road to hana adventure guide
I was always someone who thought warm weather vacations were for relaxing and soaking up sun. Then I met my fiancé Sean, who, despite being a Floridian, can tolerate about 40 minutes of direct sunshine before he’s itching to get up and go explore (somewhere cooler, preferably). So since we’ve started traveling together, let’s just say I’ve become a lot more open to spending at least half of our vacation adventuring.
One of our absolute favorite adventure spots in the world is the Road to Hana in Maui, Hawaii. It’s a winding, sometimes very narrow, but more often breathtaking road from Paia to Hana, all the way on the east side of the island.
The Road to Hana is not only our favorite adventure spot, but it’s also where we got engaged last year! We woke up at 3am to catch the sunrise in Hana and Sean asked me to marry him on a ridge overlooking the black sand beach at Wai’anapanapa State Park. Since that day, Hana will forever hold a special place in my heart.
The Road to Hana is hands down my top recommendation for Maui, especially for anyone looking for some adventure.There’s just no place like it, and even after 5 trips on this twisty, magical little road, it will always be my favorite part of every visit to Maui.
In this Road to Hana adventure guide, I’ll cover the audio/book guides we love, tips for the drive, what to pack, and of course, all the best places to stop!
audio and book guides
Shaka Guide
On this most recent trip, Sean found a new audio guide called the Shaka Guide. It’s a fully narrated road trip guide, that tells you when you’re approaching potential stopping points, giving you details about the stop, and even tells you when you should skip a stop if you’re rushed. The Shaka Guide is great if you want to do the Road to Hana without much pre-planning and just let the guide tell you where to stop.
The guide isn’t free, but for $10 you can buy all 5 audio guides for Maui, which was completely worth it in our opinion! We’ve only used the Road to Hana guide so far, but plan on using the Haleakala one on our next trip. (If you use this link to download, I’ll get a very small portion of the profit.)
Be sure to download the guide before you leave for your road trip. The Shaka Guide uses GPS along the trip, but there won’t be any cell service for most of the drive so you’ll need to download it all in advance.
Maui Revealed
Maui Revealed is still probably the best book for a comprehensive guide of what to do on Maui. We read it pretty thoroughly before our first trip and have used it as a reference point on every visit! The book is especially useful for the Road to Hana, as it points out some of our absolute favorite (and pretty secluded!) places to stop.
I highly recommend reading the full Road to Hana section at least the day before your trip, and planning out where you’d like to stop. I’ve found it sometimes difficult to quickly scan at which mile markers the stops are going to be, so it’s best to plan ahead.
There’s also an app you can buy (separate from your book purchase) that downloads the maps offline and helps you figure out where to stop. This is key, because again, most of the Road to Hana has no service! Even with the downloaded app, I recommend doing a bit of pre-reading so you’re more prepared for your trip!
the drive
the route
There are two ways to do the Road to Hana. You can either drive to Hana and turn around and drive back the way you came, or you can do the full loop, and continue onwards past Hana and the Oheo Gulch and come around the Southeast side of the island.
On the majority of our trips we have taken the full loop and would definitely recommend it if you’re up for a slightly longer adventure. The full loop has a few more “sketchy” roads after the Ohe’o Gulch (one lane with passing areas), but almost zero oncoming traffic and a really cool change of scenery you don’t get to see anywhere else on the island.
Going to Hana and turning around is the most common way people do the Road to Hana. While it allows you to stop at any additional places you want on the way back, you will have to deal with a lot more traffic (including oncoming traffic) on your return.
when to go
My biggest recommendation for the Road to Hana is leave early. And when I say early, I mean early. Try to be on the road by 7am (or earlier if you’re up for it). Luckily, most folks are coming from the mainland will be on an earlier time zone, so if you do the Road to Hana towards the beginning of your vacation, you will probably wake up before dawn due to the time change.
rental cars, unwritten driving rules and theft
We rented a Jeep for our first trip and loved the ability to drive with the top down. Highly recommend a Jeep over a convertible, especially if you plan on doing the full loop, due to the higher clearance and better handling on unpaved roads. However, we’ve done our last few trips in my parents’ Subaru and Sean has loved having a smaller car for all the tight turns.
There are quite a few areas with tight turns and one lane bridges, so be sure to keep an eye out for (and yield to) oncoming traffic. Also, lots of locals use this road to get to/from work, and will drive a lot faster than you’ll likely be comfortable with, so it’s best to pull over and let them pass you. You can typically spot a local by the car they’re driving (hint not a Wrangler or a Mustang) and how fast they’re going.
Car break ins do happen on the road to Hana, so if you have a car with a trunk, try to not keep anything in the back seat that might tempt thieves. Keep in mind, if you bring a Jeep you’ll have no locked storage in the car, so only bring valuables that will fit in a dry bag and take them with you every stop. We left towels and a cooler with drinks in the car but that was it.
what to pack
Bug spray - Luckily bugs aren’t that big of an issue at some of the more beachy stops, but if you’re planning on hiking to or playing in waterfalls, bug spray is a must.
Sunscreen - It is Hawaii after all! Plus you’ll want to be able to reapply after swimming.
Towels - We typically spend most of our Hana trips in swimsuits, not bothering to dry off or change between stops, so we always keep some towels to sit on in the car and some dry spares in the back!
Rain jacket - The weather in and on the way to Hana is notoriously rainy and unpredictable. It can be sunny one minute and raining the next, so it’s nice to have a jacket just in case you need it. The other option is just to wear your swimsuit all day and embrace the rain!
Portable/car phone charger - The guides I suggested above use GPS and can definitely wear down your phone battery, so it’s best to have a charger just in case.
Dry bag - A dry bag will come in handy anytime you plan on getting up close and personal with a waterfall or a swimming hole. If you plan on kayaking or going boating while on your trip, this bag will come in handy for that too!
Sandwiches or lots of snacks - This is especially important if you plan on driving the whole loop. There are pretty much zero reliable food options past the Ohe;o Gulch, so pack something with subsistence just in case you get hungry after a long day of waterfall hopping!
Water/other drinks - Stay hydrated, kids! Plus, all the drinks you can buy on the side of the road are going to be overpriced, so pack some beverages and save your cash for banana bread.
where to stop
Keane Peninsula - Mile marker 16
This is an awesome place to watch the sunrise if you get a super early start, but also just a nice place to stop to take in a good view of the ocean and see some beautiful old architecture. This would also be a nice place to stop on the way back if you choose to do the out and back. If you get a later start on your day, this is a fine place to skip.
Ching’s pond - Mile marker 17
Ching’s pond is a really cool little swimming hole with some high rocks for cliff jumping. If you’re wanting a more local experience on the road to Hana, this will give you that vibe! No waterfalls to be seen here, but it’s a great place to jump in the water, especially if you’re the adventurous type that wants to jump off a mini cliff or two.
There’s a small place to park just before mile marker 17 and then you’ll cross the street to climb down to the pond.
Three Bears Falls - Mile marker 19
Three Bears Falls is a beautiful set of waterfalls you can see from the bridge, but it’s even more awesome up close. There’s no place to park before the bridge, but you can park a little ways past it and walk down - be very careful crossing the road! Just on the far side of the bridge there are a few ways to hike/crawl down underneath and you’ll end up on a path that leads to the pond under the waterfalls. It’s not the easiest climb down off the road, but once you’re under the bridge it’s an easy walk to the water.
If it’s raining or has been raining a lot leading up to your trip, it may be best to take in the view from the bridge. The rocks can get really slippery and if the falls are too powerful, the pond isn’t much fun down below.
Nahiku - Mile marker 25
If you only stop at one place on the Road to Hana, Nahiku should be it. In fact, we’ve done one trip where pretty much all we did was spend 2-3 hours in Nahiku. Nahiku is a small, quiet community, tucked away off the main Road to Hana. The greenery here is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, with a beautiful drive through what feels like a luscious rainforest.
To get to Nahiku, you’ll need to take a left onto a side road just past mile marker 25. Keep driving until you come to the end of the road, where you’ll see a bus stop on your right and a church on your left. You can park here, but be sure not to block the bus stop or church parking. This is an active community and it’s always best to be respectful of the locals.
After you park, walk past the church, across a bridge and continue down the path to the water. On your right, about 200 yards before the ocean, you’ll be able to spot a swimming hole with a waterfall. There’s a short path to climb down to the water, which can be pretty steep, but it’s manageable if you go slow. We love swimming here and going behind the waterfall! We’ve been lucky enough to have this place to ourselves several times.
A little further down the path, there’s a larger waterfall, which can be seen from the path as you walk towards the coast. You can get up close and personal with this guy if you’re willing to scramble down some boulders. Once you reach the edge of the coast, follow the path down and to the right, towards the large waterfall. You may need to use your hands to climb down, but once you turn the corner and see a massive waterfall leading to the ocean, it’s all worth it! This is a great stop to spend some time exploring, since there’s lots of little pools and waterfalls to find.
Nahiku Marketplace - Mile Marker 29
By now you’re probably getting hungry (if you haven’t already bought multiple loaves of banana bread - no judging here!) and Nahiku Marketplace is a perfect place to stop for a quick bite. There’s an array of food truck options here, with everything from BBQ to Thai food. My absolute favorite dish I’ve had here was the coconut shrimp & chips from Island Chef!
Honestly though, I highly recommend stopping for banana bread on the side of the road. Worst case, you’ll get great home baked banana bread. Best case, you’ll get insanely delicious banana bread AND get to play with puppies. Our favorite is Kak’s Cafe at mile marker 26!
Wai’anapanapa State Park (black sand beach) - Mile Marker 32
This is the beach where Sean proposed! It’s the only black sand beach on Maui and it’s absolutely stunning, but it can get very crowded. It’s an easy place for tour buses to stop, so expect crowds if you come here around noon or later. We loved our time on this beach when we came at sunrise, because we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves! This would be a great stop if you’re planning on staying overnight in Hana, because you could can go at less crowded times (early morning, late afternoon/sunset) or if you get a really early start, this would be a great mid-morning stop.
To get there, you’ll just need to turn off the main road around mile marker 32 (there will be signs), and then it’s a straight shot to the parking lot. There are some really cool caves to explore in here and a great little path up the cliff, but be careful when swimming here! The waves around the rocks and cave openings can get pretty intense, so it’s best to stay close to the beach.
Kaihalulu Beach (Red Sand Beach) - Hana Town
This beautiful red sand each has a bit of a somewhat sketchy hike to get to it, but the views and secluded cove are well worth it. To get here you’ll park at the end of the road by the green buildings and walk across a field to a marked trail. The trail will take you along a hill (with a bit of a small walkway, but definitely doable!) to a gorgeous viewpoint, then down to the beach. We got rained out here so we didn’t stay for long, but I can’t wait to come back!
Ohe’o Gulch - Mile marker 42
When the pools at the Ohe’o Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools) are open for swimming, it’s the absolute best place for the last stop on your trip. You can swim in tons of different pools (hint there are more than 7!) while taking in some gorgeous views of the coast. If if you’re willing to climb a bit to get to the biggest pool, you’ll be rewarded with an awesome waterfall and typically will get the whole page yourself.
If the pools are closed, it’s probably not worth a stop. The Ohe’o Gulch is part of Haleakala National Park, so parking here costs $25/day, and when the pools aren’t open for swimming, you really can’t get close or get a good view. I’d recommend calling (808) 572-4400, the number for the Haleakala National Park ranger station, before your trip to find out if the pools are open before you plan a stop here.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite adventure place on Earth! If you’re planning a trip to Maui, I hope you consider spending one of your days exploring this beautiful place. If you have ANY questions about the drive, stops, or anything else about the Road to Hana, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Feel free to leave a comment below or send me a message on Instagram (@being.brigitte).
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