Nancy03

Thinking about driving from Kapalua Airport, leaving around 9:00 am, driving over the top of West Maui visiting the Nakalele Blowhole, mushroom-shaped rock and Olivine Pool. Have lunch at Mama's and then drive to Hana getting there around 4 pm. Just stopping along the way at one or two places as we hope to just enjoy the drive and not a lot of hiking.

Is this reasonable timing? Any input would be appreciated.

fun2travel

Can't imagine this time table would work, the "over the top" drive is not an easy drive, very curvy, narrow roads and steep drop offs. We left Kaanapali around 9 am and arrived in Paia for lunch until after 1 pm, can't imagine going on to Hana from there in 3 hours. If the blow hole is spouting and you want to get a closer look, the hike down to it and back can take 10 minutes each way (worth it though). The drive "over the top" is beautiful and highly underated compared to Hana, IMHO. Anyone else agree??

crazy4Hawaii

Fun2Travel - I agree! I enjoyed the West Maui drive better than the road to Hana. I would do these drives on two different days. Visiting Iao Valley is a good thing to incorporate into the West Maui drive day.
Nancy03 - Are you staying in Hana? Are you staying elsewhere while on Maui? This time table sounds a little tight to me. If there's any way you can do these drives on two different days, I would.

pb_and_j

I'm generally a pretty active traveler and it took me about 4 hours to get from Kapalua over the top. Big stops were the blowhole and the olivine pools. Walking down to the blowhole is hugely recommended because as impressive as it was near the road it was so much more amazing being up close and seeing it spout way above your head. It's at least a 10 minute walk each way.
Olivine pools has a similar walk, maybe a bit shorter, but even more difficult footing. I actually did some small stretches backwards, climbing down like a ladder. And then won't you want time to be in the pools?
The driving is slow, very slow in spots and many times when a car is coming the opposite way one car will just have to pull over to make room.
There are also a lot of opportunities to pull over and enjoy the scenery.

Nancy03

We were thinking about staying in Hana for the night and then in Wailea for 4 more nights. There reason for putting it all in one days is so we have some days of total relaxation and not having to get in the car and drive anywhere. If we do it in 2 days that's 2 out of 5 days on the road. One day to the Crater and one day on a boat trip. Doesn't leave enough relaxation time.

From the responses above, maybe we should just to "over the top", then Lunch at Mama's, the the I'ao needle and skip Hana altogether this time. If you think we will enjoy just taking our time here.

Then spend all 5 nights in Wailea.

Day 1: Northwest Maui and I'ao Needle
Day 2: Relax around resort
Day 3: Crater (sunrise or morning hike) (Annabelle's and Warren's that night)
Day 4: Lanai boat trip
Day 5: Relax around resort
Day 6: Head to Molokai around 3 pm

An alternative would be to go from I'ao up to the crater for a short hike and to watch sunset. Then we'd have a whole nother day to do nothing. But I think this might make for too long of a day.

crazy4Hawaii

Nancy -
I don't think your alternative plan would make too long of a day. Will you be spending some nights on Molokai? If so, I don't think it would hurt to skip Hana this time as you're building in some of that remote/relaxing time into your trip with Molokai. I'm one of those people who wants to see and do everything when I travel so I have to really make myself "put the reins on" when I go to Hawaii. I'm not one of those people who feel the need to do Hana every time, though...

Nancy03

Crazy4Hawaii:

I appreciate your opinion that might make sense. I'd rather have 2 packed full activities and a few restful days, than every day have somewhere to go.

We are spending 3 nights on Molokai so we will get some rest there.

We are also going to BI for 5 days, Kauai for 7 days and Oahu for 2 days each with a day or two of rest and most other days doing either a morning activity or an afternoon activity but not both.

It seems like most of the best part of Hana is around the Hana area - unless you just consider driving the road the best part. Hiking on Kauai will probably give us plenty of waterfalls, cliffs of green. Hana may seem like just another road after touring Kauai and BI. I'm not sure all the time spent on this road will be as fulfilling as a day of relaxation in Wailea.

Thanks again

crazy4Hawaii

Nancy -
I agree. Oh, your trip sounds SO wonderful. I'm salivating just thinking of the juicy trip report you'll post when you get home. Where are you staying on each island? I love to hear about accommodations - but a grass shack in Hawaii is better than a mansion most places IMO! I've not been to Molokai so am anxious to hear your thoughts on it as well.

lcuy

Nancy- I wouldn't feel bad about missing Hana..I've never gone, and I've been to Maui many times..My husband hates windy roads and the kids get carsick. He's been to Hana, but felt it wasn't that unique that it is a mandatory sight.

although someday I'll probably get there, I've never felt that my visits to Maui were incomplete without Hana. Plenty of waterfalls and scenic places to keep you happy elsewhere!

vacationbound

How bad is the road "over the top"? I mean as far as cliffs go. I would like to do it, but I get very nervous on cliffy roads. Is the road very scary?

crazy4Hawaii

Not TERRIBLE but a bit scary at times. We had to honk going around curves a couple of times as we knew there was no room for a passing car. It was nice to be on the "inside" (going north) instead of on the "outside"! There is this amazing area where the red dirt on the cliffs is almost purple. And we stopped at this golden beach towards the end of the route that felt very private - tiny homes across the street from it. We were worried that we would not be welcome to walk on it, but when we stopped, one of the local men waved and said, "Enjoy the beach!" My daughter - seven at the time - remembers that with such fondness. Definitely a worthy drive. My family enjoyed it more than the road to Hana.