Maui: The Road to Hana

The Hana Highway hugs Maui's wet northeast coast for roughly 50 miles, with more than 600 curves and dozens of narrow bridges, many only one lane wide. It opened to cars in 1926 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The drive itself is the attraction: waterfalls beside the road, rainforest, sea cliffs and small Hawaiian communities.

This tour has 13 stops, starting in Paia and ending at the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park, about 10 miles past Hana. Plan on a full day of about nine hours, and start early. Fill your tank in Paia and bring water, snacks and a rain jacket.

Drive with aloha. Yield at one-lane bridges, pull over to let local drivers pass, and park only in marked lots or turnouts, never where signs say no. Stay out of streams when it rains, because flash floods come fast. Waianapanapa State Park requires advance reservations for visitors, so book before you go. Many people live along this road, so respect private property and sacred places.

13 stops on this tour:

Paia - The Last Big Stop Before the Curves

Hookipa Beach Park Lookout - Windsurfers and Sea Turtles

Twin Falls - A Farm's Gift to the Road

Garden of Eden Arboretum - Where Jurassic Park Took Off

Kaumahina State Wayside - Restrooms With a View

Keanae Peninsula - Taro, Lava and an 1850s Church

Halfway to Hana - Banana Bread Checkpoint

Upper Waikani Falls - The Three Bears

Waianapanapa State Park - Black Sand and a Royal Legend

Hana Town - Birthplace of a Queen

Hamoa Beach - A South Seas Crescent

Wailua Falls - A Waterfall You Can See From Your Seat

Kipahulu and Oheo Gulch - The End of the Road

Plan your visit

  • Route: 13 stops · about 51 miles of driving · self-drive
  • Time: a full day with stops
  • Start: Paia (directions)
  • Cost: free tour

Stops on this tour

  1. Paia - The Last Big Stop Before the Curves
  2. Hookipa Beach Park Lookout - Windsurfers and Sea Turtles
  3. Twin Falls - A Farm's Gift to the Road
  4. Garden of Eden Arboretum - Where Jurassic Park Took Off
  5. Kaumahina State Wayside - Restrooms With a View
  6. Keanae Peninsula - Taro, Lava and an 1850s Church
  7. Halfway to Hana - Banana Bread Checkpoint
  8. Upper Waikani Falls - The Three Bears
  9. Waianapanapa State Park - Black Sand and a Royal Legend
  10. Hana Town - Birthplace of a Queen
  11. Hamoa Beach - A South Seas Crescent
  12. Wailua Falls - A Waterfall You Can See From Your Seat
  13. Kipahulu and Oheo Gulch - The End of the Road

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