The Road to Hana – Did we make a wrong turn?

Our third trip to Maui – Our first drive on the road to Hana. Narrow, Winding, endless drive to Hana!

I had read that the road to Hana is World famous for being one of the most scenic and beautiful drives you’ll ever take. Lush greenery, beautiful waterfalls and Maui at its best! Preparing for what we thought was a several hour drive, I packed a lunch, some water and we set off for our daily adventure.

We began our journey on Hana Hwy and at mile six we passed quickly by some “painted Eucalyptus trees”, something I had really wanted to see and photograph. There wasn’t really anywhere to stop or park and my husband assured me “I’m sure there will be more as we get farther into Hana”, so we drove on. Mile twenty and I was wondering what exactly we were supposed to be looking for and seeing on this trip? We had passed a couple small waterfalls trickling under the bridges, nothing spectacular, but nice to see. I had assumed trails or landmarks would be marked or obvious stopping points along our route. We did pass a couple areas where the tourists were piled up bumper to bumper trying to create parking space on the side of the narrow road. We were again unable to stop at what may have been a waterfall or trail along the drive. After pulling over several times to remove tailgating drivers off my rear end and driving 20mph for a couple hours, we arrived to Hana. A small City on the Eastern tip of Maui that has kept the Hawaiian culture at heart. We stopped to eat our lunch as I wondered, “Did we miss something?” “Did I make a wrong turn?” No, there is only ONE road to Hana and almost no way of getting lost.

Despite the fact that rental car companies prefer you not take the second half drive of the Hana Hwy and they will void any insurance you purchase, we did it anyways. Curious if we were missing out on what the rest of Hwy 360 has to offer, we continued on. What a Mistake! Don’t do it! Do not pass Go, do not collect $200…turn around and head back the way you came from! A couple miles in we should have gone with our gut instincts and found some way to turn around. The roads became narrower, and at some point the asphalt became dirt. We found ourselves driving past warning signs of “falling rocks” along the mountain roads we were now traveling on that barely seemed to provide enough room before we may have plunged into the ocean below to our certain death.

After getting through the mountain terrain, the Lush Greenery that we were once winding through became almost dessert like with only rocks and the ocean at one side. The coast line was a beautiful sight, but something you can admire on almost any Maui Hwy. We drove on for what felt like hours, but was really about two hours on the bumpiest, narrowest, longest road we’ve ever traveled. Around 4pm that evening the site of Makena, Kihei and the towns below were a blessing and we couldn’t wait to get back.

We went about this trip ALL WRONG!

So why wasn’t the Road to Hana the best scenic drive in the World? One thing locals seem to forget to tell tourists is that you need some sort of guide on the road to Hana. And I’m not speaking of a personal tour guide or taking a charter bus (although you can), but just a guide book or CD to take along on this trip. The roads, landmarks, and points of interest do not speak for themselves as you might see on a typical scenic Highway. Waterfalls, trails, and gardens are hidden treasures along Hwy 360. Don’t expect to see it all from your car and be prepared to take a hike or two.

You can purchase Hana Guide CD’s all over Maui (I realized AFTER the fact) and Snorkel Bob’s had one for $10, which was the best deal I found. I also found a neat looking “Hana Highway Mile by Mile” book you can buy online that would probably be most helpful.

If you’re planning the road to Hana drive, learn from my mistakes and take some guidance with you unless you’re just going for the long drive. Pack a lunch, water, sunscreen and if you’re in a convertible be ready to put the top back up at any given time for rain.

Is the Road to Hana for Kids?

I personally don’t recommend the Road to Hana for young children or anyone that gets car sick. We opted not to take this drive when we visited Maui with our children and I’m very glad we did. Older children who enjoy hiking or scenic drives may enjoy the ride, but there isn’t much to do to keep toddlers or even elementary aged children occupied.  If your lucky to have children who love car rides, this may be an ok trip for them! 

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