Hi,

We'll be in Maui for 7 days (staying on Ka'anapali beach). We have plans to drive up to Haleakala but I have mixed feelings on the Road to Hana. I don't want to spend a whole day doing it, although my travelling companion wants to see the Seven Sacred Pools, which I believe to be at mile marker 42...the end, beyond Hana? I read that in 2006, from mm 40-42, the road was closed due to mudslides, so not even sure that would be an option. Does anyone know? From everything I've read, it sounds beautiful and incredible but just not sure I want to do it since we'll be there just a week (I already know it will be too short!). Also, can someone suggest a shortened version of the drive so we can see some beautiful sites but not take a whole day. Thanks.

Something that might be helpful to you is to get the CD for the Road to Hana. A friend gave it to me as a gift, but I think she bought it online - it's a fully narrated tour, complete with sights, mile makers, etc. that you can play. As you drive, it says, "Look to your left and see surfers, waterfall, church" etc., whatever the point of interest is. I thought we'd be able to swim at the Seven Sacred Pools, but there was a big sign stating that you could be swept out to sea and that sharks wait at the bottom of the dropoff.

Unless things have changed in the last month or so, one cannot drive all the way around as the road is closed past Kipahulu. You can get to Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools) though.

We were there earlier this month and drove as far round as possible which was Kipahulu/Charles Lindberg's grave area.

Gina, the shortened version IS the one-day trip. That's if you head down to Hana, with perhaps four or five stops along the way, and head back up the same day. The longer version would involve an overnight stay (possibly a couple of days) in Hana.

After you leave Paia, the colorful little town at the top of the drive, there are several opportunities for a splash in a pool at the bottom of a waterfall, and you should avail of this. Kenai Peninsula is quite pretty, but can be seen from an overlook off the highway, rather than driving down to it. There's an arboretum along the way as well, with a bamboo forest and other native flora, and some other botanic gardens farther along. And so, there are myriad waterfalls with natural pools on the inland side, each more inviting than the other, and vista points on the ocean side, with gorgeous views, and sprinklings of botanic gardens, until you get to Hana. And the road has more twists and turns than I can remember anywhere else. The Seven Sacred Pools are a few miles past Hana.

I notice you mention Haleakala. I will give you this advice, if you plan on doing sunrise up there, do not do the road to Hana the same day - it is way too long of a trip/day. I have done this in the past, driving the entire away around on the return (this was almost 10 years ago).

I am returning to Maui in Oct (10 yr anniv!) and we are planning on doing the road to Hana again. Last time, by the time we got to the 7 Pools we were exhausted and it was getting late. This time we will start our day early and go directly to the 7 Pools, then we will double back the same way and stop as we choose to. This is not the way it is recommended to do the Rd to Hana, but I have done it a # of times and have seen many of the different sites already.

I recently read that you can drive about 1/2 mile past MM 40 but you still cannot drive all the way around.

Have a wonderful trip! When are you going?!

Just a note on the mile markers:

When you reach Hana, the numbers start going down even as you continue to Seven Pools. This is because you will change from Highway 360 to Highway 31.

Hana is about mile marker 50 from either direction. Seven Pools is beyond Hana at mile marker 42 on Highway 31.

Lindbergh's Grave is about mile marker 41. It is about 1/4 mile off the main highway.

The road closes just past Lindbergh's grave about mile marker 40.

That is about where most rental cars were not supposed to go beyond anyway.

Don't know when you are going, but the road is supposed to open sometime around October.

You can purchase Road to Hana Mile By Mile.

Here are some links with some good info about some of the stops along the way.

http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/drives/maui/rthp1.htm First half. You can continue to second half. You can also click on: Printer Friendly Version

http://www.hawaiidrive-o.com/road-to-hana.html

http://www.hanalanihideaway.com/hana.php

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

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. We arrive in Maui on Wed. 5/28 mid-day, after having spent 3 days on West Coast (SF/Sonoma). We're from East Coast, so hoping by the time we get to Maui, we'll be on our way to time-zone adjustments. Would like to do Haleakala our first or 2nd morning (guessing we'll still be up early) and Hana day 3 or 4. Am very excited as this is my first trip to Hawaii.

Space the two trips at least 2 days apart; otherwise you'll just be spending too much concentrated time in the car.

I just did the road to Hana again. The first time was 11 years ago. It will take the WHOLE day. The pools suck. Not worth the trip to see them. Hana is nice though but I would rather spend the day on a beach than in a car.
The road to Hana is crowded with SLOW drivers. The locals get on your ass and force you to pull over so they can pass. Which was fine. Just don't go all that way to see the pools. A better drive was north on west Maui. past Kapalua (sp). Scary but scenic. Makes the road to Hana look like a highway.

Here's an update on the road's condition, from this morning's Honolulu Star-Bulletin:
http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/24/news/whatever.html

We have done the drive 3 times and leave very early to avoid the slow drivers. By 09:30-10:00am we are already at the Red Sand Beach.

Just returned from Paradise - it truly is beautiful! We opted not to do the Road to Hana, partly because we only had a week there. We did drive up to Haleakala for sunrise. It was incredible. To be above the clouds but still see the crater! To watch as the sun peeked through a hole in the clouds as it rose - it seemed like my own personal sunrise. Words cannot describe it. Truly magical.

Always have to leave something to do on a return trip, Road to Hana awaits ;-) Thanks everyone for your hints/advice.