Road to Hana

[scrivener]

Two friends and I are going to Maui for a few days. One wants us to take the rental to Hana. The other, a transplant, has probably never been. I haven't been to Hana since my fifth-grade year, when I went there on a class trip.

It was always my impression that one is better off signing up with a tour and letting someone else drive, but I admit that my friend's idea of driving ourselves is tempting. We're both good drivers, and if we take turns behind the wheel, perhaps it won't be so much stress on one person.

What would you advise? I'd really love to hear from people who've actually driven there.

[LikaNui]

I've always done it in my own car rather than a tour. With your own wheels you can do it at your own pace, stop where you feel like stopping and stay at a stop as long as you want, etc. Just more control that way.
[/two cents]

[oggboy]

For locals rent a car and start out early, depending on where your coming from Lahaina, Kihei or Central Maui remember there`s others heading out to Hana including alot of tour companies. Best bet is to be on the Hana Hiway by 7a.m. to avoid the tour companies coming behind by 8a.m. Also remember the rules of the road to Hana. You will encounter alot of local traffic coimg out of Hana heading to Central Maui, Work/ Doctor`s Appt./ Shopping for the day. So let them go by b-4 continuing on. Drive with caution if its raining especially when you get to Kailua all the way to Keana`e. And no forget da camera. For the tourist I`d recommend they take a tour company, it`s less stressful and more imformative with a tour guide. Have a good one in Hana Maui......OGGBOY:)

[scrivener]

Thanks for the advice...that's really helpful! When I went in fifth grade, we went around counter-clockwise. I guess that's good for the passengers, but wouldn't it be better for the driver to go clockwise?

We'll be staying in Wailuku, by the way.

[shaveice]

all good advice. imho, the drive isn't that stressful. i'm sure many drivers (like me) have done it without switching drivers but if you have more than one driver, it definitely would make it that much easier. plus it'd give everyone a chance to just enjoy the sights.

yup, go early to avoid the long line of cars and be sure to take your digital camera and/or your video recorder...

ps: if you're on a budget, be sure to take some snacks with you. the price of stuff in hana will make you think you're in an airport!

pss: go with a full tank of gas...

[MixedPlateBroker]

I wholeheartedly recommend the road to Hana as a DIY adventure. I've been lucky enough to roll to Hana four times and can't imagine doing it without feeling the breeze in your hair and taking in the crisp ocean air.

There are a few caveats, however. Do not take anything larger than a midsize, or you will be hating life. Many sections of the road narrow to a single lane and even the wide sections are svelte by Oahu standards. Your ideal vessel would be a small convertible or sedan. It's also a good idea to wave ahead the local residents to avoid becoming the lead car in a parade procession. And counter-clockwise travel can be made with much less anxiety by having your front-seat passenger scan the road ahead for you. *knuckle-bumps Cyn*

Something you may want to check out is http://www.hangglidingmaui.com/index.html. My better half and I first discovered this last year and we'd do it again in a heartbeat. The unobstructed views of the Hana coastline, forest and Haleakala are priceless. The kicker was the unpowered portion of the flight when all you hear are the wind rushing past and the waves crashing hundreds of feet below. Oh, and in over a decade of operation they have a 100% safety record. :D

[Kungpao]

my wife and i did the trip in our rental seabring vert with the Audio CD guide. I couldn't imagine having to take the trip in a tour bus with other people. The inability to stop and stare at the wonders along the way would just kill me. It was one of the most memorable experiences my wife and I had on our honeymoon. I mean postcard paradise dream vacation type lol. Complete with secluded black sand beach and waterfall lagoon!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/kungpao/Hana/DSC01494.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/kungpao/Hana/croppedfor5x7.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/kungpao/Hana/DSC01509.jpg

[oggboy]

More info for you, you can no longer drive pass Kipahulu, or the Pool`s of O`heo. Do to the dangers of falling rocks as you go pass Hanawi and on to Kaupo. So its recommended one drive in and another driver coing out. The local residents in Kipahulu and Kaupo are really upset because they are cut of from the Hana areas. Also advise that you check up on weather b-4 heading out. Let me know how your drive to Hana went. OGGBOY

[tikiyaki]

I've heard so much about the road to Hana. Pardon my ignorance, but why exactly is it such a tiring drive. isn't Maui a small island ? Is it treacherous ?

What exactly is it about this road/trip that makes it such a popular attraction ?

Again, sorry for the ignorance. I've not yet been to Maui, and as much as I really wanna go there, the idea of it being so traffic-y and crowded, makes me want to avoid it, and go to Kauai next time, or stick with the BI.

[cynsaligia]

I've heard so much about the road to Hana. Pardon my ignorance, but why exactly is it such a tiring drive. isn't Maui a small island ? Is it treacherous ?

What exactly is it about this road/trip that makes it such a popular attraction ?

Again, sorry for the ignorance. I've not yet been to Maui, and as much as I really wanna go there, the idea of it being so traffic-y and crowded, makes me want to avoid it, and go to Kauai next time, or stick with the BI.

don't let the size of the island fool you into thinking it can't be a long ride. it definitely is long--a guidebook we had suggested you set aside four hours for one way because even if it's "only" about 50 or 60 miles, you will often slow down to five mph. that eric and i did lahaina to hana in two and a half hours and then hana to kapalua in two and a quarter on a weekday is note-worthy for a non-mauian, i understand. it's hella bendy, and it demands a level of attentiveness that one usually does not require. the ride is beautiful--lush rainforest, lotsa pretty waterfalls framed by moss-speckled bridges. you will want to stop a lot. eric and i didn't stop even once bcs we were on a tight schedule, and, having driven it four times, he's a as much of a hana highway expert an oahu country boy can be. but, as eric said, lots of sections slim down to one lane and you constantly have to be mindful of the oncoming traffic as well as the pedestrians ogling the sights from the side of the road. also, if you're used to straight roads, hana, with its ukumillion five hundred billion twists, can make you sick if you're a passenger, and exceedingly stressedl if you're a driver.

a lot of our hana highway conversation was peppered with this:

HIM: clear?
ME: *craning my neck to look at the road ahead, which bends into a U* clear.

or:

ME: slow down, babe. car coming.

two more suggestions:

when you pick a car, consider one with a sunroof. it's glorious to be able to look at the vegetation and sky as you go along. however, a true convertible might be humbug unless you're wearing a cap bcs we were often blessed with liquid sunshine made cold by the fact we were up in the mountains.

secondly, and i cannot stress this enough: be mindful of the drivers behind you. if you notice someone behind you who seems to want to go faster than you are, PULL THE HECK OVER AND LET THEM PASS. many of them are locals who are just trying to get to kahului or hana for practical reasons, and it'll burn them to no end if you obliviously meander and hog the road.

[tikiyaki]

Got it. Thanx.

I guess I have to put Maui on my list. :)

[shaveice]

i forgot to add this: everyone knows about the seven sacred pools but if you've got the time, park your car and head up the falls. there are, of course, more than seven pools and what you'll encounter is pretty awesome. use common sense, of course, and don't be careless near any cliff...

[oggboy]

The Pool`s of O`heo, not 7 Scared Pool`s/ Kipahulu, Maui

[Leo Lakio]

The Pool`s of O`heo, not 7 Scared Pool`s/ Kipahulu, MauiThe Pool's what? And why is it Scared? (Well, if we're in the mood to be making corrections... :p )

[oggboy]

Nothing Scared about it, check with the Haleakala Nat`l Park website or do some checking on your own.........

[Ms_Aloha_Nui]

The road to Hana must be enjoyed by everyone - kama`aina and malahini alike! I get to Hana at least once a month-sometimes I make the drive from Kahului other times I fly directly into Hana....just depends on my mood...but if you have the time and the patience I say drive yourself in....the scenery is beautiful and taes my breath away every SINGLE time....you can stop and smell the flowers - the gingers are breathtaking, the puakenikeni just wonderful...not to mention the lilikoi and guava along way (among other fruits).

The road past Hana, into Kipahulu and Ohe'o is open. The temporary bridge was installed and it's passable...once in Kipahulu also visit John and Tweetie Lind at Kapahu, it's a living, working, breathing farm....with acres of taro and a beautiful waterfall to hike to and swim in...the waterfall is breathtaking. Here's the website: http://kipahulu.org/. Say hello to Uncle John and Aunty Tweetie...tell them T.J. (that's me!) says hello and I can't for Taro Festival (http://tarofestival.org/).

Once you're out that way, go a little more and visit the pools of Ohe'o. I'm not sure if the hiking trail to the waterfall on the mauka side is open, but it's just beautiful! Take some kind of mosquito repellant though...the mosquitos are quite hungry up there. On that side of the street you will find guava, purple plums, and just a whole lot of God's work going on.....But cross the road to the makai side and stop in at the ranger station to check on trail conditions before you continue on.....the ranger there is very knowledgable about that valley and he loves to share this knowledge.

Can you tell that I love Hana???????? While in Hana visit Hana Bay, you just might catch a fishing boat coming in with some akule or maybe a diver or 2 has some lobster as well. There's also a museum on the mauka side of Hana Bay and of course you must take a walk up to Fagan's Cross....yes, the groceries and food is a little pricey, but how often will you get to Hana??????

Enjoy!

[Ms_Aloha_Nui]

The road to Hana must be enjoyed by everyone - kama`aina and malahini alike! I get to Hana at least once a month-sometimes I make the drive from Kahului other times I fly directly into Hana....just depends on my mood...but if you have the time and the patience I say drive yourself in....the scenery is beautiful and taes my breath away every SINGLE time....you can stop and smell the flowers - the gingers are breathtaking, the puakenikeni just wonderful...not to mention the lilikoi and guava along way (among other fruits).

The road past Hana, into Kipahulu and Ohe'o is open. The temporary bridge was installed and it's passable...once in Kipahulu also visit John and Tweetie Lind at Kapahu, it's a living, working, breathing farm....with acres of taro and a beautiful waterfall to hike to and swim in...the waterfall is breathtaking. Here's the website: http://kipahulu.org/. Say hello to Uncle John and Aunty Tweetie...tell them T.J. (that's me!) says hello and I can't wait for Taro Festival (http://tarofestival.org/).

Once you're out that way, go a little more and visit the pools of Ohe'o. I'm not sure if the hiking trail to the waterfall on the mauka side is open, but it's just beautiful! Take some kind of mosquito repellant though...the mosquitos are quite hungry up there. On that side of the street you will find guava, purple plums, and just a whole lot of God's work going on.....But cross the road to the makai side and stop in at the ranger station to check on trail conditions before you continue on.....the ranger there is very knowledgable about that valley and he loves to share this knowledge.

Can you tell that I love Hana???????? While in Hana visit Hana Bay, you just might catch a fishing boat coming in with some akule or maybe a diver or 2 has some lobster as well. There's also a museum on the mauka side of Hana Bay and of course you must take a walk up to Fagan's Cross....yes, the groceries and food is a little pricey, but how often will you get to Hana??????

Enjoy!

[Ms_Aloha_Nui]

It doesn't matter what size car you drive....I've driven a full-sized van, an SUV, and a compact car....it doesn't matter.....COURTESY should be a given!

Personally, I feel safer in an SUV because it's high and I can see everything...

[tikiyaki]

Wow, Ms AlohaNui...great site with the panoramic views. Now I see why you love Hana so much.

Definitely putting Maui on the list for next trip.

[oggboy]

Gotta love the drive out to Hana. I usually stay with the Ohana in Ko`ale or Maka`lae. Getting away from the stress just for a little bit, this is the place to unwind..............

[Ms_Aloha_Nui]

This was held yesterday, 3.21.07, and honored Uncle Eddie Pu of Kipahulu...just another beautiful person to visit in Hana, Maui....





Maui park ranger, musicians to be honored at Capitol

Advertiser Staff

Former Haleakala National Park Ranger and Maui lifeguard Eddie Pu will be honored by the state House of Representatives today along with the performers and producers who worked together on the Grammy award-winning album, "Legends of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar — Live from Maui."
Pu and the album participants will be recognized on the House floor with a presentation at noon and both will be honored from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the fourth floor of the state Capitol by the Legislature's Hawaiian Caucus.

[alohabear]

I love Hana too...just take it slow and enjoy the views.