Tips for your Trip to Maui

You are steering around a hairpin turn with the intoxicating scent of the rain forest filling your head. The view? A waterfall churning, and an African tulip tree bursting in bloom. You really can have this thrilling experience on Route 360, aka the Hana Highway. A narrow, coastal-hugging road built in 1927. It connects Kahului to the Town of Hana, a snoozing village that seems caught in a slower more graceful past. Along the way, you’ll find 600 hairpin turnssurfboard fence, 56 one-lane bridgestemplesblack-sand beachesquaint churches and waterfalls.

Charles Lindbergh was an American aviator who made the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927. He also had a connection to the Road to Hana scenic highway, as he owned a secluded property in the area. The property, known as Lindbergh’s Grave, was where the aviator and his wife would spend their winters. Today, the site is a popular stop on the Road to Hana and features a plaque commemorating Lindbergh’s contributions to aviation and his love for Hawaii.

It’s a Maui must-do, but be ready to make a day, and maybe part of a night, of it. Use our feature-rich, affordable Maui rental car service and experience the Road to Hana. Ready? Set your map app to Hana Bay Beach Park, 150 Keawa Pl, Hana, HI 96713

Top Ten Hints for the Road to Hana
1. Gas Up In Paia, the last substantial town before you get on to driving the Road to Hana Maui. Be ready to pay for the most expensive gas in the continental U.S. There are no service stations until you reach the Town of Hana.

2. Fuel Yourself, Too. Bring snacks and buy a boxed picnic lunch while you’re in Paia; our favorite place is Hana Bay Juice Co. (808-579-8686)

3. Indulge In Tropical Local Fruit. Along the drive, you’ll find stands selling ono (tasty) banana bread or fresh fruit smoothies. Pineapple-papaya blend, anyone?

4. Stay Dry. It rains on the way to Hana. A lot. Bring a rain poncho or umbrella and a few plastic Ziplocs for your camera and wallet.

5. Stay Safe. When you get out to explore, remember that many areas will be muddy, slippery, steep—or heck, all three.

6. Do Dress Down. Tuck a Plumeria flower behind your ear and relax in a sarong or a pair of board shorts.

7. Do Bring A Swimsuit. It’s romantic to skinny dip near a waterfall, but the road to Hana is pretty and you probably won’t be alone. Pack a suit and towel.

8. Do Respect Road Conditions. If heavy rainfall or falling rocks make the road hazardous, don’t try to pass.

9. Do Smell The Flowers. Roll down that window and let the muggy air waft in the scent of ginger, ah.

10. Do Believe In Stories. There are some great Hawaiian legends along here. At Waianapanapa State Park, for example, you’ll find a cave where a princess hid from her jealous husband. The pool of water there is red, supposedly, from her blood.

Top Ten Things to Avoid on the Road to Hana
1. Don’t Sleep In.we highly recommend a full day to do the Hana Highway properly. It’s a good two to three hours from Kahului to Hana, and that’s just if you drive straight through.

2. Don’t Rush. The drive is not just about the views, but about the places you stop along the way. Dip into a waterfall or check out an ancient temple site.

3. Don’t Bulk Up. Be careful what you eat—a giant bran muffin or a huge bean burrito may not make for a great road trip, if you know what we’re saying.

4. Don’t Hurl. The road is twisty, so bring some Dramamine, crackers and a ginger ale if you’re likely to get motion sickness.

5. Don’t Hog The Road. Pull off to the side of the road if you have a pile of cars behind you. The locals, after all, have to go to work.

6. Don’t Steal The Fruit. Buying fruit from an “honor-system” stand? Wonderful picking papayas off a tree? Not as nice, and you’re probably on private property.

7. Don’t Drink The Water. The streams, waterfalls and pools are pretty, but the water isn’t safe to drink. Stick to the bottled water you brought with you.

8. Don’t Build Ahu. Rock piles (ahu) are considered sacred, and casual use of the idea is frowned upon.

9. Don’t Drown. You’ll come across many beaches on the road to Hana. Be extremely careful if you go swimming; the currents are notoriously strong and dangerous.

10. Don’t Expect A City. Hana is a small, sleepy, laid-back town. If you think the clouds will part when you arrive, you’ll be disappointed, but if you explore and enjoy, you’ll truly have made the historic journey to Hana.

road-to-hana

From the beginning of our Top Ten “Road to Hana”.

  1. Twin Falls
  2. Waikamoi Nature Trail
  3. Garden of Eden Arboretum
  4. Keanae Peninsula
  5. Pua’a Ka’a Park
  6. Wai’anapanapa
  7. Hasegawa General Store
  8. Bamboo Forest
  9. Ohe’o Gulch
  10. Wailua Falls

1. Twin Falls

Twin Falls

2. Waikamoi Nature Trail

Waikamoi Nature Trail

3. Garden of Eden Arboretum

Garden of Eden Arboretum

4. Keanae Peninsula

Keanae Peninsula

5. Pua’a Ka’a Park

Pua'a Ka'a Park

6. Wai’anapanapa

Wai'anapanapa

7. Hasegawa General Store

Hasegawa General Store

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