Which way to drive to Hana?
 

We will be in Maui in February and have never driven the road to Hana. We are in our 30's, love to hike and are avid photographers. We have several days with no specific itinerary and no hotel reservations yet.

Any suggestions on which way to drive the loop (clockwise or counterclockwise)? Even though we are tourists, we'd rather be heading in the opposite direction of the tourists!

Any suggestions on where to make hotel reservations?

Here is our specific itinerary:
Thursday Arrive at Kahului airport at 4pm (no hotel reservations yet)
Friday (No plans or hotel reservations yet)
Saturday (No plans or hotel reservations yet)
Sunday Will check into our hotel in Lahaina in the late afternoon

It is not sure you can make a Loopdrive to Hana. Official the road after 7 sacred pools is not always open to rental cars. Maybe if you have a 4wd and if it is during a dry period Otherwise you have to drive the same road (north/west of hana) back.

Could anyone else shed light on whether the road is open?

I have driven to Hana Four times. Twice I have taken the "forbidden" road which goes along the south end of the island beyond Haleakala NP. Both times I have done it in standard passenger cars, once a mustang and once a Tauris. There is about a ten mile stretch just beyond Haleakala NP that is very narrow, and unpaved. That is relatively slow going, particularly is there is another car ahead of you. After that the road becomes a bumpy paved road for another 10 miles or so, then turns into a decent secondary paved road. I think going that way cuts about an hour off of you trip back to West Maui, mainly because there isn't much traffic. By the time you go to Oleo Gulch, no matter what you do you are going to be in traffic if you go back through Hana.

My suggestion would be to take the Road to Maui (counter clockwise), leave early in the morning, on a weekend if you can to avoid commercial traffic. Stop by the Kiosk and pick up a Road To Maui Narration CD. It points out a lot of stuff you would miss on your own. Plan on a full day, make all the stops, buy some of the locally made road side goodies, have a quick lunch in Hana (pr [pack a lunch) then travel on to oleo Gulch. Hike past the pools to the waterfalls, see the bamboo forest and then when most of the rest of the crowds are turning east to head back, head west on the "forbidden road". Be sure to take plenty of water and a full tank of gas as there is nothing beyone Haleakala NP going west for quite a ways. Obvioulsy I enjoy the trip.

The only caveat to this, if the weather is stormy, do not take the back road, it is very prone to flash floods.

The road is legal for rental cars, because it is continually "improved." (Plus, it's way better than it was even 5 years ago. Easily drivable.) However, you probably want to go with the traffic flow on the part between Hana and Kahului--the road is just too narrow to be dodging people coming the other way, esp. at the end of a day. The earlier the start, the better.

Spokaneman, several questions for you:

Did you mean start the drive from Kahului and drive Clockwise? You stated Counter Clockwise in your reply.

Where are the kiosks that have the Road to Maui CD's? Will they be open in the late afternoon on the day we fly into Maui? Hopefully so that way we can get an early start the next morning.

If I understood you correctly, you are recommending doing the entire loop in one day. Is this correct? If so, do you have any other recommendations for accomodations elsewhere?

Thanks so much to everyone who has responded!

Oops, you are right, start out Clockwise, the "normal" way. Head toward the airport and hang a right on the Hana Highway. You cannot miss it.

The Kiosk is right next to Micky D, just before you turn right on the Hana Highway, at the (Shell?) gas station, I think. Ask at the activity desk at your hotel, sometimes guests leave them in the rooms so you might get one for free, but (in my opinion) do not go without one. It makes for a much more entertaining trip.

I've never done anything but day trips, but sometime I would like to spend a couple of days at the Hotel Hana Maui, but it is fairly pricy. Something in the back of my mind says that the YMCA has some hostel type accomodations somewhere along the route. I remember seeing it some years ago but I don't remember where. Other that that I am not aware of anything, it is mostly farming country out there.

I'm not sure when they close, but I bet they would be open as you leave the airport, you will go right by it. They have ads in all of the brochures (maui Gold etc) with phone numbers. If you are staying in W Maui, you would not want to make a special trip to pick up the CD, it is a bit of a drive. I know they open by 7:00 AM which is plenty early enough to get started.

The road past the seven pools sucks. I hated going that way and would never do it again. I'm also wierd as i like to stay in Huelo so go figure.

Many people make the Hana run in one day. Early morning out to Hana , afternoon, or late afternoon back. Adds up to lots of traffic going and coming.

Suggestion: (1) Stay in Hana over night or poss. two. - no need to rush then.
(2) Make the drive opposite the heavy traffic. Go out to Hana in the afternoon, stay a day or two, return in the morning hours. Heavy traffic will be going the other way.

One person drive on the way out, the other on the way back. That way each gets to "see a little more".

Can't comment on the road from 7 scared ponds. Considered it, but passed on the idea. Why bother.

But do make the drive around the west end of the island....wonderful.

You should travel the road beyond Oheo because it offers views you cannot see coming east, clockwise, from Paia.

However, as titillating as it might be to take the road less traveled [though even tour buses take that stretch], there is a practical consideration that weighs in favor of convention. There are hairpin, cliff hugging, single-lane narrow turns in places along the road. If you meet a car in such a spot that is coming clockwise, you must back up your car on the outside of a cliff side road.

Enjoy your sojourn.