![]() We find a parking spot, tumble out of the car, and head for the ocean. One of the first stops we make along the road to Hāna is Wai’ānapapa State Park, home to black sand beaches and dramatic volcanic seascapes. Stay alert as you wind your way along the coast there are ample opportunities for head-on collisions, which would surely ruin your tropical vacation. Soon, the road narrows and you begin crossing the first of many one-lane (“oh-nay lah-nay”, Collin jokes) bridges. A little farther east the ecology quickly changes to lush, green, misty forests. At first, the road makes a beeline through the dry, open fields on the western slopes of Haleakalā. Get an early morning start from Kahului and follow the signs toward Hāna. I’ve been spoiled by the abundant epic cascades in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and didn’t find any of these waterfalls particularly awe-inspiring, but they do complement the tropical ecosystem well.ĭriving the road to Hāna is an all-day affair, particularly if you stop to see the sights (which you totally should). Some of the falls drop from high cliffs, while others splash over more modest ledges. The road to Hana is a long, but beautiful drive.īesides hiking, which I’ll get to in a moment, one of the most interesting features of the drive is the abundance of waterfalls. Additionally, the southern route was the most beautiful section of the entire drive! Take a leap of faith and venture around the full loop it’s worth seeing. The road is certainly narrow, winding, and bumpy, but nothing a Hyundai Elantra can’t handle, and not much different than other sections from the north-eastern side. ![]() My friends and I gave it a shot anyway and discovered that none of the rumors are true. ![]() Rumors abound that the southern route requires four-wheel drive, that the road is full of massive holes, and that rental companies will fine you if they discover you’ve taken their vehicle there. However, the road continues from Hāna across the southern coast before winding back northward to Kahalui. Many tourists travel the road to Hāna as an out-and-back trip, driving from Kahalui to Hāna along the north-eastern coast. ![]() I could get used to sunsets like this… Trip Planning After spending a day hiking atop Haleakalā, a few friends and I set out to drive this famous highway, making a few stops along the way to do some day hiking and see roadside attractions. One of the most famous attractions on Maui is “the road to Hāna,” a narrow, winding route along the north-eastern shore of the island. ![]()
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