The Road to Hana was #1 on our Maui bucket list for a number of reasons. The top one being that my sister, Shelby, is named after it. Her middle name is literally Hana. My parents named us after places they visited before we were born. Mine is Siena, named after a small town in Italy. Don’t bring this up around my youngest sister Callie. It’s a sore subject for her. She feels left out because her middle name is Elizabeth.
But back to the Hana Highway, or as some call it, the road to Hana. No matter what you call it you can’t visit Maui without driving it. This road has over 600-twists and turns winding through a lush jungle. You can stop along the way to hike to cascading waterfalls, swim in ocean pools, and witness the incredible scenic views. There is truly nothing like driving the Hana Highway!
This post will share some helpful hints, secrets to avoiding crowds, and must-see spots along the Road to Hana.
(The photos above & below were taken by Noah Mobley)
Helpful Hints For the Road to Hana
- Consider renting a car with 4-wheel drive. Especially if you’re doing the entire loop. Trust me, it’s needed.
- Non-drowsy Dramamine is your best friend. We all took some before the 600 twists and turns and I’m glad we did. Though I will say the Road to Pai in Thailand is 10x worse. If I can handle that I can handle anything.
- This is my #1 tip! Start from the last stop, the Seven Sacred Pools. This is the opposite of what most people do, which means you beat the crowds. We drove up north to Hana, then ended at Twin Falls.
- Make sure to bring food with you. We stopped at Pukalani Superette and it had great options! A common misconception is that Hana will have restaurants. There are hardly any places to stop and eat, especially in Hana. I shared a list of places to eat along the Hana Highway in my post The Best Places to Eat in Maui.
- Get up early to avoid the crowds! We were on the road by 6:00 am and didn’t get back to our Airbnb until 5:00 pm. Getting up early has its perks. We were able to watch the sunrise while we drove along the southern coastline.
- The roads can get a little dicey, especially if youāre starting from the Seven Sacred Pools. The highway can get extremely narrow, bumpy, and turn into a one-lane road. Not to mention the local goats that have free reign. These little guys can surprise you if you’re not careful. Be prepared and donāt be afraid to use your horn around the turns to alert other drivers.
- Depending on what you have planned for the day (hiking, swimming, cliff-jumping, etc.) pack accordingly! Wear a swimsuit, shorts, and bring a rain jacket. Also, wear good hiking shoes! My favorite picks would be my Keen waterproof boots and my chacos.
Must-See Spots Along The Road to Hana
I have listed the spots in the order we did them. Assuming that you follow my earlier advice and start from The Seven Sacred Pools.
Waimoku Falls
The Pipiwai Trail is known as one of the best Maui waterfall hikes. This 1.8-mile trail is easily accessible due to it being a part of the National Park system. During the hike, you’ll walk through a bamboo forest and find many waterfalls framed by the lush green tropical rainforest.
Waimoku Falls is found at the end of the Pipiwai Trail, above Seven Sacred Pools. The hike to Waimoku Falls passes the 185-foot Makahiku Falls about half a mile into the trail.
TIPS: Wear bug spray + appropriate hiking shoes, prepare to get muddy in case it’s rained recently, and don’t attempt this hike after 10 am unless you’re prepared to share it with a lot of other people.
(The photos above were taken by Noah Mobley)
Bamboo Forest on the Pipwai Trail
(The photos above were taken by Noah Mobley)
Seven Sacred Pools
We opted not to see the seven sacred pools since we did the Pipiwai Trail hike instead. Both options are beautiful but very time-consuming. Therefore I would only recommend doing one or the other as this area tends to get crowded fast.
Venus Pool | Cliff Jumping
This was my favorite stop on the Hana Highway! It’s quite hidden so few people visit it. I’m not going to make it easy for you. Do some digging and see if you can find out how to get here. š
TIPS: Bring a towel and a snack! You’ll want to sunbathe on the rocks after cliff jumping.
Kaihalulu Beach | Red Sand Beach
Honokalani Beach |Black Sand Beach
Coconut Glenās | Vegan Ice-Cream
It’s as delicious as it sounds, trust me. CASH ONLY!!!
Upper Waikani Falls
Stop here and view a gorgeous waterfall. The viewpoint doesn’t have any dedicated parking and the trail is not super accessible. Therefore it is less crowded than other spots.
Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread
Another spot for a tasty treat! Also, be on the lookout for all of the fruit stands around this area.
Twin Falls
This is another stop we didn’t make it to, but I’ve heard good things! Consider stopping there on your Hana Highway journey.
Thanks for following along! Let me know if you have any questions or need help planning your trip to Maui.