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Arial
view of beachside town Hana 1 |
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Often referred to as a highway
to heaven, the Road to Hana
is a 55 mi (89 km) long road carved into the side of Maui
Island that offers amazing sights and a multitude of attractions along
the way. Ideal for the outdoor ennthusiast, the highway is a twisting, curving
road for the adventurous that consists of about 600 sketchy curves and about
59 bridges, more than half of which are one-lane bridges. Not for the faint
of heart, this daylong road trip could be one of the better experiences a tourist
can have on Maui but if not fully prepared, it could be a treacherous trip.
However, for those brave enough to attempt it, this ultimate road trip awards
travelers with some of Hawaii's
most impressive sights and oceanfront views along the way.
CLIMATE
Weather conditions on Maui
can vary greatly depending on elevation and location. Summertime in Hana and
area sees temperatures range from about 68º F (20ºC) to 84º F (29ºC). Generally,
December to February are the coolest months in this small town with temperatures
ranging from 64ºF (18ºC) to 79ºF (26ºC). Early spring is one of the wettest
times of the year for the town with an average of about 10 in (25 cm) of precipitation
per month. One of the better times to make the Road to Hana trip is just after
this rainy season in late May or early June because waterfalls are swollen with
rainwater and thus more impressive.
GEOGRAPHY
Hana Highway, officially
Highway 360, is located on the northeastern side of the island of Maui. About
68 mi (109 km) long, it roughly begins at Kahului
and extends to Hana, unofficially ending a little past the farm town of Kipahulu.
The highway runs along the north and east sides of Mount Haleakala
and goes through lush rainforests, pasturelands and taro fields. This paved
road is generally well maintained yet consists of various twists, turns, and
one-lane bridges. Without stopovers, the road takes about two hours to travel
by car. Sights and attractions along the way include swimming holes, beaches
and countless roadside waterfalls.
TRANSPORTATION
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Winding
curves on Hana Highway 2 |
Renting a vehicle is essential
in order to travel the Road to Hana. Fortunately, there are various rental
options on Maui ranging from cars
and trucks to environmentally friendly vehicles. If traveling alone
or with a partner, a motorcycle
could be a great and fun option. Otherwise, perhaps the best way to travel this
winding and sometimes unforgiving road is to rent a jeep. For an added bonus,
jeeps with removable soft tops offer a cool breeze for those warm Maui days.
There are also a few important
points to remember when driving on Maui. When giving directions, locals will
often use the terms mauka and makai rather than north and south or east and
west. Mauka means towards the mountain, or Mount Haleakala, and makai means
towards the sea. In addition to this, the speed limit for most of Hana Highway
is 15 mi (24 km) per hour. It is important to respect this limit, especially
when driving on one-lane-wide areas, bridges or approaching and driving on curves.
For those not wanting to
drive the highway, many tour
companies offer daytrips along the Road to Hana with frequent stops
at the more popular roadside attractions.
FEATURED ATTRACTIONS
Paia
Located on Maui's North Shore, the historical plantation town of Paia
is the last real rest stop before embarking on the Road to Hana. The town is
a place of unique shops
and boutiques filled with culture and a casual Hawaiian atmosphere.
The town's restaurants
also offer visitors with a wide range of culinary specialties to choose from,
including Hawaiian,
vegetarian,
seafood
and cafes.
While here, travelers should take the time to fill up on water, snacks and essentials
before embarking on the road trip. There are no gas stations along Hana Highway
but a full tank leaving from Paia is enough to make it through the trip. Additionally,
the best time to make the trip is on a weekday early in the morning long before
sunrise in order to avoid the Hana Highway tourist rush. When first leaving
Paia, Hana Highway will be marked as Highway 36. A sign naming Highway 360 is
the point where travelers should reset their mile markers so as not to miss
the attractions along the way.
Mile Markers
At mile marker two, travelers will encounter Twin
Falls, the first waterfall and natural pool along the Road the Hana.
The falls are about a five-minute hike from the road along a clear trail while
a larger pool is about 10 more minutes up the trail. The falls themselves are
a gentle flow of water and make a great place for a morning dip.
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Looking
up in Maui's bamboo forest 3 |
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Just past mile marker seven
is a spectacular bamboo forest that offers great photo opportunities. Drivers
can pull over at Kaaiea Bridge to explore and hike through the forest with its
stunning long, thin bamboo stalks towering quite a few feet up. The Koolau Forest
Reserve at mile marker nine is also a suitable place for a hike. It is a lush
green area filled with guava, mango and avocado trees. With its clear trail,
the area is excellent for families.
Puohokamoa
Falls, a 30-foot-tall waterfall, can be found at mile marker 11. The
falls are located in the Garden
of Eden Arboretum and with its deep pool, are a suitable place for swimming.
However, this popular area can get congested with tourist traffic.
An ideal place to stop for
a needed break is Kaumahina
State Wayside Park at mile marker 12. This is an eight acre (3 ha) forested
rest stop complete with restrooms, picnic tables and picturesque views of the
northeast Maui coastline. However, showers and drinking water are not available
in this area.
Between mile marker 16 and
17 travelers will find the Keanae
Arboretum, a tropical park and botanical garden. The area features a
number of trails that takes visitors through the rainforest where they may enjoy
tropical plants, flowers and foliage. Directly after the arboretum just past
mile marker 17 is the Halfway to Hana food stand that sells drinks, snacks and
very famous banana bread.
Just after mile marker 19
is a great photo opportunity at Wailua
Valley State Wayside Park. Visitors to this stop will find a staircase
that will lead them to the Keanae Lookout. This lookout offers views of the
northern Maui coastline including Keanae Valley complete with taro fields and
a few waterfalls.
Upper
Waikani Falls, also known as Three Bears Falls, is located between mile
marker 19 and 20. Accessible by a short path, these popular falls are 70 ft
(21 m) tall and cascade in three side-by-side sections when water flow is not
heavy. During high flow, the swollen waterfall merges into one.
Another ideal place for
a swim is located between mile marker 22 and 23 at Puaa
Kaa State Wayside Park. Made up of five acres (2 ha) of tropical rain
forest, the park offers a softly falling waterfall and numerous natural pools
accessible by a path. Amenities at this park include public restrooms, a picnic
area and telephones but no drinking water.
For those desiring to move
off the highway, the small community of Nahiku is located on Nahiku Road two
and a half miles (4 km) off Hana Highway a little past mile marker 25. The stopover
at this former rubber plantation town offers guests with the opportunity to
stock up on fruit from local fruit stands. Nahiku Road will also take travelers
straight down to the Pacific Ocean for some spectacular views.
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Heleleikeoha
Falls, also known as Blue Pool 4 |
Back on the highway at mile
marker 31 and about three miles (5 km) into Ulaino Road is Heleleikeoha
Falls, also known as Blue Pool. Well worth the visit, this picturesque
area offers a light waterfall with a natural pool that faces the ocean. The
rocks from which this waterfall cascades shelter this little oasis making it
a perfect place for a relaxing swim.
Hana
Airport can be found back on the highway just before mile marker 32,
Waianapanapa
State Park. This small single runway airport includes a hang
gliding company where the adventurous can hang glide over the Hana coastline
and view waterfalls, rainforests and even Haleakala Crater. For those not brave
enough for this adventure, Waianapanapa State Park is a well-maintained area
with picnic tables, a restroom and cabins for rent. Here, visitors will find
Oneuli
Beach, also known as Black Sand Beach because of the dark, fine volcanic
rocks that make up the beach. A lava tube cave and natural blowhole that sprays
seawater are also located here. This popular park situated just outside Hana
is an ideal place for snorkeling, hiking and swimming in the water pools near
the lava caves.
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Natural pools
at Oheo Gulch 5 |
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Hana
At the end of the road trip
is the small quiet town of Hana,
a place for visitors to relax and enjoy an old Hawaiian way of life. If possible,
visitors should spend the night in Hana in order to benefit fully from this
relaxing atmosphere after a daylong drive. The famous Hotel
Hana-Maui is a popular accommodation spot for those traveling the Road
to Hana. The town also offers a few restaurants,
shops, fresh
fruit stands and numerous beaches
including a red
sand beach.
After a night's rest, travelers
should take the time to visit a final well-worth site before turning back. Oheo
Gulch, better known as the Seven Sacred Pools, is located about 45 minutes
after Hana and off the highway near Haleakala
National Park. This final highlight on the Road to Hana road trip is
a beautiful site with fresh water lava pools perfect for swimming. The area
features a series of small waterfalls that flow into several consecutive pools
finally reaching the nearby ocean. Picnicking, hiking and swimming are great
options here. For access to the pools, visitors should park at nearby Haleakala
National Park and walk about 15 minutes to the site. Public washrooms are available.
PHOTO COURTESY
- Aerial views
of beachside town Hana; Hana, HI, USA
- Winding curves
on Hana Highway; Maui, HI, USA
- Looking up Maui's
bamboo forest; Maui, HI, USA
- Ron Dahlquist;
Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau; Heleleikeoha Falls, also known
as Blue Pool; Maui, HI, USA
- Ron Dahlquist;
Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau; The natural pools at Oheo Gulch;
Maui, HI, USA
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