So glad you are going to get back and finally see it, Finally getting to drive the road after missing out will probably make the journey all the more special! Maybe well do Kanapali only and then head out east? When the drop off is only 5-10 feet below, its nowhere near as intense feeling as when its several hundred feet along the north shore (even though its two lanes). Unsubscribe at any time. Starting your journey to Hana on this side is a great way toexperience this side ofHaleakala volcano. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. At last youve made it to Hana town. Back on the Hana Highway, as you leave Maliko Gulch, around mile marker 11, you'll pass through the rural area of Haiku, where you'll see banana patches, cane grass blowing in the wind, and forests of guava trees, avocados, kukui trees, palms, and Christmas berry. If you aren't planning on stopping at any of the waterfalls, trails, scenic viewpoints, etc., the drive straight from Lahaina to Hana will take a good 2.75-4 hours, depending on time of day. And if youre driving clockwise around the island, you will need to yield to them since theyre on the outside lane (which means you have the inside lane and it feels MUCH safer). According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Hana Highway - Road to Hana: Road to Hana Day Trip (From C$293.76) Small Group Road to Hana Adventure Tour with Pickup (From C$293.76) Small-Group Road to Hana Luxury Tour (From C$472.71) Famous Road to Hana Mercedes van with Waterfalls, Black Sand Beach & Lunch (From C . Heres my best tip for driving past Hana: always try to follow a car in front of you. Hopefully, we can help allay some of these fears? And yes, I have driven the Road to Hana in reverse, but really only because I used to live upcountry in Kula and it was the quicker way to get to Hana from my house. Exploring and discovering are all part of the journey and a van tour is often a long and pretty boring way to see the road, even if you get a great guide and they show you all the best locations. Yes, if you drive straight from Paia to Hana, you might see less people at the spots near Hana, but by the time you start working your way back to Paia those spots are still going to crowded. So many people dont really plan their trip to Hana and end up starting out late in the day and just stopping wherever they see cars so those stops along the north shore are still going to have visitors all day long. The Road to Hana is known for having winding roads. Or someone from the rural US where roads amble on for hundreds of miles with barely a bend would find the almost endless snaking of the road completely daunting. Get your car inspected . . HALEAKALA HI The road is very comfortable for one car to drive on, the problem comes when you pass another car. Its worth a stop if you have time. There are some spots that are popular with locals for camping and fishing, but I think those are best left unexplored by visitors unless youre taken there as a guest. The road is endlessly winding and many corners are seriously blind. The most iconic part of Bayburt-of Road is called Dereba Turns. The first being Alelele Falls which you can find on google maps here. The drive time from Kula town to Kahului is about 4 hours, but with all the fun things to do and see this is a whole day excursion lets say 10-12 hours. Just my opinion, and I've done it several times. We intend to stop only at Hanawi Falls briefly (1 hour), and we understand that it is otherwise a 2 hour drive. Right: Driving the back road to Hana is where you will find roads that can be dangerous or scary! . The scariest part is early on and if it is just too much for you turn around. Work as a team and play to your strengths. By taking a Tour the pressure and risk are on someone else and you can take comfort in the fact this person does it daily and as they are still around, and not on the bottom of a sea cliff, they must be doing something right. Despite what the name suggests, the town of Hana is not the destination; it's the drive itself. There's no doubt that Kahekili Highway is the most dangerous road in the US. And then, most people will end the Road to Hana at Hana or Kipahulu. Just indicate into one of the MANY pull-outs and let them by. Other parts get windy and are on a side of a cliff. And if you just want more details (more! 1. The first lookout on the left is Koki Beach overlook but you can skip this and continue to Hamoa Beach further ahead. Carretera a los Yungas ( Bolivia) Locally known as the 'route of death', this Bolivian road is 80 km long and considered by many as the world's most dangerous road. Pretty much everybody and their dog knows about driving the Road to Hana on Maui. The Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park is past Hana town and well worth the additional drive. The sheer remoteness of the area also plays on the mind. In any one stretch of the road, there is a spot big enough for your car to pull over so the oncoming car can pass. OAHU TRAVEL TIP: If you would prefer to follow along to an audio tour I recommend the Shaka Guide! If theyre open ; ) Ill note here that the National Park does NOT have water or snacks for sale so since the Kaupo Store is undependable, make sure you have everything you need once you leave Hana. On an island full of beautiful scenery, the Road to Hana is among Maui's most gorgeous attractions. Subscribe for Hawaii Travel Tips, my Latest Content and Much More. We will land in the morning, rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. An out and back drive if you will. I will say though, that while I have driven this in a Jeep, Ive also driven it in a sedan and a full size pickup. The road leads you through flourishing rainforests, flowing waterfalls, plunging pools and dramatic seascapes. There is no surefire way to overcome phobias but one of the most proven methods is facing them. Its mostly paved, but there are some portions that are gravel or a roughly graded cement. Preparation is an important part of safety, so make sure to plan your Road to Hana tour ahead of time. Hamoa Beach (MM 51) Heading away from Hana, turn makai (toward the ocean) onto Haneoo Road when you reach it. Mostly this stems from rumors (I like to call it an urban legend, hmm maybe Ill call it a jungle legend lol) about it being illegal to take rental cars back this way. Hwy 1 is typically straight, and because of this, drivers feel justified in driving at breakneck speeds. *Update when I was here May 2021 during a weekday around noon they were closed. But, there are plenty of people who think the back Road to Hana isnt really a big deal. P.S. By far the majority of people turn around once they reach Hana and drive the same road back to Paia. Also known as State Highway 340, it also happens to be one of the most dangerous roads in Maui. Hana Highway: 617 turns and 46 one-lane bridges in Hawaii Located on the eastern side of Maui, the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Hana Highway is one of the most scenic drives in the world. Im just going to describe it as accurately as possible and relay my personal experiences so that you can make a decision that youre comfortable with. **Ho'okipa Beach Park. So if the Road is not particularly dangerous, or even that scary why does it have such a fearsome reputation, and why are so many terrified of the road? Quite a few people continue on past Hana to the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park where youll find the Oheo Gulch (aka Seven Sacred Pools) and the Pipiwai Trailhead. BIG ISLAND Karakoram 'Friendship' Highway, China-Pakistan. Make sure your partner is aware of your fears and explain they may not be entirely rational but still real. Am I missing something youre trying to tell me? Plus youre on a cliff side and at some points without a guard rail. Any single track bridges or narrow one-car sections are marked with Give-way signs and road marking. Risks include tow trucks that take a long time and costs lots of money. Its 11 miles past Hana town and takes a little over half an hour to reach with no stops. Our Hawaiian Food Guide to Hawaiis Must Try Foods, Best Beaches in Maui, Hawaii Our Ultimate Maui Beach Guide, How To Visit Maui on a Budget Saving money on your Maui, Hawaii Vacation. 5) Is there any general safety advice you guys would give? So if you have no problem with the highway spouting off you dont see the big issue isnt particularly helpful to those that do fear it! Every time we come we think we will skip it this time, but instead find some reason to make the pilgrimage. What are you wanting to do west? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352867', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cars on the tight turns and one-lane sections); you're extremely unlikely to drive off the edge so long as you pay attention and don't speed; you don't want to take the southern (backside) road (it's at least as hazardous and a longer route to the airport). SOUTH DAKOTA Really the worst thing about it is the Hire Car prohibitions meaning you are uninsured and beyond the reach of the Hire Car Recovery truck (meaning you will have to pay for recovery yourself $$$). So is the road justifiably scary? The Road to Hana is by its very nature one of the most dangerous things you will do on your Maui Vacation! Then wed arrive in Nahiku about 3pm. They all flow directly into each other, but they have their own mile markers, which are crucial navigation points on this beautiful rainforest drive. Mile Marker 2 Hana Highway (360) Twin Falls. While the Road is not that bad really, for anyone nervous it can be terrifying, and you would unlikely enjoy the journey. While the frontside is super windy and youre in and out of jungles, the backside is flat, wide open, and you can see for MILES. This will leave you with a deeper understanding and connection to Hawaii. We will land in the morning, (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You'll battle the traffic with other day trippers, missing some of the drive's highlights due to time constraints and eventually running out of . Skip it. What makes this drive so special? : @kapenamorgan Yes. Before I go onif you want to read my other Road to Hana posts, you can find them here: MY favorite Road to Hana itinerary, tips for driving the Road to Hana, and where to stay in Hana (in case you decide you want to spend the night). road to Hana. For full transparency,I have sprinkled some affiliate links in this post. So if you're interested in the Road to Hana, then you may also be interested in these top things around Maui: Waianapanapa State Park Nakalele Blowhole Lahaina Banyan Court Hookipa Beach Maui Ocean Center (Aquarium of Hawaii) Iao Valley State Monument Haleakala National Park After witnessing 34 critical accidents from 2006-2008, it's easy to see why A537 is nicknamed "The Widow Maker." The tours use GPS to offer turn-by-turn directions and audio narration with stories and music. Both before and during. Travel to or from the region of Hana to any other major population center takes several hours by car. 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