Road to Hana
 

My husband and I are going on a 2 week vacation to BI, Maui and Kauai next month. Due to wanting to spend more time on BI and Kauai, we opted to have a short weekend visit to Maui (this will be our first trip there)- we're staying at Kannapali beach hotel.

My question is this: is the Road to Hana really worth it if we are only there for 3 nights, 4 days?

I usually would say "no" and since you are doing Kauai I'd definitely say no.

Oh, I thought the Road to Hana was simply beautiful! Lots of twists and turns, though, but many wonderful spots to stop at and enjoy.

We did the extended road trip and agreed that we would never to beyond the safer paved road part of the journey which is beyond Hana. Although, just a little passed Hana there is a cemetary to visit that is beautiful.

The trip can be as short, or as long as you want it to be. I woud want to do it all over again, -- that's how much I enjoyed it.

We really liked the road to Hana, but we were in Maui for a week. Are you planning to do the sunrise at Haleakala, snorkel Molokini, go to the Old Lahaina Luau, etc. I'd take a look at all the activities and see what your own priorities are. I definitely think it's worth doing, but you will probably end up sacrificing some other activities.

It did take us all day, but we got great pictures and got to see so much of the island. My friend gave us a cassette that narrated the tour and made it really easy. You might be able to find it online or in the local gift shops. Have a wonderful trip! We loved BI and Kauai also.

Are you more interested in seeing natural wonders or in relaxing on the beach? I love waterfalls, scenic drives, etc, so when I go to Maui, the Road to Hana is on my must-see list. But if you hate driving, it would be the opposite fo a good time. But don't go just because you feel like you HAVE to!

I would say yes...We took the road to Hana, and I thought it was definitely worth it. Then again, we were also there for a full week.
But whenever I think of Maui, the places that stand out in my mind are the Road to Hana and the Iao Needle. Beautiful scenery!
When we took the Road to Hana, we spent a little too much time enjoying the scenery, and so it got dark on us on the way back down. Don't tell anyone, but I found it lots easier to drive down in the dark, as I could see headlights of anyone approaching...it was almost a trade-off for missing the views on part of the way back!

I'd say yes too. Too bad you don't have more time, you could spend the night. While it is a very popular and some think, an over-hyped adventure, it is a unique area. While Kaua'i is lush and beautiful, particularly the north shore, Kaua'i doesn't have a drive through the jungle that compares. Having said all that, it is a long day and can turn into a bit of a "forced march" through paradise if you try to rush here and there so you don't miss a thing.
Have a great trip.

I'd say yes and no. It was not as nice as I thought it would be, my wife was a little car sick from all the twist and turns.

Overall I am glad we did it to say we did, but I would not do it a second time.

The real scenery is off the road in the trails to the falls and pools.

It is a LONG trip to Hana because of the twists and turns, the road is very narrow and busy, and there are few if any "facilities" should the need arrise, so keep that in mind.

Thanks everyone for the response. again, it seems like a mixed bag of responses.... i think with all of the other activities that i have planned out for us on BI and Kauai, my main goal at Maui was just to chill out on the beach/hotel and not do too much. the best thing is probably wait until we're there to see if we want to do it or not.

thanks again

Just got back from Maui and I would say the Road to Hana is worth it. We were only in Maui for 4 days before moving on to Oahu. We did the drive to Hana on Sunday and it was the highlight of our trip. My DD was with me, she gets carsick but she took a Dramamine and had no problem. We also stayed in Kannapali and left our condo around 8:00am. I hadn't wanted to get a little earlier start but we had no problem with traffic on the way to Hanna. Be sure to have something to guide you as we made some stops that many didn't seem to know about. We used the Maui Revealed book. Those stops were nice because if we were following other cars, we lost them during the stops. One thing we did notice was that the waterfalls did not have much water running in them. But the scenery was amazing and we enjoyed ourselves. We had lunch in Hanna but there isn't much there. Make sure to take drinks and snacks or a picnic lunch.

Meant to say that I had wanted to get an earlier stop.

Another thing-we rented a convertible there-definitely the way to go especially on the Road to Hana. Sounds like you want to rest in Maui but if you are in Hawaii for 2 weeks, won't you have the opportunity to do that on the other islands also? I know that is was the best thing we did there although we didn't get the chance to visit Haleakala which will have to be done on the next trip!!

wow-I really can't type- meant an earlier start.

Depends where you are coming from (literally and figuratively). If you've driven Big Sur Highway, the Maine coast, and some of the more spectacular drives in the Caribbean, then the road to Hana is only good. If not, it is a lovely tropical drive, with waterfalls, twists and turns, ocean views.

Yes. It is the best thing you can do on Maui.

It is one of the most scenic drives in the world.

Yes! We did a tour with Valley Isle Excursions. It was a great experience on air conditioned vans that hold a smaller group than some tours with large buses. We didn't need to drive(could sit back & enjoy the view/even the husband). It was such a fabulous time that appealled to all of the 5 senses. There were stops at local roadside stands for fruit, fresh baked banana bread, a winery, general store, flowers & plants at a nursery, waterfalls, a black sand beach, lava tubes, and many more beautiful awewsome views for photo opportunities. It included a breakfast & a hot lunch at a park. We loved it. It was a great way to see alot of the Island. They pick you up at your hotel & return you. We would highly recommend it.

"I usually would say "no" and since you are doing Kauai I'd definitely say no."

I'd say the opposite. Yes do it and since you are doing Kauai, I'd definitely say yes because Kauai unfortunately does not have this type of scenery by road, nor beaches (red and black sand beaches)or atmosphere.

Relax on the beach in Maui after your visit to the BI. I found the road to Hana to be much more trouble than what it was worth. Yes, it is lush and if you are lucky, you might see a waterfall actually flowing (we saw trickles in Sept.) Save your energy for Kauai. The most SPECTACULAR views that far, far surpass the Hana drive are: Waimea Canyon (Grand Canyon of the Pacific), Kalalau Lookout (what you see in most ads for Hawaii), Ke'e Beach (Bali Hai) and a boat (not helicopter) tour of the Na'apali Coast. Incredible!! Maui is beautiful but just does not compare to the dramatic beauty of the BI or Kauai, IMHO.

I say definitely take the time to do the Raod to Hana--it was the highlight of our trip. We rented the GPS audio tour from Geo Trek, and that really saved us time and confusion by telling us where to stop and what to see. We were only on the island for 5 days, but I'm SO glad we spent one of those days driving to Hana.

How long does the entire drive take? Is there a good point to turn around?

If you are only there for a few days, then skip it. It's a full day and can be exhausting, with very little time to properly enjoy it. Be sure to eat at Mama's Fish House though...and there's great snorkeling where you are staying.
But next time spend more time on Maui...it's truly paradise.

Of course, my travel style may be different that others. After enjoying the Hyatt we drug ourselves all the way to the Maui Prince :-). We balanced out little trips out and around the island with lazy days by the pool at the Hyatt and on the beach at the Prince. I enjoyed the Road to Hana very much. My friend hated it. It was a very long day, but we were on Maui for about 10 days that trip so in the scheme of things, it worked out. On a short "weekend" trip, I would vote not to do the road to Hana. The reference to Kauai is because that island offers some of the lushness that they would see on the way to Hana - and are less likely to see on the BI. One of my favorite memories of the trip was stopping and walking around one of the tiny schools. I have great photos from there - some of my favorite photos on the trip. When I go back to the islands, Maui is on the bottom of my list but one day I may do the road to Hana again. It reminded me of a day spent with a local exploring St. Lucia. But, would I do it on a "short weekend visit" to Maui the first time I went to Maui? No. Definitely no for me. The good thing is the OP can read lots of opinions and make their own decision, isn't it?

Aloha eczook..
Being in Maui for only 4 days, I would say no because it really takes a whole day..when you look on a map, you can't believe that its an all day event..
Maybe next trip to Maui.
Have a great time..the islands are beautiful!

Hi - this is just my additional 2 cents...
Unless you really enjoy driving ALL day I would skip the Road to Hana ALTHOUGH it IS a beautiful drive. BUT in that short amount of time spent on the island you can get in many other sights/activities with less driving. Please trust everyone that says this is an ALL DAY event. If you do a search you will find some threads on Maui trips. I looked up my last Maui trip and here's what that day went like:
7am - leave Kapalua area in car
11am - get to Haleakala Park (near 7 Pools/Oheo Gulch) and hike Pipiwai Trail
1:30pm - get back in car to drive around mountains (I am not sure if this part of road will be open yet)
4pm - return to Kapalua
Please note that this trip was accomplished with NO other stops on Hana Road (since we have done this drive twice on past trips) and with a pretty fast-paced driver. Otherwise you will be on the road a LOT longer to see the various waterfalls, maybe take side road to Blue Pool, see other sights, take photos, etc. I hope this helps your decision.

BTW - you are going to love Kaanapali Beach. It's usually beautifully sunny and swimmable there.

I forgot to mention that Kapalua is about 20 minutes farther up the road from Kaanapali (without traffic).

I've done the Road to Hana a few times (just have to declare my level of experience so I don't get flamed like Starrsville did).

IMHO, I much prefer the western loop around the West Maui mountains. It is a much easier drive with gorgeous sweeping views, many fewer cars crawling along, and it didn't take the entire day- just a few hours.

I actually also enjoy driving up Haleakala and experiencing the different ecosystem, flora, and cooler weather upcountry (again, I also love the sweeping views!)

Not worth it. It takes ALL DAY. It is very winding and nauseating with all the twists and turns. There are no rest stops that are clean and there are much more beautiful drives on Maui.

Our biggest disapointment was once we got to Hana after driving all day there was nothing there!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the Hana naysayers! Those of us that love Hana and "get it" love you and thank you for your discouraging words!

Fewer people = more paradise.

Keep up the good work! =D>

With just 3 nights, I would say no. ITA with starrsville. That's one very long day coming from Kannapali. Next time have 5 nights or more on Maui, and go to Hana then.

Our last two trips to Maui, we stayed near Mama's Fish House (in Haiku). That's a much easier spot to visit both Hana and Haleakala from. I would suggest that area for future visits, or spending a couple of nights in Hana.

Hi eczook

I have done the road to Hana and beyond twice. My vote is to skip it, unless you have late (9pm+) flight and do it before you leave. Maui has the best beaches. Spend the days on the beach.

Have Fun
GP

eczook,
I reread you orginal post and noticed that you are staying at KBH. You chose well! It has the best location of any of the hotels in the area. The beachfront there is the best for swimming and the snorkeling at Black Rock is just a short walk away.

And in repsonse to the question, consider driving some of the Road to Hana but not the entire thing. Personally I got a little tired of the drive becauase though it is beautiful, it is quite long. My favorite part was near the beginning. Dh and I got out to hike, got off the beaten path, and found ourselves at a gorgeous waterfall all alone. We went for a swim and it was really wonderful. You can experience the Road without driving all the way to Hana.

I like snowrooster's idea!

be careful about swimming in the pools with the waterfalls. you could get leptospirosis from the wild pig's urinating in the water upstream. if you have open cuts, stay out of the water.

"Our biggest disapointment . . . . there was nothing there!!"

Interesting. Not sure what was expected??

I'm from Maui, and I always find endless beauty everytime I visit Hana. The drive FILLED with gorgeous waterfalls, pools, plant-life, honor-system flowers and fruits . . .just a feast for your senses. Get up extra early. Buy some fresh Banana bread from the roadside stand along the way (can't miss it). Drive it for as long as you feel comfortable and turn around if you want - there a few spots to do that. If you're a laid-back person who appreciates the "nothingness" of tropical island nature - go.

If you come back early enough, hopefully it will be a windy day and you can stop at Hookipa to watch the windsurfers, and then take a stroll through Paia town. If you're there at dinner, grab some fish tacos from Picnics! There's also Mama's Fish House, but I'd say save it for another evening when you can go better dressed;-)

Whatever you do - have a great great time. Hawaii no ka oi.

Aloha!

I totally agree! Hana is amazing. If you're disappointed, you must be blind, have no sense of smell, and not be able to feel the warm breezes. The road to Hana is one of the best parts of Maui if done right. I found some great tips that I follow everytime I go to Hana. Check out www.mauiinformationguide.com/road-to-hana.php for tips, do's and do not's. Do Hana, but do it right, and don't rush.

My niece and nephew did the Road to Hanna (Heaven) and decided to buy a house there. They are selling some property back home and moving with their children. The people that are selling the house are moving back to the states to be with their children.

I must point out that while my nephew was in Jamaica he had a dream about Hawaii and dreamed of some things (with the mile marker on the road). When they went there they found the mile marker, and other things that were in his dreams and fell totally in love with the place.

They can't wait to get back.