By far the majority of people turn around once they reach Hana and drive the same road back to Paia. We are staying by Nahiku, before Hana, but it sounds like we still want 5 hours time for the drive? And, they also did do another one-lane road drive on Maui and for that drive, they DID think that the West Mauis back road was scary! Most of the photos courtesy of Natalie Brown Photography. That is such a shame for you both, but it is understandable, and probably the right decision. Most of the road is one lane with pullouts. Three Bears Falls. Narrowed it down to a certain location? It's very isolated, no cell service and prohibited by all the major (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? In ancient times most of the Hawaiians lived in this area opposed to current day West Maui or South Maui. The Road to Hana actually goes beyond the town of Hana, all the way to Haleakala National Park. So if the Road is not particularly dangerous, or even that scary why does it have such a fearsome reputation, and why are so many terrified of the road? Driving in a caravan (even when you dont know the other people) takes away a LOT of the stress of creeping around blind corners plus the lead car has to sort out all of the passing issues with other cars ; ). Located at the extreme southeast of the island of Maui, the city of Hana is like another island. Carretera a los Yungas ( Bolivia) Locally known as the 'route of death', this Bolivian road is 80 km long and considered by many as the world's most dangerous road. While most of the road has been repaved in the last twenty years, Hawaii Route 200 still has a dangerous reputation. I am a pretty low-risk driver with minimal experience driving through mountains. So heres the scenario: people read about long lines of cars, limited parking spaces, and crowded hikes, waterfalls, etc. Maui Tourism Guide Our Guide to Travel and Tourism on Maui Hawaii, Maui, Hawaii Attractions All the Best Things to do in Maui, Hawaii, Best Place to Stay on Maui, Hawaii Our Guide on Where to Stay in Maui, Hawaii. other than a slight hindrance to your rate of progress there is nothing to worry about. Fewer tourists lodge here than in other Maui locales, and in the morning it is quiet and peaceful. If you couldnt look out and see the ocean, youd probably think you were in parts of Texas or another western state. There are 620 bends, many of them extremely sharp or hairpin turns, over the course of that 64 miles. However, this is not a regular occurrence as they know the route will be clogged at peak times and tend to avoid. Is the Road to Hana Worth it? You can help by pulling over to let people faster than you by, there is nothing to be gained by holding someone up, they will get increasingly angry, more erratic, and make your trip far more uncomfortable. The drive to Hana is known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world with waterfalls, beaches, history, and views (you can even see the Big Island in some parts). How necessary is it to have a 4 wheel drive vehicle for this drive? Also to note, the Hawaii tourism people do encourage you to do a Road to Hana tour because of the potential dangers of the Road to Hana. Hana Highway, also known as the Road to Hana, runs for more than 64 miles along state Highways 360 and 36, connecting Hana in east Maui with Kahului. The Shaka guide tours are great for independent explorers who want the freedom to explore on their own terms, but like to learn about the spots theyre visiting. Bring cash: most places on this part of the island dont except credit cards. Here the road is exposed to some fairly large drops, however, these are all behind Armco rails and there are no large unprotected drops. ANSWER. The rainforest trail starts near the National park visitors center and takes you past 2 waterfall outlooks, an ancient banyan tree, through a magical bamboo forest and eventually to the awe inspiring 400 foot Waimoku Falls. 3 hrs from the airport. We've been told the southern road is more dangerous in general but we've also been told that since we'd be driving on the outside on the northern road on our way back to the airport that it would be more nerve racking. Here they sell fresh fruits, smoothies and coffees all grown locally on their farm. It is then easy to imagine that people from Urban Los Angeles, used to colossal Freeways (which put the fear of God into us!) But it comes with risks and possibly some stress. Why drive 1 hour to west side to trun around and come back to central (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? If you need road assistance it's cash costing $800-1200 if and when a tow truck comes. Next youll see a rainbow colored sign, thats the Kaupo store. Who thinks of these things? Also known as State Highway 340, it also happens to be one of the most dangerous roads in Maui. Yes, it would not be fun to break down on the backside of the road to Hana or have a flat tire, but guess what? 1-2 Week Maui Itinerary, Best Time to Visit: Best Time to Visit Maui. We did the Road many years ago when it was more of a cow path. If you are in charge of the directions and finding the stops, that is one less thing to distract the driver and gives you something to do. Well over 50 in total and most of the single lane for both directions. We would love to hear from those who braved the road though. There is no beach, but the rocky coastline is spectacular as far as scenery goes. We know for most people the Hana Highway is fine. Encourage them to take things easy and to explain themselves when driving. My girlfriend. Should I be confident in my ability to do this drive with precious cargo (my girlfriend's and my own life)? While the area around the falls is inside private property (Wailele Farm), it is easily accessible to the . Is this even possible? There are closer beaches to the airport like in Kihei which is considered south Maui. Our guide had lots of experience in driving to Hana via the southern route, thus making it much safer compared to attempting it on our own! Yes this is going to be a long day but I promise its worth it! Just three of the many many reasons to love the Road to Hana. My post captions are full of travel tips and I have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info. Nahiku Marketplace. For comparison, there was a mom and daughter duo that I met at the Maui hostel that I was staying at who did the back road to Hana, and they thought it was fine. I will say, the paved road is still pretty narrow and even though theres no drop off on either side, if you see a local (anyone really) coming to meet you, pull over as far as you can and stop where theres a good place because they will come BLAZING through. Charged Cameras - Many photo opps await you! They will be miserable. I have sprinkled some affiliate links in this post. The Road to Hana is by its very nature one of the most dangerous things you will do on your Maui Vacation! It is a tough question to answer as if we accept this is an irrational fear it can be hard to put your finger on what exactly is the trigger! GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS TN NC 1. Snorkeling at Molokini is one of the best things to do in Kihei. Hazards aside, you're not giving yourself nearly enough time in either direction. It's one of the most beautiful drives in the world. If you pay for your monthly expenses on the card and are responsible about paying it off every month, the points add up really fast. ***Want to get FREE flights to Hawaii? However, it also comes with a fearsome reputation, and strikes fear into the hearts of many. And if youre driving clockwise around the island, you will need to yield to them since theyre on the outside lane (which means you have the inside lane and it feels MUCH safer). It connects the town of Hana with the city of Kahului. Bug Spray - Mosquitos love Hana tourists. Subscribe for Hawaii Travel Tips, my Latest Content and Much More. As always, I would never recommend a product or service that I didn't truely believe in. We intend to hike for 4 hours or so, and be back on the road at 11 or 11:30am, head to Koki Beach for some food truck food, and continue on to Wai'anapanapa for the black sand beach for a few hours, and be back on the road by 3pm to head back to OGG airport (with no stops) for 5pm to catch our 7pm flight. They are indeed blind corners (you cant see if anyone is coming around the other side), but its not actually that scary. You will need to allow more time than you have. So avoid temptation and swim around the falls and NOT under. Whether on your own or on a tour, you will see the gorgeous scenery of the rainforest, including . By taking a Tour the pressure and risk are on someone else and you can take comfort in the fact this person does it daily and as they are still around, and not on the bottom of a sea cliff, they must be doing something right. The Best Stops on the Road to Hana Early Stops Most of the big waterfalls and impressive black sand beaches are later on in the drive, so for the first hour or so, just enjoy the road and get as far along as you can to keep the crowds way behind you, especially if your objective is to do the Pipiwai Stream Trail Hike: I carry AAA independently (plus my auto insurance and credit card cover this) so I always decline all extra insurance. Hna Maui. Eventually, the Hana Highway turns into the Piilani Highway. Get on my Email list to see what Im up to and all the best travel content! The 3-5 miles just past Kipahulu (the National Park, AKA Seven Sacred Pools) are the worst, but its not unlike the last few miles leading up to Kipahulu on the other side (past Hana coming into the National Park). This is why we find it a little odd so many are utterly petrified of the road. It is just not inside their comfort zone. Most visitors tend to zip to and from Hana with a checklist of sights to photograph. Malama Aina which means take care of the land. More! Just indicate into one of the MANY pull-outs and let them by. They all flow directly into each other, but they have their own mile markers, which are crucial navigation points on this beautiful rainforest drive. HAWAII VOLCANOES HI Maybe explore the south? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352716', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. What are you wanting to do west? There are many adventures to have in Hana so I always recommend staying a night or two in Hana to be able to experience all that Hana has to offer. Want to read more? Work as a team and play to your strengths. If you go, (just like anything you do), you do so at your own risk. If theyre open ; ) Ill note here that the National Park does NOT have water or snacks for sale so since the Kaupo Store is undependable, make sure you have everything you need once you leave Hana. It has 13 hairpins that will have you climbing from 5,617 feet above sea level to 6,677 feet above sea level in just three. Leave the driving to someone else and enjoy the ride with your family. Or is falling off the road to our deaths a serious consideration? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353117', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flight, especially if you're returning a car--the agriculture, baggage check, & TSA lines can easily take 2+ hours alone. SNORKELING SHIRTS One of the best places to view Hanawi Falls is from the Hanawi Falls Bridge. Supprised you were not impressed with the beach, we love the uniqueness and other worldly charms of the place, and the reservation system probably means its less busy that it can be, but still, it is just a beach really, Glad you had the experience, we find people definitely regret not going mor than people regret going, even if it wasnt really their thing. The Road to Hana is said to be one of the most dangerous roads in the world. What are your fears and doubts? If the (only) road from Kaanapali to central (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? (This is NOT like the Hana Highway normal route around the north side, which is paved all the way.) In about the same amount of time as it would take you to go back the way you came, you can see a side of Maui many miss. Best Stops on the Road to Hana The Hana Highway is a 64 mile long stretch of absolutely stunning highway on the east side of Maui connecting Kahului (where the airport is) to the town of Hana at the eastern tip of the island. 6) I am not a daredevil but I'm a careful driver who has never been in an accident in 32 yrs of driving due to being defensive and aware on the road. 22 Best Road to Hana stops Twin & Caveman Falls Huelo Lookout Road to Hana Rainbow eucalyptus trees Waikamoi Ridge Trail Ka Haku smoke shack Garden of Eden arboretum Haipua'ena Falls Honoman Bay lookout Ke'anae Arboretum Aunty Sandy's Wailua Valley State Wayside Park Upper Waikani Falls Upper Hanawi Falls Pi'ilanihale Heiau Road to Hana lava tubes The back road to Hana is not like this the whole way, or even most of the way, but it is there! Need a specific number of bedrooms and bathrooms? However, many people who do not get caught up in the hype head to the road and come away scarred with tales of doom and dread of a hells highway that is near impossible to drive! And some of those narrow and windy parts of the road are without a guard rail. Most folks begin their road to Hana drive from the town Paia on Highway 36 which ends after mile marker 16. This means you are taking all the risk when driving the reverse road to Hana. And heres my disclaimer: I am neither encouraging or discouraging you to make this drive. The road is tricky to drive and requires care, but this is very obvious to anyone driving the road and as long as sensible precautions are taken, such as, you know, slowing down for corners, more so for blind narrow bends and giving way at the one-way sections, obeying the speed limits and generally just not being a braindead moron, there really is nothing about the road to make it unsafe. Click here to check rates for your trip. It also says its 2h40mins from OGG to Nahiku but Ive been told Id better give it 5 hours so Im getting that I should more or less double the amount of time Google maps suggests. Hearing the driver explain they understand this bend is tight and blind so they are taking it slow and wide helps you understand they are not recklessly hooning around the blind bend! From there its about a two hour drive (with no stops) due east to the town of Hana. But still, people fear the road and take the I survived the Road To Hana T-Shirts Seriously. OAHU After growing up on these the road to Hana was no problem. Shortly after the ranch store is Mauis only winery. Even really confident drivers who have rarely experienced this type of road suddenly find their grip tightening and the beads of sweat forming. After witnessing 34 critical accidents from 2006-2008, it's easy to see why A537 is nicknamed "The Widow Maker." You really should be more fearful driving to the airport or shipping in Walmart, are you going to buy an I Survived Wallmart Kahului?. One of the leading causes of accidental deaths anywhere in the world is Road Traffic Accidents. TRAVEL TIP: If you would prefer to follow along to an audio tour I recommend the Shaka Guide! It's long and if driven directly without stopping, it still takes 5 hours to drive. Everything we have said above is solely aimed at the section between Paia and Kipahula, beyond that, the road changes immeasurably! The backside road is VERY different from the front road and definitely worth experiencing. If you ask them directly, theyll hem and haw (they give you the strong impression that its forbidden) but basically what it comes down to is they wont come and get you if you have a problem.. Do this by picking up your trash and staying on the trail. Some parts are of the road are unpaved and it gets narrow and twisty. What did you do to mitigate them? I probably would not go to West (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? We are planning a trip to Hana on Aug 7. Get your car inspected . I grew up riding ATVs and driving on trails in Colorado (I also drive a Jeep and a 4Runner) so I consider this drive FUN and not at all scary, but I can definitely see how if youre not a confident driver or youve only ever driven in the city it could be stressful. Road to Hana Tips, Tricks and Advice How to Survive the Hana Highway! The southern route will save at the most 20 minutes off your drive. 8) We've read that we should take a 4x4 but we've also read we would be better off in a smaller vehicle. The best stops along the backside road to Hana, Tips for driving the Reverse road to Hana, Alelele Falls which you can find on google maps here, Everything you Need to Know about Haleakala National Park, 10 Tips to Know Before you Travel to Maui, 21 Mistakes to Avoid on your First Trip to Hawaii, If youde like to see a video of driving the back way to Hana check out this. Along this road, there are 620 curves (who counted all of those?) Check out our favorite Tours here. Visiting Chicago On A Budget Saving Money On Your Chicago Vacation! Yes, if you drive straight from Paia to Hana, you might see less people at the spots near Hana, but by the time you start working your way back to Paia those spots are still going to crowded. So many people dont really plan their trip to Hana and end up starting out late in the day and just stopping wherever they see cars so those stops along the north shore are still going to have visitors all day long. 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