Road to Hana Maui

Use this page to discover whether you are a Hana lover or Hana hater.

This page is organized into several sections below -
• Why LOVE the road to Hana?
• Why HATE the road to Hana?
• Hana planning & options
• Road to Hana Map
• Road to Hana Videos

Why LOVE the Road to Hana?

For the lovers, the Hana coast is a day of lush vegetation, breathtaking waterfalls, rugged beaches, and stunning seaside views.

We have four pages on what to love on this trip:
1. what to do on the road to Hana
2. what to do in Hana Maui
3. what to do on the road beyond Hana to Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools)
4. go beyond Oheo Gulch all the way around Maui


1. What are the best waterfalls, ocean views, beaches and stops on the Road to Hana? Find out about Hana coast stops such as Keanae Park, Waikani Falls (Three Bears Falls), Nahiku Cove, and the black sand beach at Waanapanapa State Park.


2. Once you get to Hana Maui, what do you want to do? Stay at an expensive hotel? Turn around and drive back? Visit one of the Hana beaches such as Hana Bay, the red sand beach Kaihalulu, or Hamoa Beach, named as the sixth best beach in America in 2007?


3. If you continue beyond Hana you can visit more Hana waterfalls such as Wailua Falls. Many visitors also continue beyond Hana to the Seven Sacred Pools (Oheo Gulch). This area is part of Haleakala National Park and includes the Pipiwai Trail for hiking Maui.

Why HATE the Road to Hana?

What about the downside of the Road to Hana? Why do some visitors hate the road to Hana? Why is there a thriving market for I SURVIVED THE ROAD TO HANA tee shirts?

For the Hana haters, the Hana highway is a day of traffic jams in the wilderness, pouring rain and dry waterfalls, bad food and expensive gas, car sickness and nausea.

Consider the negatives before you commit a whole day of your vacation to the road to Hana.

• The narrow, winding roads that hug the rugged coastline results in driving at a snail's pace. Some car passengers get nauseous and car sickness from the all the curves in the road while either being hemmed in by the vegetation surrounding both sides of the road, or from looking down at the beach from the high cliff next to the road shoulder.


• Combine the narrow two lane road with lots of visitors, and you get unexpected result - traffic jams in the wilderness.


• Cars and buses try to park in nonexistent parking spots alongside the shoulder of the road next to narrow cliffs, slowing down traffic even more.


• The vegetation is so lush and the waterfalls so dramatic because of all the rain, especially in the morning.


• The waterfalls may be dry during some parts of the day and during certain dry times during the year.


• This is a full day trip. Some kids (and many spouses) get cranky with any wilderness activity that lasts more than a couple hours.


Our drive the road to Hana page lists ways to help you overcome these problems.

Road to Hana - Planning & Options

Should you drive the road to Hana in your rental car like most Maui vacationers, or let someone drive you in a van on a road to Hana tour?


If you start early and want to eat out for breakfast, try Charley's in the town of Pa'ia on the way to Hana. They also offer a brown bag lunch you can take with you for later in the day.

Another popular breakfast spot further along the road is the Pauwela Cafe in Haiku.

Road to Hana Map

You can also get oriented on the Hana coast and the locations of our recommended stops by viewing our Road to Hana map.

This interactive Hana highway map lists Hana coastal views, waterfalls, hikes, parks, and destinations. You can click on any location on the map and read more about that stop. You can also print out this map and take it with you to Maui.

Road to Hana Videos

You can experience the sights and sounds on the road to Hana from the comfort of your own home right now.

This road to Hana video includes what I consider to be the best stops on the Hana coast - Honomanu Bay, Keanae Park, Waikani (Three Bears) Falls, Nahiku Cove, the black sand beach at Wai'anapanapa State Park, Wailua Falls, and Oheo Gulch (seven sacred pools) including the Pipiwai Trail and Makahiku Falls with the Infinity Pool.

Click on the PLAY button in the image below to view the video.

You can view additional road to Hana videos on other pages, or view all Road to Hana videos on one page.

Road to Hana Pages Quick Reference

Road to Hana Overview