I have been reading some controversial comments about Road to Hana. Some people were saying that it's a road what matters, not the destination. Others were writing that they found the ride pretty tiresome and disappointing. I am trying to figure out if it's worth the time and effort if we have only 5 days to spend on the island that we have never been before.
How long does it take to make it all the way to Hana with stops for pictures and short sightseeing? Does it make sense to drive only a part of the road? Is so, at what point to turn back?
All your ideas are welcome.....

I guess it really depends on what you want experience on the island. It is a whole day drive and is very tiring because the curves, so if you really want to just relax on the beach, surf, golf, shop, etc. you might want to skip it since you only have 5 days.

I thought the drive was fantastic, but with only 5 days, I'd probably skip it this time. We've been on Maui at least 5 times over the years and have only done the drive once -- we prefer to relax, and since, like Pam said its an all-day venture, we can't bring ourselves to do it again!

I can't imagine going to Maui and not driving to Hana

I think the people who say the ride is tiresome don't make stops along the way. To me the drive is the best part of the trip. Get a good guide book and choose from the many stops and side trips. My favorite waterfalls in all of HI is Ohe'o Gulch just beyond Hana. With that said here's another option. Take a drive around West Maui. We began with Iao Needle and drove west on the Kapalua Highway toward Lahaina. The mountain scenery is beautiful as are the beaches. There are 2 blowholes that rival the one on Oahu and you can hike down to them. We did the trip in 4 hours, but would take longer if you decided to swim or hang out on the beaches.
You'll love Maui whatever you decide to do.

You don't need to do the whole drive to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Just drive as far as you want until you get tired of the curvy road and then turn around and go back. It's the drive that is scenic so there is no need to go all the way to Hana. Even if you drive only part of the way, you will have experienced what this drive is all about. For some people driving the whole way is exhausting and tedious and that's why some have negative reactions-----but you don't have to do that. Just do as much as you enjoy and then turn around and go back to Mama's Fish House for an awesome hawaiian dining experience.

My husband and I did the drive in May '09 but could only go so far, the road was closed past the little town. The beginning of the "road to Hana" was nothing to brag about so don't get disappointed right away. A friend of mine had drove it years before and told me there is "a waterfall around every corner and sometimes you can feel the spray without leaving your car". Well, she exaggerated, a lot! It was a beautiful drive and I'm glad we did it. We got out several times and hiked to a couple of waterfalls and took lots of pictures. We saw a few people swimming and jumping off ledges into the cool pools below. We packed a cooler with cold drinks and sandwiches and had a picnic lunch on a deserted beach. We took turns driving so each could fully take in the green scenery and get a break from the curvy road. My husband drove the whole way back with no stops and we made it in a quarter of the time. We enjoyed it but once was enough for us as there are so many things to see and do on the island. I agree with the other posters, you don't need to drive the whole way but we were glad we did since we had the time. If you love scenic drives and taking pictures, I recommend it.

I was not a fan of the road to Hana but that's my impatience speaking. I will agree that there are many beautiful sites to see on the road. What I would love to do is spend a night in Hana and not have to drive the road all day.

The fewer days you have on the island the less I am inclined to recommend the drive. There is a degree of truth to the Tee shirts that say "I survived the road to Hana".

With only 5 days on Maui, I would suggest against it since it takes from early morning till sunset.

Aloha

Road to Hana is the best feature on Maui.

If I had one day on Maui it would be Road to Hana. Don't miss it.

The more stops you make the better the trip will be.

Lots of Maui sites including a section on Road to Hana.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g2...ackground.html

Dusty..
Road to Hana 'In your opinion' is the best feature on Maui!

I can think of million other things that Maui has to offer that is better than a car ride for 8 hours..imho

Aloha

I've driven it quite a few times and I think "half-way-to Hana" is a good way to get the experience.

We did the Road to Hana and really enjoyed it. A friend had given us a narration that you pop into your cd/tape player that describes the entire drive as you go along. We stopped and took loads of great pictures and had a lot of fun. For us, it was definitely about the journey and not just the destination. You can go as far as you'd like and turn around when you want to. It took us the entire day - left fairly early and got back after dark.

We've been to Maui many times and have tried the Road to Hana twice and given up each time. We both spend a lot of time in our cars at home with our work commutes, and that much car time on vacation just ruins the fun of it for us. The road itself requires a lot of concentration - it's NOT an easy drive. And when we only have 6 days there, we'd much rather spend it outside, soaking up sun, snorkeling, walking the beach, strolling along the shops at Lahaina - anything but sitting in a car all day.

Thank you everybody for contributing to this discussion. It seems that I have made up my mind after reading all of your posts. I'll save a road for my next trip. Driving that long on the road with endless turns and curves does not sound like a relaxing activity. I am with iowagirl

I would "much rather spend it outside, soaking up sun, snorkeling, walking the beach, strolling along the shops at Lahaina - anything but sitting in a car all day."

I hope at least you'll drive up to Haleakala. I thought scenery on the hike down the Sliding Sand trail was out of this world -- as if I was walking on Mars with the lack of oxygen to augment the feeling.

I agree with ksucat's posts.

The first time I drove the Road to Hana, I was only on Maui for 5 days. It was the highlight of my trip. I stopped several times and enjoyed the day. Half way to the Banana Nut Bread is a good turning around point. However, my opinion is that the banana nut bread down on the Keanea peninsula is better than the bread at the half-way mark. About 17 miles.

One thing no one seemed to mention -- the weather. If it rains all the way -- and that can happen a lot -- it takes a lot out of the enjoyment. I did the drive all the way around, coming into Hana from the south, spending a few days in Hana, and anxiously waiting for my drive on the road "to" Hana when I left. I allowed all day to do that drive with my top down. But the top stayed up and the windshield wipers were on the whole way. That certainly kept that drive from being "the best thing on Maui".

But one thing is clear from all these posts -- different strokes for different folks. I personally can't think of anything much worse than sitting on a towel in the sand on the beach for a few hours. Others can't understand driving past beautiful scenery. We all have different ideas.

I absolutely agree, NeoPatrick! Different strokes for different folks, or like they used to say in the Soviet Union in the time of my childhood, "There are no two comrades who would like the same color and taste"! Even communists agree on that!!!Ha-ha!!!!