Maui's Road to Hana

State: Hawaii. Type: scenic coastal highway drive on the island of Maui, Maui County, officially the Hana Highway (Hawaii Routes 36 and 360), running about 64.4 miles from Kahului to the town of Hana on Maui's windward east side. Crosses 59 bridges, 46 of them one lane wide, with roughly 620 curves. The full route opened December 18, 1926, and many bridges date to around 1910. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 15, 2001, and designated the Hana Millennium Legacy Trail in August 2000.

Maui's Road to Hana is one of Hawaii's most celebrated scenic drives, a winding coastal route that threads along the island's lush windward shore. Officially the Hana Highway (Hawaii Routes 36 and 360), it runs about 64.4 miles from Kahului to the small town of Hana, crossing 59 bridges, 46 of them just one lane wide, and negotiating some 620 curves through dense tropical rainforest and along steep sea cliffs. Although Hana sits only about 52 miles from Kahului, the narrow, twisting road takes roughly 2.5 hours to drive one way without stopping, and most visitors treat it as an all-day journey rather than a simple point-to-point trip. The appeal lies in the journey itself: waterfalls, one-lane bridges, roadside fruit stands, black-sand beaches, and overlooks appear in quick succession, and popular stops include the town of Keanae, Waianapanapa State Park with its black-sand beach, and, beyond Hana, the Oheo Gulch area within Haleakala National Park. The road is also historic, with roots in the King's Highway trail built centuries ago under Chief Piilani and a modern route completed in 1926. It rewards a slow, careful pace and advance planning over speed.

The Road to Hana is on the island of Maui, in Maui County, Hawaii. It follows the Hana Highway (Hawaii Routes 36 and 360) along Maui's windward, northeastern and eastern coast, beginning near Kahului and Paia and ending in the town of Hana in east Maui, a distance of about 64.4 miles. Beyond Hana, the road continues toward the Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park and the Oheo Gulch. It is a public highway rather than a gated attraction.

The windward east side of Maui that the road traverses is among the wettest, greenest parts of the island, which is exactly what creates its rainforest scenery and abundant waterfalls. Passing showers are common along the route year-round, and rain can make the narrow road and trailheads slick, while also swelling the waterfalls. Temperatures are warm and tropical throughout the year. Because conditions can shift quickly from sun to rain along the coast, travelers should be prepared for wet weather in any season.

The drive can be done year-round, but weather and timing within the day matter more than the season. Local guides commonly recommend starting early, by around 7 to 8 a.m., to get ahead of tour buses and afternoon rain and to secure parking at popular stops. The route should never be driven after dark given its curves and one-lane bridges. Rainier stretches make waterfalls more dramatic but the road more slippery, so travelers should watch current conditions.

The Road to Hana follows a corridor with deep historical roots. In the 16th century, Chief Piilani became the first ruler to unite the island of Maui, and he initiated construction of the Alaloa, or "long road," a roughly 138-mile trail encircling the island; later known as the King's Highway and completed by his son Kiha-a-Piilani, remnants of it survive today. Modern road construction in the area began in the 1870s in connection with the Hamakua Ditch irrigation project. The full modern route opened on December 18, 1926, with bridge construction continuing into the 1930s and paving completed by the 1960s; many of its concrete and steel bridges date to around 1910. The route's cultural and historical significance was formally recognized when it was designated the Hana Millennium Legacy Trail in August 2000 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 15, 2001.

The main activity is the scenic drive itself, stopping at waterfalls, overlooks, one-lane bridges and roadside stands along the way. Popular stops include short rainforest walks, waterfalls such as Twin Falls and the Upper Waikani (Three Bears) falls, arboretums and botanical gardens, the village of Keanae, and Waianapanapa State Park with its black-sand beach (which requires advance timed entry/parking reservations for many visitors). Beyond Hana, visitors can hike in the Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park, including the Pipiwai Trail and the Oheo Gulch pools. Swimming, photography and sampling local fruit and food at roadside stands are common along the route.

Key sights along or just off the route include Twin Falls near the start, the Garden of Eden Arboretum, Keanae Peninsula and its rugged lava coastline, Wailua and the Upper Waikani (Three Bears) falls, Waianapanapa State Park's black-sand beach and sea caves, the town of Hana, and, beyond it, the Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park with the Oheo Gulch ("Seven Sacred Pools") and the Pipiwai Trail. Waianapanapa State Park and Haleakala's Kipahulu district each have their own entry rules and fees separate from the free public highway.

The drive begins near Kahului on Maui, home to Kahului Airport (OGG), the island's main airport, so most visitors fly into Kahului and rent a car. The route starts around Paia and Kahului and follows the Hana Highway east. A rental car is essentially required to drive it independently; alternatively, guided van tours handle the driving, parking and narration for visitors uneasy about the winding road. There is no public transit designed for touring the route.

The Hana Highway is a public road and is technically open at all times, but it should only be driven in daylight because of its curves and one-lane bridges. Individual stops along the way keep their own hours and rules: Waianapanapa State Park and Haleakala National Park's Kipahulu district, for example, have posted hours and, for Waianapanapa, timed entry/parking reservations. Confirm each stop's hours and reservation requirements before setting out.

Driving the Hana Highway itself is free, as it is a public road. However, some stops charge separately: Waianapanapa State Park requires advance entry/parking reservations (booked through Hawaii's DLNR) for many visitors, and the Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park charges the park entrance fee. Some private gardens and attractions along the route also charge admission, and many roadside fruit stands are cash-only. Confirm current fees and reservation rules for each stop before your trip.

Plan a full day. The one-way drive alone takes about 2.5 to 3 hours without stops, and a round trip with stops typically runs 10 to 12 hours. Visitors who want a more relaxed pace, or who continue past Hana to the Kipahulu area, often stay overnight in Hana to spread the experience over two days.

Overnight options in and around the town of Hana are limited, ranging from a small number of hotels, inns and vacation rentals to more rustic stays, so booking well in advance is important if you plan to sleep in Hana. Staying overnight lets visitors explore popular sites early, before day-trippers arrive. Many travelers instead base themselves in busier areas such as Kahului, Kihei or Lahaina and do the road as a long day trip. To avoid naming specific properties, travelers should compare current Hana-area lodging directly.

Dining along the route is sparse. Between Paia and Hana there are limited restaurants, so guides commonly advise bringing a packed lunch, water and snacks. Roadside fruit stands, food trucks and small vendors appear along the way, many of them cash-only, offering local fruit, banana bread and simple plates. The town of Hana itself has a small number of eating options. Because choices are few and can be busy, planning food ahead is wise.

Beyond the town of Hana, the Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park, with the Oheo Gulch pools and the Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls, is a natural extension of the drive. Waianapanapa State Park's black-sand beach is a highlight along the route. Some adventurous travelers continue on the rougher "back way" around the southeast coast through Kaupo, though road conditions there vary. The rest of Maui, including Upcountry and the beaches of the west and south shores, lies back toward Kahului.

The nearest airport is Kahului Airport (OGG) on Maui, where the drive effectively begins. A rental car is the standard way to do the route independently; guided tour vans are the main alternative. There is no scheduled public transit designed to tour the Hana Highway, and services (including fuel) are extremely limited once you leave the Paia/Kahului area.

Drive slowly and defensively: the road has roughly 620 curves and 59 bridges, 46 of them one lane wide, so yield at one-lane bridges, use pullouts to let faster local traffic pass, and never drive it after dark. Fill up on fuel in Kahului or Paia before starting, since there are no gas stations for roughly 50 miles between Paia and Hana. Rain can make the road and trails slippery. Do not leave valuables visible in parked cars at trailheads. Be cautious around waterfalls, streams and ocean shores, where conditions can be hazardous. For any emergency, dial 911.

Carry plenty of water, a packed lunch and snacks, since food and fuel are scarce. Bring small bills for cash-only fruit stands and any parking fees, comfortable closed-toe shoes for muddy trails, rain protection, sun protection, bug spray, and a swimsuit and towel if you plan to swim. A full tank of gas from Kahului or Paia, a downloaded map or audio guide (cell service is spotty), and a secured spot for valuables are all wise. Motion-sickness remedies help passengers on the winding road.

Start early (around 7 to 8 a.m.) to beat tour buses and afternoon rain and to find parking at popular stops. Fill your gas tank before leaving Paia or Kahului. Book any required reservations, especially Waianapanapa State Park, in advance through Hawaii's DLNR. Consider a guided tour or downloadable audio-guide app if the winding road or navigation feels stressful, so you can focus on the scenery. Be a courteous driver, pulling over to let locals pass, and never rush the one-lane bridges. Consider staying overnight in Hana to enjoy the drive at a relaxed pace.

For any emergency, dial 911, the nationwide emergency number in the United States. The Road to Hana is a public highway with no central operator or information line; for park-specific issues in the Kipahulu area, contact Haleakala National Park at 808-572-4400.

Go Hawaii (Hawaii Tourism Authority) Maui / Road to Hana information - https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/maui

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.