Road to Hana

We'll be in Maui next week for a conference and we're taking the weekend off to try to get a much needed vacation. I've booked a hotel in Hana. Unfortunately, every time I mention Hana people give me the look that translates into "you're crazy for doing that drive."

I need advice quickly. Is the road to Hana that bad?

Comments

[Jonathan Greene]

My wife and I opted for a helicopter ride over the island instead and for just about an hour of airtime we got up close (seriously close!) to waterfalls and fles over the rain forest. The ride is a "marriage tester" as you have to drive really slowly and it can be a FULL day if someone is in front of you. There is not supposed to be much room to pass or anything really.

I bet it's beautiful though...

[Brandon Fuller]

Its not that bad. We just drove around the entire island about 2 months ago. It a long day trip. I suggest going for the entire loop. More too see and less curves.

http://brandon.fuller.name/archives/2004/02/18/20.10.33/

[Mark]

Our family did the trip last year and had a blast. It was important to leave early so we were not following traffic and could enjoy the scenery. (If you don't want to get started early don't go) This is a trip that should be done in a convertible or Jeep Wrangler (We had a Wrangler). The up views are amazing.

We stayed in Hana overnight and experienced the most incredible sunrise we've ever seen over the bay in Hana. We then went and hung out at Oheo Gulch (7 scared pools) about 7 miles further around and did the entire loop back around the dry side of the Haleakala. I wouldn't necessarily recommend going all the way around unless you have a Jeep because the road gets rough. This is the most incredible drive we've ever done. If you like driving and constantly turning it's amazing. If you don't it's not relaxing and maybe you want to not stay in Hana and pick another side trip.
It really depends on how you feel about experiencing nature. Hana is remote and most of the time very wet. You will want to pack a cooler with food before you start the drive, you're then able to stop and eat when you want to. There isn't much in Hana for food choices. We felt like we were on a whole different island in Hana.

I have a feeling Hana may be good for you guys.
It is a true escape and a place of deep appreciation. I felt like Ellie from the movie Contact when she said "I had no idea"

Did you get Maui Revealed, The Ultimate Guidebook? It was a great help to us.

Our family fell deeply in love with this part of the world and moved to Kauai last year.

If you want to know anything else we would be glad to help.

Our family feel in love with Kauai last year

[Scott]

My favorite part of Maui has always been the road to Hana. If possible start the drive really early to avoid traffic. There's obviously no passing lane (this makes highway 1 look pretty tame). Most important is to drive with the top down and make lots of stops for waterfalls.

We did the full drive in our tiny rental car, and it wasn't a problem at all. It is interesting to see the dry side of the island...but if I did it again I would stick to the side with the waterfalls.

MMmmm....waterfalls.

[Alan]

It's a gorgeous drive... VERY long and bumpy (when I did it almost 10 years ago). Definitely worthwhile.

[Kathryn]

My extended family took a trip to Hawaii eight years ago and the Road to Hana is one of my outstanding memories from our vacation. We started early in the day and made for a couple of stops along the way. We packed our lunch and had it sitting on an isolated rock beach at Honomanu Bay. We had the place to ourselves and the view was truly stunning--amazingly blue water and lush green trees on the hills all around us. We also stopped at Keanae Peninsula, a dramatic location that really stayed with me. Crystal blue water crashing into a black lava shore, huge plumes of white spray. It was gorgeous, and I could have stood there watching the sea churn for hours.

All told, the journey there and back took us 12 hours, including stops, lunch etc. but since you'll be able to stay in Hana, (a beautiful, remote escape from the real world!) you won't have to turn right around and do it all over again. In fact, you can stop at different spots on the way back as well as there. (We just drove straight back after getting to Hana, which was a much shorter trip w/o stopping.) I'd purchased a copy of a book called Hidden Maui (I think) which provided us with lots of ideas for stops off the beaten path.

Yes, the road is long and winding, but it's unlike any other you'll experience. It's really worth it. And like they say, it's not about the destination (which, in this case ain't half bad,) it's all about the journey...

[Jeffrey McManus]

We broke a rental car doing that drive when I was like 13. That's my way of saying that I enjoyed it.

[Eccentric Gardener]

Honeymoon with first wife, August 1988: Left for Hana later in the day. Incredible views, plants, trees, wildlife, waterfalls. Drove down in the dark, in the rain. Frogs crossing the road, many too slowly.

The Road to Hana is a must-do drive. Just leave early. (While you're in Maui, see Haleakala, too. Surreal.)

[Hadji]

It beats Detroit. I went hiking through our rock and pavement gardens this morning! This evening I have a date to walk on the boardwalk to the river near with a gorgeous view of the smokestacks on the horizon.

Consider Detroit instead of Hana. I could be your agent/tourguide.

[Amit]

We did it in January, and it was amazing. Do plan on renting an All Wheel Drive and if possible, say in Hana for the night and complete the loop. The diversions are worth taking.

[Bill]

If you can chill out about the slow pace, and make sure that you stop and take pictures at as many of the waterfalls as you can, you'll be fine. The first time that I went, we bought one of those driving tour audiotapes, which was kind of fun. We also decided to take a sidetrip down to one of the little villages on the coast. All the stopping adds time to the trip, but it doesn't really take THAT long to get there. People act like you're going through the Amazon or something. Sure, I'd recommend filling up your tank and grabbing some snacks and drinks beforehand, but it's not that big of a deal.

Here's a hint: if you see somebody on the side of the road selling banana bread, STOP AND BUY IT.

And I second the recommendation for MAUI REVEALED. Best guidebook, especially for finding good hidden restaurants and places to snorket.

[pq]

I loved it, my wife hated it. If you go... make sure you rent a Jeep Wrangler and go *all the way around*... not just to the end and back.

[Charles]

Hmm...I agree with everyone else - it's a beautiful drive. HOWEVER, I wouldn't recommend it for this trip. You've mentioned that you are going to Maui for a "much needed vacation". To me that sounds like rest and relaxation, maybe sitting by the pool and sleeping or reading a good book. The Road to Hana is an unforgettable trip but you need to be up for it - it can be tedious and frustrating. In fact, it can be the most tedious and frustrating drive you ever go on.

I have a friend who recently got married and he and his wife went to Maui. He said that the Road to Hana almost caused a divorce. ;-) I went to Maui on my honeymoon and skipped the Road and had a fantastic time doing *nothing*. I went back again when I was feeling more adventurous and did the Road and felt I had made the right decision waiting the first time. After the stress of the wedding, planning, etc. the Road would have been too much.

I've run two startups and my vacations during those times were always desperately needed escapes from the high-pressure work environment. My advice to you is cancel the reservation in Hana this time and book something on a beach with a nice west view, perhaps the Sheraton over there, and relax and relax and relax.

[Rich]

The road to Hana is not that bad. Just one advice, buy the Road to Hana tape... believe me it makes it so much more interesting. We found lots of great hidden spots (pools and waterfalls, black sand beaches, etc.) because of that tape. Buy the tape!

[Gina]

It's gorgeous, but it is quite long and windy. I've got a pretty strong stomach but I ended up throwing up on the side of the road a few times, and so did my sisters (who were with me the whole way).

So if you have ANY motion sickness issues, even small ones, I'd reccomend not going.