ROAD TO HANA
 

Would you drive the road to Hana or take a tour? Which is the best? Opinions needed from people who have done both.
Mahalo,
Leaving for Maui in June

I've driven it twice. It is a very easy drive. Take your time and stop often.

Lots of info:

www.alternative-hawaii.com Good narrative drive guides including Road to Hana w/photos.

http://www.alohafriendshawaii.com/roadtohana.html

http://www.hawaiianstylemedia.com/Gu...ana-Deluxe.htm

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~volcano/te...Haleakala.html

I've driven back and forth to Hana a few times. I'd do it on your own. I did take a guided hiking tour one time that was good. I was staying in Hana and met the guide beyond town. A guided tour with four or five people from Wailea met us there and joined us on the hike. It seemed like they were having a good time.

-Bill

Rent a convertible for this drive! You'll see/enjoy it SO much more! Also, if you have time, stay a night or two in Hana so that you aren't rushed, otherwise you will not have time to see all the sights/explore.

Having driven it on our own, I wouldn't even consider doing a guided tour. Rent a convertible, get one of the cd guided tours and/or the "Maui Revealed" book - no guided tour can beat it!

I agree with the above, rent a car, plan lots of time, buy the CD, and be sure to go beyond Hana to O'heo Gulch, and HNP. Hike up to the waterfalls its about an hour hike up and half that down. Worth the effort.

Buy some of the baked goods from the road side vendors. We had some fresh baked pineapple bread that was wonderful.

Leave early in the morning and on a weekend day if you can to avoid the commercial truck traffic and the tour vans at the popular stops.

If the weather is good, take the southern road back. It save a fair amount of time on the return trip.

Leave VERY early, stop at the waterfalls (might be able to actually park if you leave early enough), lava tube in the state park, etc.; enjoy, go all the way around! It's an easy drive.

There are several waterfall hikes you will have to choose the ones most important to you.

Yes leave by 7 am if you're staying on the south or west side. And take your time and enjoy the sights on the way. :-)

teach4thgr, definitely drive the road to Hana. Do not take a tour. Driving yourself allows you to stop when and wherever you want. There are many trails to walk through, waterfalls to see, and different views to stop and take pictures. Also, something that I think is very important, that made the road to Hana even better, was driving all the way around. Don't stop and turn around. The rental car companies tell you to turn around and go back the way you came. DON'T TURN AROUND. I can't stress that enough. Driving around the back-side of Haleakala was some of the most beautiful views we have ever seen. It looks like the island is completely uninhabited. I got the same advice from someone else on this forum and it turned out to be priceless. Hope this helps. Have a great time. There is nothing like the islands of Hawaii.

Yes, yes, yes, keep going--stop and swim at gulch, then keep going. The road has been much improved in the past few years, and the parts that aren't paved are usually well graded. The back side of the volcano is stunning, the ocean views are amazing, and when you come around to the west side from the south, you enter the rain forest almost right from the desert--just a wonderful drive.

As everyone has told you, please drive it! It is a sight to behold. Also, you will have the time to stop and see what you want to see. It is a curvy ride! The waterfalls are beautiful! My family and I had a blast several years ago. BTW, I teach 2nd grade!

I would suggest that you skip the Road to Hana entirely but if you ae going to do it do it on your own. I teach but not second grade.

If you aren't going to Kaua'i also then don't skip it!

As the others said, don't take a tour, drive it!

(And I teach 7th grade :)

I teach second grade and I think Rusty needs a time out. :-d

-Bill

Hana Highway is not to be missed; spectaular tropical views, waterfalls in season. If driving - which gives you lots more flexiblity - allow 3 hours AT LEAST from Paia to Hana for full sightseeing experience. Be aware - not too many bathroom stops in the 50 mile trek; several roadside fruit stands but taking a cooler with your own picnic is recommended [enough for lunch, snacks AND dinner]. Purchase one of the guides - tape/CD or book; worth it for background and best places to stop, etc.

One key - let the locals pass you!!!
They have to drive this road, sometimes daily. Be kind; pull off when safe, and wave them by.

The Hana Highway is definitely a challenge for the driver, or anyone with motion sickness. It used to not even appear as a thru road on some maps and car rental companies still sometimes have weird policies about driving to Hana and then back via the 'dry side'. Even if you feel pressed for time, DO NOT speed. You are in paradise -- be safe, relax, ENJOY!!!

The road is in good shape since most of major construction is complete, but there is always a chance for tourists stopped in middle of road behind the next blind curve; rock falls; traffic jams around waterfalls; no parking at several pull outs so traffic back ups; non-courteous or ignorant drivers that do not know how to yield at the 56 one-lane bridges, or safely manuever the many tight squeezes and hairpin turns.

Go slow; pull off road completely when you stop; cross carefully when on foot; bring lots of film; go early in AM to avoid 9-11 AM tourist jam; return from Hana to O'heo Gulch [via dry side if you really like a challenging drive] or after 6 or 7 pm to avoid the day tour traffic returning to the 'other side'. Tour buses often pull out about 4 pm.

Not to be missed - Keanae Peninsula near mile marker ##, veer to the left, park at end of road near ballfield, careful on the rocks, bathrooms, fruit stand open some days/times.

Waianapanapa State Park, just before HanaTown - lots to do here, great black sand beach, caves, hiking along spectaular lava rock coastal trails. Camping and cabins but must already have permit from Kahalui office.
Bathrooms and outdoor shower.

Hana Bay and Tutu's ice cream [esp. the Macadamia Nut- Total Yum!!!] plus decent burgers, etc. at somewhat reasonable prices, esp for Hana. Nice picnic table area. GOOD restrooms, outdoor shower on beach.

Koki Beach, rustic, no facilities. Also careful of undertow and big surges, just past HanaTown

Hamoa Beach on the same road, used by Hotel Hana Maui too, more 'civilized'. Body surfing, people watching, sun bathing, outdoor showers, restrooms.

And onto O'heo Gulch; good swimming in many of lower pools. Check with park ranger for conditions. Only porta-potties here and no running water. Best hike is up the volcano past the Grandfather Banyan Tree through the bamboo forest and up to one of the Big Mama waterfalls; takes 1-2 hours. Bring bug spray! Free camping if you can stand the road down to campsite; wonderful star gazing here.

And so much more ...

We ended up going with a tour, and were happy with our decision. It's much easier to enjoy the sights if you don't have to keep your eye on the road. If you're the one driving, you pretty much can't enjoy the sights. Finding a good guide is key though. I can't say enough about our guide: Lynn Stone. She usually drives for Ekahi Tours.

The road you really want is Kahekili Hwy on west Maui. Go to Lahaina and take the highway around west Maui you'll run right into it. About 10 miles of one lane road but some of the best scenery you will ever find.

Both are nice rides, but the Hana to Kahului around the back side of Haleakala is a sight you will never forget.

Spend 2 nights at a hotel in Hana. This makes the road to Hana with its many spots to explore much more relaxing and enjoyable. Plus you can see things early in the morning before the tour buses arrive, and in the afternoon after the tour buses have left.

It was our anniversary and we loved our 2 nights in a searanch cottage at the Hotel Hana Maui. They also have cheaper garden rooms if you don't want to splurge.

I'm going to Maui in July and the Road to Hana is obviously a must! However, I'm kind of leary of going past Kipahulu, which is the point it says your rental car agreement is being violated. I'm more concerned with road conditions and getting stuck or something as opposed to the agreement. We're getting 2 convertibles. Any thoughts? Thanks!

Unless something has change since last year I see no reason why that particular part of the road isn't doable in a normal car. It's definitely bumpy, and you will get tossed around a bit, but I really don't understand why rental companies forbid people from driving it. I found that part of my Hana tour to be the most enjoyable and beautiful in terms of scenery. Our tour guide recommended we go the backroad first in order to avoid the lines of cars and tour bases. It made our trip so much more enjoyable to not have to sit in lines of traffic.

Hi:

We just got back from Maui and loved the Road to Hana. We had a group of 6 and rented a minivan and a convertable for the total trip. I am really glad that we all piled into the minivan for the Road to Hana. There isn't much space to park at many of the waterfalls, so one car was good. We did not take a tour, but I would recommend driving it on your own with Maui Revealed and the "Craig CD" as guides. It is a challenge for the driver, but not too bad. If funds were unlimited hiring a driver to take you and stop when and where you wanted to would be perfect. There definetely is not time to do everything in the Maui Revealed Book even if you leave really early. We left Wailea at 7:00 Am and got home about 12 hours later. We turned around just past the Ohe'o Gulch. That was one of my favorite stops and don't miss the Blue Pool. Spectacular!

If we go again I will pack a picnic lunch. The dining options in Hana are lacking. Tutu's had good looking ice cream, but just ok burgers and other food. I would rather have eaten at one of the overlooks, beaches or hikes rather than in Hana. Ultimately I would spend one night in Hana so we could do a couple of the longer hikes that we didn't have time for this trip. So many spectactular waterfalls and views. It really is breathtaking.

Kristen

of the women who've been on the road to hana, would you take that drive alone. (yes. i'll be traveling solo)
don't get me wrong i'm an excellent driver, but i guess i'm wondering if it's as creepy as the drive is on the west side of lake tahoe? i don't think i minded the drops as i much as i hated the inclines WITH the drops.

Yes, absolutely. I've done it solo, alone with elderly mother in law, with hubby, and with kids. Every single time it was beautiful, a wonderful day. (also every time but my very first was the complete drive all the way around)

thanks sylvia. : )

Let's talk about the drops with no railings. My brother in law who drives too fast and aggresive for my taste was intimidated by the road. He said he didn't enjoy it because he was too worried about the DROP. His wife loved it because she got to enjoy the scenery. I want to go badly but I hate to have that nervous feeling for 50 miles. I can deal with the winding road but the drops would make me nervous. We were in St. John recently and didn't like their roads at all. Please tell me he was exaggerating!

I think the west end Maui road (near the blow hole), is narrowere with more drop offs, than the Hana road. Just take it slow. FYI, I get motion sick on most windy roads and didn't have a problem with it (Bonine or Dramamine non drowsy could be taken). I did have slight motion sickness with the West End road, and coming down the road from Haleakala.

I meant the Maui West end road is "more narrow".
Thanks.

We took a tour(Valley Isle Excursions) & it was great! They picked us up& returned us to our Hotel. It was an all day tour. We loved it . It appealed to all 5 senses & we learned alot about the beauty & richness that Hawaii has to offer.The tastes of local baked goods(Hot Banana Bread),fresh produce at the roadside, a small breakfast, a hot lunch in the park at the Black Sand Beach, & wine tasting at the Tedeschi Winery were delicious. The sights,sounds,& smells -waterfalls, rain forests,flowers at the Flower Greenhouse & the beauty of the tour stops were unreal. The trip was awesome. It was in a smaller type air conditioned vehicle & the tour guide was so full of tidbits about Hawaii. I would highly recommend them.(And the driver can enjoy the drive instead of dealing with the many, many curves & traffic!)

i got back from maui about a week ago. i didn't want to come back. maui is...exquisite. i had to find a word. and even that word doesn't do it justice. my first excursion out was the road to hana. i cannot find words to express how amazing it was.
i was alone. so the only bad part was that i couldn't look around as much as i had wanted to. i started late. maybe 8 or 9am. which turned out to be perfect because i was on the road almost by myself. for me the drive was easy. why? maybe because i have driven curvy roads almost all my life. i can totally understand why passengers would feel queasy though. i think bonine would help for that. not sure.
anyway, the drive was easy for me and as long as everyone respects the other drivers on the road everything works out fine. the one lane bridges are what i mean. some people would just start crossing over without checking oncoming traffic first. i wanted to spend more time in hana but activities the next day were already planned. i left hana early afternoon too. so again i was almost by myself. i did manage to stop at wainapanapa park and did find that red sand beach. got an awesome view of a male nudist. : )
anyway... passed by hamoa and made it out a few miles more. but i wanted to return the same way i came for the banana bread. couldn't find any but i did pick up a pineapple. delicious!
to me, it is something i would do again and again, i guess i think it's worth it. but i would remember to put on the OFF spray before heading out. the mosquitos REALLY loved me. eh, but i'm used to that. they really loved me in texas too. and btw, Maui Revealed is all you need to buy.
maui no ka oi!