What is The Road to Hana? Your Guide to This Unique Adventure!

No trip to Maui is complete without a drive down The Road to Hana! So what is it, and why is it so special?

It’s probably not like any other road you’ve been on. The road includes over 600 turns and 59 (mostly) one-land bridges over 51 miles.

Along the way, you’ll pass beaches, waterfalls, lush forests, amazing views of the ocean, roadside markets/stands, quaint towns, and the occasional chicken!

Continue reading so you know what to look for, and you don’t miss a thing!

Published September 13, 2024…Updated January 9, 2025

Before We Begin…

There are some things you need to know before beginning your roadtrip to Hana.

• The road has literally over 600 turns, often tight and/or blind turns. Use caution!
• There are 49-59 bridges on the road (depending on who you ask), most of which are one-lane bridges. Be ready to yield to oncoming traffic.
• The road itself is narrow in many places. Again, use caution.
• We recommend getting back from your trip before the sun goes down. There are no lights on the road.
• The speed limit on The Road to Hana is 25 mph.

Pro Tip

• If you have a tendency to get car sick, you might want to bring along some Dramamine.
• Reset your odometer to 0 at mile marker #0. It will help you keep track of where you are and what’s coming up next.
• Before you get to Pa’ia Town, there’s a great little bakery in Haiku called “Baked on Maui”. It’s a fun, quirky little place with great coffee and pastries. We stopped here for breakfast and LOVED it!

Where is The Road to Hana?

There is some disagreement about where The Road to Hana actually begins.

• Some say it begins in Pa’ia Town, at mile marker #7.
• Others say The Road to Hana includes both Highway 36 and Highway 360. Highway 36 begins in Kahului, so that’s where The Road to Hana begins.
• Still others say it doesn’t begin until Highway 36 turns into Highway 360, where the mile markers reset at #0. It’s about 10 miles past Pa’ia.
• We say it doesn’t matter where it starts – it’s a great trip wherever it starts!

The map below shows the first six stops on The Road to Hana, beginning in Kahului and including the “Baked on Maui” Cafe.

(You may click anywhere on the map to enlarge it.)

The next map shows the next six stops on The Road to Hana, from Waikamoi Nature Trail to Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside Park.

(You may click anywhere on the map to enlarge it.)

The final map shows the final seven stops on The Road to Hana, from Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside to Haleakala National Park in Kipahulu.

(You may click anywhere on the map to enlarge it.)

Pa’ia Town, Where The Road to Hana Begins!

One of the first stops on The Road to Hana is Pa’ia Town (or just Pa’ia). This cute little town is home to several shops, cafes, coffee shops, etc. It’s a great spot to stop for some breakfast as you begin your journey or pick up a sack lunch for your ride. But beware…you could easily spend one or two hours here…or three…

Pa’ia is a coastal town with a beautiful sand beach. Shopping, sun, and sand – you might want to return and spend a day there!

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning – (pai-uh); “Noisy” – Refers to the sound of the crashing waves
• Where is it? Mile Marker #7

Ho’okipa Beach

This is a beautiful beach with a beautiful view of the beautiful ocean and the beautiful mountains. Did I mention it’s a beautiful spot? As you can see from the photo, you can drive to a point above the area, which has a wonderful view.

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning – (ho-oh-key-pa); “Hospitality; to enable a visitation to occur; to entertain”
• Where is it? Mile Marker #9

Pe’ahi Surfing Area

Pe’ahi (nicknamed “Jaws”) is a well-known surfing spot due to the enormous waves that roll in there. It is one of the top surfing spots in the world, and many say it’s the best.

The best place to watch some world-class surfers do their thing is from the Peahi Lookout, a bluff overlooking the ocean. It is not accessible by regular cars, and even 4×4 vehicles can get stuck here. Your best bet is to walk in—it’s about 3.0 miles roundtrip—and you should expect to get muddy!

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning – (pay-ah-hee); “Wave”
• Where is it? Mile Marker #13
• What Else? This is where Route 36 becomes Route 360 (for no apparent reason), and the Mile Markers reset to #0. You might want to reset your odometer to 0 here so it’s easier to keep up with where you are.

Twin Falls

Twin Falls is not just a waterfall (actually two waterfalls) – it’s also a great swimming hole. Stop here for a dip in the pool and some great photo opps!

Fast Facts

• Where is it? Mile Marker #2
• What Else? Twin Falls is usually crowded, so the parking area fills quickly. The admission fee is $10. You cannot make reservations here—it’s first come, first served.

Waikamoi Ridge Trail

Waikamoi Ridge Trail is a 1-mile out-and-back trail rated “Moderate” by AllTrails. It meanders through the tropical rainforest, where the plants and trees are large and colorful. It’s a great place to stop and stretch your legs.

Look for the variety of trees along the trail – mango, ‘ohia, eucalyptus, bamboo, kukui nut. Large ferns and huge “elephant ears” (philodendron) line the path. Listen for the birds singing and chattering above you.

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning – (why-kah-mo-ee)”Water of the moi taro, referring to a watershed of the same name”
• Where is it? Mile Marker #9

Pro Tip

• This trail has a tendency to become muddy and puddly, especially after a rain shower (which happens frequently here). Bring shoes that you won’t mind getting muddy.

Garden of Eden

I don’t believe this is the actual Garden of Eden, but it’s still beautiful. The garden paths are surrounded by colorful tropical plants overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Formally named the Garden of Eden Arboretum & Botanical Garden, it was created by Alan Bradbury, Maui’s first I.S.A.-certified (International Society of Arboriculture) arborist and landscape designer. The garden is 26 acres of color and beauty.

You can “do” the Arboretum in as little as 30 minutes, but you will probably want to spend 1-2 hours there.

Fast Facts

• Where is it? Mile Marker #10
• Cost?
  • $20 (16 Years +)
  • $10 (Ages 5 -16)
  • Children 5 Years and Under are Free
  • Discounts available to parties of 5 or more, military, students, AAA members, and Kama’aina
• Hours? 8:00 am to 4:00 pm daily

Kaumahina State Wayside

In Hawaii, state parks are often referred to as “waysides”. This park has picnic tables, great views, and, most importantly – restrooms! There is also a very nice view from here!

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning – (cow-mah-he-nah)
• Where is it? Mile Marker #12

Ke’anae Peninsula

The Ke’anai Peninsula is home to Waialohe Park, located at the end of the peninsula, featuring spectacular views of the ocean. The park is rated 4.8 stars on Google. Great photo opps!

There’s also an arboretum here, where 150 varieties of plants are grown, including taro, bananas, breadfruit, papaya, and ginger. Look for the rainbow eucalyptus trees showing off their colorful bark as you stroll through the six-acre arboretum.

Best of all, Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread! Pick up some goodies on your way back to the main road. Aunty Sandy has been featured on Gordon Ramseyʻs “Unchartered” television series on the National Geographic channel!

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning – (kay-a-knee) “The Large Mullet”, named for the abundant fish in the area
• Where is it? Mile Marker #16

Halfway to Hana

The appropriately named “Halfway to Hana” is…halfway to Hana. A couple of signs mark the spot, and there is a roadside market where you can get a snack to tide you over for the second half of the drive.

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning – (hah-nah); “Work; craft, do”
• Where is it? Mile Marker #17

Upper Waikani Falls (Three Bears)

The Three Bears is one of our favorite waterfalls on The Road to Hana. It sneaks up on you – you look up, and there it is!

Getting photos of the falls is a little tricky. They are right on the road, next to a 90-degree turn on the road. There’s really no good place to park here (but we managed to make it work with some “creative parking”.)

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning – (why-kah-knee); “Roaring water – A reference to the roaring sound of the waterfall”
• Where is it? Mile Marker #19, right next to the road

Pro Tip

• If you stop here for a photo, please be careful, especially if you get out of the car. Oncoming traffic may be busy looking at the falls and not be aware of you!

Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside

This small wayside park has three things going for it…

• A picnic area
• A waterfall (no swimming allowed)
• Restrooms!
• Plus, the name is fun to say!

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning
  • (poo-ah-ah or poo-ah); “Pig, swine”
  • (kah-ah); “Rolling”; “Pua’a Ka’a means ‘Rolling Pigs”, named for the pigs that were brought here by British settlers in the 1800s.
• Where is it? Mile Marker #22
  

Nahiku Marketplace

We were surprised by the variety of establishments at this roadside marketplace! If you’re hungry, try Nahiku Cafe, Island Chef, Island Style Tacos, Hana Highway Sorbet, or My Thai. Then, go souvenir shopping from the local vendors and stretch your legs.

There are restrooms here, but they are porta-potties. (Do you really need to go that badly?)

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning – (nah-he-ku); “The Seven”, referring to the seven stars of the Big Dipper constellation
• Where is it? Mile Marker #28

Pro Tip

• Skip driving down Nahiku Rd., as some guidebooks suggest. It is NOT a part of the Hana Highway, and the locals don’t appreciate the traffic.

Kahanu Garden

Kahanu Garden is one of five gardens belonging to the National Tropical Botanical Garden, an organization “perpetuating tropical plants, ecosystems, and cultural heritage.” The garden grows bananas, canoe plants (sweet plants, taro, and breadfruit), hala, and palm trees.

Kahanu Garden is also home to Piʻilanihale Heiau, a temple believed to be the largest ancient structure in Polynesia. Pi’ilanihale (literally “House of Piʻilani”) was named for Chief Piʻilani, the ruler who united the entire island of Maui.

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning – (kah-hah-new); “Cooling breeze; refreshing wind; breath of life; tranquility; calm”
• Where is it? Mile Marker #31
• What Else? Both guided and self-guided tours are offered here.
  • Self-Guided Tours – All guests 13 years old and above – $18/person
  • Guided Tours – All guests 13 years old and above – $18/person
  • Make reservations and purchase tickets at https://ntbg.org/gardens/kahanu/

Wai’anapanapa State Park

This beautiful park has stunning ocean views but is best known for its black sand beach. The park also features hiking trails and caves.

Plus…”Wai’anapanapa“…it’s another name that’s fun to say out loud, right?!!

Wai’anapanapa State Park also offers cabin rentals and camping.

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning
  • (why-uh-nah-puh-nah-puh) or…
  • (vai-uh-nah-puh-nah-puh); “Glistening fresh water”
• Where is it? Mile Marker #32
• What Else? Reservations are required for both entry and parking. This park is very popular, and there are no same-day reservations allowed, so be sure to plan ahead. Make your reservations at dlnr.hawaii.gov.

Hana Town

Hana Town, or simply Hana, is often considered “real Hawaii”—unlike much of Maui, it has changed very little. Spend some time here—relax and swim at the beach at Hana Bay Beach Park, and visit the Hana Cultural Center and Museum (temporarily closed but scheduled to reopen on January 6, 2025. However, it is still closed as of January 9, 2025…)

And don’t forget to check out the Hasegawa General Store, the oldest family-run business on Maui!

You might want to spend the night in Hana. The Hana-Maui Resort is a World of Hyatt resort that overlooks Kaihalulu Bay. It has 70 rooms (mostly bungalows and cottages), two on-site restaurants, a spa, and you can even fly there directly from any airport on Maui in the resort’s private, 10-passenger plane!

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation and Meaning – (hah-nah); “Work; craft; do)
• Where is it? Mile Marker #34

Pro Tip

• Go to hanamaui.com for an up-to-date Hana Events Calendar, including events like the Hana Farmers’ Market and Taco Tuesdays!

Hamoa Beach

You could be forgiven for thinking The Road to Hana ends at Hana, but it doesn’t. Next up is Hamoa Beach. This large beach is 100′ deep and 1000′ long! Hamoa Beach is quite beautiful and family-friendly, but its real claim to fame is its surf – the water here is excellent for surfing!

The beach has a mixture of black and white sand, giving it a ” salt and pepper” look.

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning – (hah-mo-ah); “Abundance”
• Where is it? Mile Marker #51
• What Else? Getting to Hamoa Beach requires parking on the road that overlooks the beach and walking down a steep hill.

Pro Tip

• There are no coral reefs here to slow down the waves, so they can become very rough very quickly as they reach the shore. PLEASE stay close to your kids in the water!
• Please Note: After Hana Town, the Mile Markers begin at #51 and begin counting backward. 

Wailua Falls

Wailua Falls drops 80′ over two levels into a refreshing little swimming hole. There is a trail/footpath to the falls that begins on the right end of the bridge.

You can see this waterfall from the bridge on the road, so people often unexpectedly stop here to take photos. Be patient (and creative), and you may even find a parking spot just past the bridge.

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning – (wai-loo-ah); “Two waters”
• Where is it? Mile Marker #45
• What Else? Don’t confuse this Wailua Falls (Maui) with the other Wailua Falls (Kauai). The Kauai falls were featured in the 1970’s TV show, “Fantasy Island”. The Maui falls were not.

Haleakala National Park at Kipahulu – Pipiwai Trail

The Pipiwai Trail is found in the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park. Unlike the other sections of Haleakala, some of which are up to 10,000′ above sea level and covered in a barren, volcanic landscape, Kipahulu is lush and green and touches the ocean. It’s a beautiful area.

The trail is 4 miles roundtrip (AllTrails says it is 3.4 miles) and is rated “Moderate” due to some elevation climb. There are several interesting stops along the way. Mahahiku Falls Viewpoint is only 0.5 miles in.

A bit past Makahiku Falls is a huge, crazy tree! You can’t miss it—the tree is undescribable (at least for a guy like me from the mountains in north Georgia), and people will climb in it and take photos of it—like we did.

The Bamboo Forest is one mile in. It was both surprising and wonderful. Bamboo surrounds you on all sides, including overhead. The sound of the bamboo stalks bumping into each other in the breeze makes this area sound like a giant bamboo wind chime. It is so calming and peaceful here.

Waimoku Falls Viewpoint is at the end of the trail. From here, you can see the 400-foot waterfall clearly.

You will return the same way you hiked in.

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning –
  • (ha-lay-ah-kuh-lah); “House of the Sun”
  • (kee-pah-who-lu); “Fetch from the exhausted gardens”, a reference to the farming community that once thrived here
  • (pee-pee-why); “A place where water springs up or oozes out of the ground or rocks”
• Where is it? Mile Marker #42, in Haleakala National Park
• What Else? The Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park has a visitor center, restrooms, and a campground.

Haleakala National Park at Kipahulu – Kuloa Point Trail to ‘Ohe’o Gulch (aka Pools of ‘Ohe’o or Seven Sacred Pools)

Kuloa Point Trail begins at the same spot Pipiwai Trail begins…they just head off in opposite directions.

The trail is a 0.5-mile easy loop with two main features. First, follow the trail to Kuloa Point, which looks out over the Pacific Ocean. The view is beautiful, and visitors often find a spot to sit and take in the scenery. (There is no beach here—sorry.)

Second, Ohe’o Gulch is just a few steps from Kuloa Point. Also known as the Seven Sacred Pools, this area features seven pools that flow into one another until they reach the ocean. The lower pools of Ohe’o Gulch may be seen from the Kuloa Point Trail.

Fast Facts

• Pronunciation & Meaning – (oh-hey-o); “Something special”
• Where is it? Mile Marker #42
• What Else? The Seven Sacred Pools are not actually sacred to the Hawaiian people. A local hotelier named them decades ago to increase tourist traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long does it take to drive The Road to Hana? If you drive The Road to Hana straight through, with no stops, it will take you about 4-5 hours (roundtrip). But if you stop for photos, exploring, hiking, swimming, shopping, etc., it can take much longer – up to 12 hours roundtrip!
• Is The Road to Hana paved? Yes, it is, from start to finish. No 4×4 vehicles required.

• Where are the best restaurants along The Road to Hana?
  • “Baked on Maui” – Located in Haiku; Breakfast; Lunch; Dine in or take out
  • “The Hana Picnic Lunch Company” – Located in Pa’ia; Breakfast and Lunch to go
  • “Nahiku Marketplace” – Located at mile marker #28; Tacos; Hawaiian; BBQ
  • There are also several roadside stops and food trucks along the way, as well as several restaurants in Hana itself.

• Does the road just stop at Haleakala National Park? What’s past that? If you continue past Haleakala National Park for 3-4 miles, Highway 360 (Hana Highway) becomes Highway 31 (Piilani Highway).
• Follow Piilani Highway, and you’ll pass roadside fruit stands, a coffee shop, scenic spots, views of the ocean, churches, etc., until you reach the Maui Honey Bee Sanctuary (17-18 miles).
• Here Highway 31 (Piilani Highway) turns north and becomes Highway 37, which will eventually take you through Kula all the way to Kahului, where you started (a bit over 28 miles).

(Click anywhere on the map below to enlarge it.)

Pro Tip

• Try Grandma’s Coffee House on Highway 37 in Keokea, a few miles before you reach Kula – it’s something of an institution on Maui.
• One of our favorite restaurants in Maui is on this route in Kula: the Kula Bistro. It offers great food, friendly service, and wonderful desserts. It’s worth the drive!

The Bottom Line – What is The Road to Hana? Your Guide to This Unique Adventure!

So now you have an answer to the question, “What is the Road to Hana?” I hope we’ve convinced you that this drive is not optional—it’s mandatory! Your trip to Maui will be incomplete without it.

If you have time, we suggest making it a two-day trip. Spend some time exploring Pa’ia Town, stop as often as you like on the road, stay the night in Hana, look around a bit the next morning, then drive back at a leisurely pace – either the way you came or continuing on past Hana all the way to Kula.

Aloha!

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