Cannot Miss Sights Along the Road to Hana
The Road to Hana in Maui is not about the destination but is all about the journey. There are so many things to see along the road you could spend multiple days exploring all the stops along the road. Most people choose to only spend one day on the road, so in this guide, I’ll cover the must-see stops you cannot miss!
Let’s get started!
Road to Hana Basic Information
The Road to Hana is a 64.4 mile-long road that connects the town of Kahului to the town of Hana. On your drive, you’ll pass waterfalls, rainforests, beaches, seaside cliffs, and more. Along this scenic drive, you’ll pass 620 curves and 59 one-lane bridges. This makes travel on the road fairly slow, so plan to take your time on the drive instead of rushing from one site to another.
As there’s so much to see on the Road to Hana, plan to leave early to avoid the crowds while also making sure you have enough time to visit all the sites without feeling rushed. Some guides recommend doing the Road to Hana in reverse, but if you start early there’s really not a need.
Trekker Tip: Download the Guide Along app on your phone before setting out on the Road to Hana. This app will track your position through GPS and will let you know where all the stops are along the Road to Hana. It will also give historical and cultural info about Maui. The narration is different in both directions on the road, keeping you entertained the entire trip.
Do not try to go around the southwest side of the island as the road can be dangerous. Most rental car companies do not allow you to drive rentals past the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park, so plan to turn around after this and head back towards Kahului the same way you came.
Only park in designated areas along the Road to Hana and avoid trespassing on private property. Beware, some guides tell you to ignore the no trespassing signs to see certain sights, but fines can be fairly hefty for doing so. Don’t get stuck going off-road as it’s a far drive for tow trucks, so not only will you be waiting a while for a tow, but it could also cost upwards of a thousand dollars.
Plan to bring a picnic lunch with you as there are not many places to grab food on the way. There are many great places to stop and enjoy your lunch while enjoying some nice scenery. There are also not any places to get gas until you reach Hana. Plan to fill up gas in Kahului before setting out on the road to Hana to make sure you’ll have enough gas for the entire day.
Cannot Miss Stops
Ke'anae Arboretum
Take a walk through a botanical garden to see a mixture of native and non-native Hawaiian trees. There are more than 150 varieties of tropic plants to walk through along a half-mile path. Most of the plants have signs explaining the plant variety so you can know what you’re looking at.
The stop of the arboretum is easy to miss, so if you’re using the GyPSY app, it’ll alert you to when to stop. You’ll pull off the side of the road and pass a gate to enter the arboretum. Look for other cars pulled off in the area for the best places to park.
The highlight of the arboretum is seeing the rainbow eucalyptus trees. Located close to the entrance of the arboretum you can walk right next to the rainbow trees, take in the scents of eucalyptus, and snap some great pictures.
You can also stop at the Garden of Eden Arboretum to see the rainbow eucalyptus trees, but I’d recommend stopping at Ke’anae Arboretum instead since it’s free to enter!
Wai'anapanapa State Park
One of the most popular places to stop along the Road to Hana is at Wai’anapanapa State Park. Take a walk on a black sand beach where the sand is made from volcanoes. Some parts of the sand are more like black pebbles, so bring good footwear to walk to the beach. However, once you reach the water, the sand becomes really fine and is a great place to walk barefoot on.
Because of the park’s popularity, reservations are required to enter the park, with same-day reservations not allowed. Visit the Wa’anapanapa State Park website to make your reservation in advance. Reservations are made for certain blocks of time and you must both enter and leave during your time slot. If you want to stay for an extended period of time, you can book more than one time slot. Reservations can be made 14 days in advance, so plan ahead to make sure you get your preferred time slot as spots can fill up quickly. Time slots are:
7:00 AM - 10:00 AM
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
12:30 PM - 3:00 PM
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Fees to enter the park are $5 per person for non-residents, while children 3 and under are free. Parking fees are $10 per vehicle. Plan to book both your entry and parking when making your reservation.
You can also take some short hikes to get some great views overlooking the cliffs. Most people tend to stop, take a picture, and leave, making the park fairly uncrowded. However, I recommend taking some time to enjoy the scenery and relax on the beach.
Hana Lava Tube
The Hana Lava Tube is located right next to Wai’anapanapa State Park, making it great to see right before or after visiting the park. You can walk through a tube formed by lava approximately 960 years ago.
You can take a self-guided tour any day of the week from 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM. Tours cost $15 per person and are free for children 5 and under. You’ll be supplied a flashlight to take on the tour as there are no lights in the cave. During your walk in the lava tube, you’ll be able to see stalactites and stalagmites formed by the lava. There are also signs posted throughout the cave explaining how it was formed as well as the history of the cave. The temperature in the cave is between 66 and 72 degrees year-round with a nearly constant 70% humidity, making it typically cooler than outside. Plan to spend about 45 minutes to an hour exploring the lava tube.
Koki Beach Park
This is a great spot to view the local surfers during favorable conditions. However, because of the high waves and rip tides, it is not recommended you swim here. The sand has a dark red color here, making it unique from the typical white sand beaches in Maui. Take a quick stop here, or eat a picnic lunch and take in the sights.
Wailua Falls
Wailua Falls is Maui’s “most photographed waterfall”, partially due to how easy it is to view it. Located right along the side of the road, you don’t even have to get out of your car to see it. The waterfall plunges approximately 80 ft down the slide of a cliff before landing in a pool.
If you want to walk right up to the falls, park just after the bridge overlooking the falls. Then take a short walk right to the base of the falls. This is a great waterfall and pool to swim in as it’s so close to the car to dry off afterward. I’d recommend taking a quick dip in the pool, but be prepared, the water was really cold!
Kipahulu District
Kipahulu District is a part of Haleakala National Park, but can only be accessed by driving the Road to Hana. Entrance fees to visit the park are $30 per vehicle and are good for 3 days. Or if you’re visiting multiple national parks in a year, you can buy an annual pass for $80. The park gate closes at 5:00 PM daily, so make sure you exit the park before then or risk getting stranded overnight.
Trekker Tip: If you plan to visit the Haleakala Summit section of the National Park, plan to visit within 3 days of visiting the Kipahulu District. National park entrance fees are good for 3 days, so plan ahead so you don’t have to pay the fee twice.
Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls
Take a 4-mile roundtrip hike to reach the stunning Waimoku Falls. You’ll start off on the trail hiking up a hill before reaching a giant banyan tree. Pass the banyan tree to walk through a lush bamboo forest. Most of the walk through the bamboo forest will be on boardwalks and across footbridges. After leaving the bamboo forest you’ll reach your final destination and be rewarded with the Waimoku Falls which plunges down 400 ft. This hike includes 800 ft of elevation gain, so plan ahead and bring some water with you.
Several people were going past the fence at the end of the hike, but it is unsafe to get closer to the waterfall than where the trail ends, so follow all postage signage in the park.
Ohe’o Gulch
The Ohe’o Gluch is also known as the Seven Sacred Pools. However, depending on water levels, there can be more than seven pools, making the name somewhat misleading. However, no matter how many pools there are, this is a can’t miss sight to see the waterfall, pools, and ocean views! Take a short 0.6-mile loop to get great views of the waterfalls. Swimming in the pools is often closed due to unsafe conditions, so follow all signage in the park.
Charles Lindbergh Grave
Visit the Palapala Ho’oamu Church which was built in 1857. Stop for a quick look and see the burial ground of the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh. This stop doesn’t require more than about 10 minutes but is great for any aviation enthusiasts.
Suggested Itinerary
There is so much to see along the Road to Hana, you’ll want to make sure you can fit it all in during a one-day trip. Below is my suggested itinerary with the order to visit the stops and how much time to spend at each stop so you don’t miss any of the top sights. This itinerary has you hitting all the stops on the way to Hana that way you can drive back in one go before it starts getting too dark.
You’ll want to start your drive early so you don’t miss a thing. If you’re staying on the west side of Maui, plan to leave around 6:00 AM. Stop in Kahului to fill up your car with gas before beginning the Road to Hana. Drive a while along the road and take in the sights before stopping at the first stop at the Ke’anae Arboretum. Plan to get to the arboretum around 8:30 AM and spend an hour walking around the gardens.
From the arboretum, head to Wai’napanapa State Park. This will get you to the park around 10:00 AM so plan to make reservations for the 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM time slot. Spend an hour to an hour and a half at the park enjoying the black sand before heading to the Hana Lava Tube. You’ll backtrack about 2 miles to the lava tube, but this will ensure you get to the state park during your reserved time slot. Spend about 45 minutes exploring the lava tube and plan to leave a little after noon.
Drive a short distance to Koki Beach Park and spend about half an hour at the park. Plan to leave by 1:00 PM to make your way towards Wailua Falls. Give yourself a little time to swim in the falls and dry off before hopping in your car towards the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park.
Plan to arrive at the national park around 2:00 PM so you have enough time to hike the Pipiwai Trail and Ohe’o Gulch. You’ll want enough time to see both of the sights and exit the part before the gates close at 5:00 PM. Then take a short drive to Charles Lindbergh’s Grave and spend about 10 minutes looking at the church and seeing the burial site.
Head back the way you came along the Hana highway. Do NOT go around the southwest side of the island as it violates most rental car agreements. Head back to your accommodations before it starts getting too dark on the way and relax after a fun-filled day.
More Maui Info
I hope you enjoyed this guide to the Road to Hana. For more info on things to do in Maui, where to stay, what to eat, what to pack, and more, check out our guide to Maui!
As Hawaii’s second-largest island, there is so much to see. This guide includes all you need to know to plan the perfect week in Maui!