It is not a place for nervous drivers, and if even attempting the Hana Highway is questionable for you, do not even consider the back route. Glad you braved it! And some of those narrow and windy parts of the road are without a guard rail. If you need proof, the best stops on the Road to Hana, which include vibrant beaches, lush rain forests, and cascading waterfalls, attract about 400,000 visitors each year. Kipahulu is home to some of the Road to Hana's most famous stops from the Pools at O'heo (Seven Sacred Pools), Pipiwai Trail, and Waimoku Falls. Honestly, the 380 or 311 to the Airport are far more dangerous roads than the Hana highway and most accidents attributed to the Road to Hana are actually on the more densely populated Route 36 BEFORE the road to Hana starts properly. Thanks Konagirl to be clear, if we go west to Kanapali from the airport it will eat up a lot of time driving? So on to the practicalities of the road itself. The first of the road to Hana stops you'll come to is Paia town. We are planning a trip to Hana on Aug 7. Its a no brainer. Oh, and 5 pm is really pushing it for a 7 pm (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This is the "safe" route. Strange, our hosts at our lodgings told us the southern road was faster back to the airport from Haleakala you say its longer for sure? I guess depending on what youre most interested in seeing/doing you could try this, but here are my thoughts: I strongly recommend driving the Road to Hana the right way or clockwise from Paia for a couple of reasons: 1) youll be on the inside lane the whole way around (no hugging the tight shoulder where theres a 200 foot drop off mere feet away from your tire) which is a bigger deal when youre driving on the road past Hana. It was ok, not really our thing. Hopefully, we can help allay some of these fears? Even though the road covers a relatively short distance, the turns and low speed limits . The first of many Road to Hana stops, the Twin Falls is situated in the Ho'olawa Valley. Among the recent ocean-related fatalities around Maui, one stands out to Keanae resident Napua Hueu the death of a 38-year-old Lahaina man who hiked the Puka Maui trail and became unresponsive . If your other half wants to drive the road then a tour is not a good compromise. WHAT TO WEAR HIKING, 2023 Flashpacking America | US outdoor travel blog, Road to Hana tour reviews on getyourguide, swim shirts with UV protection like these, Why a personal swim buoy is an essential for snorkeling and swimming in the ocean. Break up the drive with a great hike Kaumana Trail. There are quite a few places to stop to eat now, and quite a few restrooms now, What to Eat at Universal Studios, Hollywood, Chicago, Illinois Visitors Guide Basics. The offer free wine tastings and are known for their pineapple wine. Yes, it is remote, but there are hundreds of people driving the road, day and night, you are not going to be alone and stranded, even if you have to stop in a cell black spot. Back on the Hana Highway, as you leave Maliko Gulch, around mile marker 11, you'll pass through the rural area of Haiku, where you'll see banana patches, cane grass blowing in the wind, and forests of guava trees, avocados, kukui trees, palms, and Christmas berry. Everything You Need to Know About Dining in San Diego. If you get above 30 mph you are doing well! In the end, was it all worth it for YOU? The most iconic part of Bayburt-of Road is called Dereba Turns. Getting Around Maui without a Car Guide to Mauis Public transportation, What Food to Eat in Hawaii? This is a tough and fairly common problem. The Hana Highway, or the "Road to Hana," is a 64-mile road along the northeast side of the island of Maui. ALL OF THIS BEING SAIDif this makes you nervous, if youre not an easy driver, if youre not used to trail driving or driving outside of a city, if you have an overwhelming fear of heights or significant anxiety, or if you question the safety for ANY reason, its always best not to go! My favorite travel hack is cashing in points to score free flights to Hawaii. There are plenty of shoulders to pull over, take in Mauis beauty and also take a few pictures. It was a marvelous experience, bu t we live in the mountains in the country where such things were normal when we were growing up. Then once they've reached their intended destination, they will turn around and drive back the way they came. MICHIGAN If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Some parts are of the road are unpaved and it gets narrow and twisty. The photo slideshow below shows each of these stops. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Who thinks of these things? Take the moral high ground and just drive in a way that ensures YOUR safety! The road is such a stunning journey through the most amazing landscape we just want everyone to experience it. There are beaches in the Hana area. We've been researching the attractions on the Hana Highway since 2002 when the highway first made a major and incredibly positive impression on us. The Road to Hana is an absolutely stunning road trip to take on any Maui vacation, and is 100% a must-do. If you have serious doubts over whether or not the road is for you, or you are pretty convinced this type of driving is not your style then you have three options. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353051', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rental car companies. The back road to Hana starts in Kula town about 15 minutes past Makawao, one of Maui's most charming towns. (I think the back road may be closed to traffic anyway) That part of the road (going on from Hana towards Kula) is the part that is prone to washouts, etc. Hanawi Falls is located right after Mile Marker 24 on the Road to Hana. Re: Road to Hana - ACTUALLY dangerous or just kind of scary? 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? 4 The Road Is Winding. Plus youre on a cliff side and at some points without a guard rail. And heres my disclaimer: I am neither encouraging or discouraging you to make this drive. So heres the scenario: people read about long lines of cars, limited parking spaces, and crowded hikes, waterfalls, etc. Be sure to take your lunch and dont e xpect a bathroom break! We will land in the morning, rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. How necessary is it to have a 4 wheel drive vehicle for this drive? Hana, the quaint little backwater town has just the one road leading in or our and this is the drive of a lifetime! This three-part waterfall is often called the Three Bear Falls for the Papa Bear-, Mamma Bear-, and Baby Bear-size cascades of water. Charged Cameras - Many photo opps await you! Accidents are common and you may be more likely to have a small bump, brush a wall/banking, or get stuck in a ditch than regular highways, but you are less likely to actually injure yourself than on most roads in Hawaii. Know that theres a possibility that youll have to reverse if a car is coming in the opposite direction. Encourage them to take things easy and to explain themselves when driving. Google maps said 2 hours but I guess this is what happens when a bot gives you directions? Both before and during. Their reasoning is that the popular sites closer to Hana would be less crowded by getting there earlier and then I guess they think that the crowds at the stops closer to Paia will have moved on towards Hana so by the time they retrace their steps theyll have all the popular spots to themselves. If I could sign up twice, I would ; ). Visiting Chicago On A Budget Saving Money On Your Chicago Vacation! 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. These Rickety looking relics strike fear into many peoples hearts as they meet traffic head-on with no passing place and drops either side. Its possible that some companies offer roadside assistance coverage that you can purchase additionally and maybe this portion of the road isnt included in that. I have sprinkled some affiliate links in this post. A thirty something adventure seeking, gin loving, sun chasing, temple searching, bikini wearing, outdoor enthusiast who is based on Maui and writes about Hawaii and her adventures abroad. The back road to Hana is not like this the whole way, or even most of the way, but it is there! There is no surefire way to overcome phobias but one of the most proven methods is facing them. 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. As we made our way along the southern coast of Maui, we found the scenery to be beautiful and varied. The road to Hana is one of Maui's two most famous sights. That is such a shame for you both, but it is understandable, and probably the right decision. I thank you in advance. Period. Be prepared. : @kapenamorgan Check your rental agreement and insurance this activity may breach your contract as this area of Maui is usually forbidden by rental car companies. We would love to hear from those who braved the road though. Pullover for quicker drivers, Take the widest line on blind corners, Give way on the single-lane sections if you are not sure others will. Mile Marker 2 Hana Highway (360) Twin Falls. Report inappropriate content dusty56438 Saint Cloud. Starting your journey to Hana on this side is a great way toexperience this side of, Day 256 of traveling the world full time! I wouldn't suggest driving through Kahakuloa to any tourists. It's a well paved road, but you do need to keep your wits about you when you drive it because of the many sharp curves and one-lane bridges. So drive with caution and be very aware. If the Road the Hana is proving scary, that Back route will scare the Bejebous out of you! We find the best solution (like most things in life) is good communication. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS TN NC To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Want to read more? : @kapenamorgan, What to expect driving the backside road to Hana. In short the Road is is a narrow 1 lane road that carves its way around the backside of Haleakala into some of the most pristine and picturesque rainforests on the island. Yes this is going to be a long day but I promise its worth it! You need to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight and it's a 3 hour drive from Wainapanapa IF you aren't behind a slow train(qnd the traffic will be very heavy during that time you are headed to the airport) also if weather caused a downed tree or landslide you are just stuck. (I think the back road may be closed to traffic anyway) That part of the road (going on from Hana towards Kula) is the part that is prone to washouts, etc. Minuses: The road becomes rough for portions and rental car companies say "you're on your . It won't take you 5 hours to get to Hana either. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352891', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui -- you are going to eat up most of your time driving. If you only have one day, theres still a lot to see, so snap a picture and be on your way. The road is very comfortable for one car to drive on, the problem comes when you pass another car. Whatever you have to say just drop us a comment below. Makena Beach Intiaz Rahim/Flickr Road to Hana Tips, Tricks and Advice How to Survive the Hana Highway! Starting your journey to Hana on this side is a great way toexperience this side ofHaleakala volcano. Here they sell fresh fruits, smoothies and coffees all grown locally on their farm. RtH has too much traffic and has been widened and or paved in most scary sections. **Baldwin Beach Park. The Pipiwai Trailis a moderate hike that is 4 miles out and back. Mmmmkay, If you think any rental car company is going to come get you if you have a problem ANYWHERE, you have more faith in them than me. Hamoa Beach (MM 51) Heading away from Hana, turn makai (toward the ocean) onto Haneoo Road when you reach it. Fortunately we had no issues but it was a windy, rainy drive and Im glad we did it but dont think we would do it again. There are closer beaches to the airport like in Kihei which is considered south Maui. Its the quintessential Hawaiian mom and pop shop and its a great place to grab a cold drink and use the restroom. 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