And it truly is fabulous. . If you couldnt look out and see the ocean, youd probably think you were in parts of Texas or another western state. Okay, so lets get on with the questions, Theres a lot of hype about how bad the backside of the Road to Hana is. MAUI This is great to know thanks. Does this add a lot to the drive, having the top down? Copyright 2023 Lincoln Travel Co ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, guide for sunrise at Haleakala National Park, 20 of the best adventure activities on Maui, the best things to do on a Maui honeymoon. Whatever you have to say just drop us a comment below. The road is tricky to drive and requires care, but this is very obvious to anyone driving the road and as long as sensible precautions are taken, such as, you know, slowing down for corners, more so for blind narrow bends and giving way at the one-way sections, obeying the speed limits and generally just not being a braindead moron, there really is nothing about the road to make it unsafe. (This is to say, they will say if something is scary, and the back road to Hana was not, to them.). Ive yet to see a current rental car contract that even mentions where you can or cant take the car on Maui (and I always read the fine print!). Does the inside lane/outside lane play more into the safety of it than the road conditions themselves? And to finish with my most solid argumentif a big tour bus can drive the backroad to Hana, so can you ; ). After walking it, I did not have any regrets in deciding not to drive the back road to Hana! By far the majority of people turn around once they reach Hana and drive the same road back to Paia. Theyre seriously the only company I ever use. Its a cumulative thing that adding in the fairly stressful driving conditions can tip people over the edge to the point the drive is just no longer fun. From there its about a two hour drive (with no stops) due east to the town of Hana. Really just understanding that the Road is actually perfectly serviceable and 99% of the fear is in your mind can help overcome that fear. Besides that, I just dont think youre going to make that much of a difference on the crowd levels at each stop by doing it in reverse. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. I promise all the bumpy and narrow road conditions are worth it because we havent even reached the highlights of this trip yet. Read more about the backside of Hana Here! And, they also did do another one-lane road drive on Maui and for that drive, they DID think that the West Mauis back road was scary! We are planning a trip to Hana on Aug 7. We know simply by writing this some people will be up in arms at us stating the road is just a road and is nothing to fear. We know for most people the Hana Highway is fine. Our guide had lots of experience in driving to Hana via the southern route, thus making it much safer compared to attempting it on our own! So you are trying to figure out whether you should do a Road to Hana tour or if you should do the Road to Hana on your own! Rating: In a nutshell: If you like the road less traveled, continuing on past Hana around Haleakala is an adventure worth taking. Read the fine print as driving the back road to Hana, Maui maybreach your rental car agreement or insurance. It really is just better for everyone to pull over and just let less patient people past. So heres the scenario: people read about long lines of cars, limited parking spaces, and crowded hikes, waterfalls, etc. This view may be one of my favorite views on Maui. TRAVEL TIP: If you would prefer to follow along to an audio tour I recommend the Shaka Guide! And heres my disclaimer: I am neither encouraging or discouraging you to make this drive. Guoliang Tunnel ( China) The average visitor is not going to think twice about the number of people they encounter along this road unless they were truly thinking they would be the ONLY ones driving to Hana. 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. There are literally signs posted telling you to honk as you go around the blind corners. We will land in the morning, rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. 3 Bears Upper Waikani Falls (MM 19) Another quick stop on the side of the road a must stop on the road to hana. You suggest skipping Kanapali altogether. What about a convertible? You want to go back the way you came, most likely, rather than going around the back way. It is a paved road so you do not need a 4WD. P.S. You can help by pulling over to let people faster than you by, there is nothing to be gained by holding someone up, they will get increasingly angry, more erratic, and make your trip far more uncomfortable. But it comes with risks and possibly some stress. The Shaka guide tours are great for independent explorers who want the freedom to explore on their own terms, but like to learn about the spots theyre visiting. We personally have no issues at all but the fear is very real in many people and cant be dismissed. IDAHO Among the recent ocean-related fatalities around Maui, one stands out to Keanae resident Napua Hueu the death of a 38-year-old Lahaina man who hiked the Puka Maui trail and became unresponsive . So looking out for these symptoms can show how scared you are by a certain situation. One of the leading causes of accidental deaths anywhere in the world is Road Traffic Accidents. Try to leave Paia by 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. and plan on being back in Paia before dark. We have written extensively and lyrically about the road in our other articles and we imagine if you are seriously questioning the journey you are pretty aware of what the road is so we will not go in too deep here. HALEAKALA HI Next on the left side of the road perched on a hill, youll see a little shop with several potted plants and such. So take the time to research the road in advance and be . It takes anywhere from 2 to 4 hours to complete depending how long you stop and take it in. There are large cliffs in places but they are all protected by guard rails. We did the Road many years ago when it was more of a cow path. Yes, it is remote, but there are hundreds of people driving the road, day and night, you are not going to be alone and stranded, even if you have to stop in a cell black spot. Driving the stretch takes more than two and a half hours, even with no stops, because of the narrow, winding road and nearly 60 bridges with 46 that are one lane only. Kipahulu is home to some of the Road to Hana's most famous stops from the Pools at O'heo (Seven Sacred Pools), Pipiwai Trail, and Waimoku Falls. So is the road justifiably scary? They are indeed blind corners (you cant see if anyone is coming around the other side), but its not actually that scary. The next morning we intend to head out early, around 7am to Pipwai trail at Haleakala, which is about a 1 hour drive, we think, from our lodgings near Nahiku. When driving the Highway, We tend to be calm as Hindu cows. The other feature of the highway is the endless bridges. NATIONAL LAKESHORES ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353082', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui to start the RTH? Be sure to take your lunch and dont e xpect a bathroom break! I will say, the paved road is still pretty narrow and even though theres no drop off on either side, if you see a local (anyone really) coming to meet you, pull over as far as you can and stop where theres a good place because they will come BLAZING through. Hanawi Falls is located right after Mile Marker 24 on the Road to Hana. GRAND CANYON AZ 808/572-1693), a good stop for drinks or snacks for the ride. Certainly not for tourists. About 40 minutes into your drive youll spot the Kihikinui wind turbines. We hoped to stop at the garden of eden but it had a long line of cars so we kept going, we made a reservation at the black sand beach. If you ask them directly, theyll hem and haw (they give you the strong impression that its forbidden) but basically what it comes down to is they wont come and get you if you have a problem.. PEARL HARBOR HI 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). 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 one of the best things to do in Maui! I think nearly all of us have some kind of phobia, some irrational, spiders, birds, outdoors, speeches, heights, flying. It is a paved road so you do not need a 4WD. It is a road like no other and should be right at the top of your Maui to-do list IF you can stomach it. The Road to Hana is not undiscovered anymore and there are just people everywhere. Maui's "road to Hana" is a curvy coastal road with views of cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, and miles and miles of lush rainforest. Every time we come we think we will skip it this time, but instead find some reason to make the pilgrimage. I wouldn't suggest driving through Kahakuloa to any tourists. 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). In ancient times most of the Hawaiians lived in this area opposed to current day West Maui or South Maui. 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 $$$). would find such a tight narrow twisty track nightmarish. One of the best places to view Hanawi Falls is from the Hanawi Falls Bridge. The Road to Hana is said to be one of the most dangerous roads in the world. Its a no brainer. While a lot of the guides/apps say to try to be the first car in a line while driving through the frontside so you dont have to watch their brake lights too closely while youre looking around, I think the opposite is true when youre driving past Hana. Theyve got the largest selection of rentals youll find anywhere and you can easily filter to find exactly what youre looking for. Unsubscribe at any time. But there is more to it than that the enduring reputation that this is a dangerous road manifests itself in your mind. Four wheel drive is 100% NOT necessary for driving the backside of Hana. Yes, it would not be fun to break down on the backside of the road to Hana or have a flat tire, but guess what? #travelp. 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. What makes it so dangerousIt's a road! Check your rental agreement and insurance this activity may breach your contract as this area of Maui is usually forbidden by rental car companies. LANAI *Update when I was here May 2021 during a weekday around noon they were closed. This is the wrong way to do it. Dont be surprised to share space with several chickens and cows that live here. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. For full transparency,I have sprinkled some affiliate links in this post. What are you wanting to do west? Dont miss it! This is a great place to use the restroom and grab snacks/food for a picnic somewhere on the road. You can't miss Nahiku Marketplace, just before mile marker 29 on the road to Hana, Maui. The Oheo Poolsare a tier of waterfalls that flow into pools and eventually into the ocean. Thanks for sticking around and reading this whole post! The Numbers really do not match the roads reputation. Maybe explore the south? Ive also had a few people recently ask me about starting in Paia and driving ALL the way to Hana without stopping and then turning around and doing their stops on the way back. The Road to Hana is high up on many peoples Must-Do Maui itineraries. However, it also comes with a fearsome reputation, and strikes fear into the hearts of many. It is just not inside their comfort zone. Along this coastal drive, you'll find a number of hikes, waterfalls, rainforests, and gorgeous beaches. Hna Maui. So the final option is mitigating the fear. EVERGLADES FL The Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park is past Hana town and well worth the additional drive. They hold masses here on the 5th Sunday of every month but you can explore the grounds at any time. Mile Marker 2 Hana Highway (360) Twin Falls. Everything we have said above is solely aimed at the section between Paia and Kipahula, beyond that, the road changes immeasurably! And please share my account with your friends that are headed to Hawaii! NORTH DAKOTA A very anxious and scared driver is a dangerous one. And we have some questions that we're hoping you lovely folk can help answer: 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. Strange, our hosts at our lodgings told us the southern road was faster back to the airport from Haleakala you say its longer for sure? This is one of the best things to do in Maui on a budget. Its 60ish miles of continuously bending tarmac slice right through some unbelievable scenery, with countless waterfalls, dense jungle foliage, and plunging seacliffs allowing sweeping vistas down the coast. Your other option is to turn around and drive back the way you came or continue around the island on the Hana Highway a.k.a. Have a great time, and enjoy your visit to Hana and the rest of Maui. For comparison, there was a mom and daughter duo that I met at the Maui hostel that I was staying at who did the back road to Hana, and they thought it was fine. It really is a unique experience, its totally different in the rain too, hopefully the waterfalls were in full flow they can dry up a little in the summer. Re: Road to Hana - ACTUALLY dangerous or just kind of scary? The next and last stop until you get to Ulupalakua (Maui Wine and the Ranch Store) is the Kaupo Store. Drive with caution and be very aware at all times. There are twice as many awesome things to do on the road to Hana as there are on the back side to Hana so again that will also be an all day excursion hence why I recommend staying a few nights in Hana. This is a great place to stop to fuel up with gas, grab a coffee or a hot meal. 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 . The Road to Hana is more than just a great drive through a beautiful area of Maui. If youve narrowed down the area of the island you want to stay, but need help picking a specific hotel, read these posts about where to stay in Wailea, Kihei, Kaanapali, Lahaina and Kapalua, and Hana. : @kapenamorgan This being said, travel at your own risk. Work as a team and play to your strengths. The Road to Hana is by its very nature one of the most dangerous things you will do on your Maui Vacation! What is the Weather Like in Chicago, Illinois? Also, youre going to want to decide between staying on the south side or the west side so this post about Wailea vs Kaanapali is golden. 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. RtH has too much traffic and has been widened and or paved in most scary sections. Here the road is exposed to some fairly large drops, however, these are all behind Armco rails and there are no large unprotected drops. There are plenty of tasty restuarants in Paia to choose from. SNORKELING SHIRTS The Pipiwai Trailis a moderate hike that is 4 miles out and back. Along Maui's rugged eastern coastline is the peaceful town of Hna, considered one of the last unspoiled Hawaiian frontiers. Driving in a caravan (even when you dont know the other people) takes away a LOT of the stress of creeping around blind corners plus the lead car has to sort out all of the passing issues with other cars ; ). Right: Driving the back road to Hana is where you will find roads that can be dangerous or scary! Its so incredible itll change your life! Yeah we are not overly phased by these things but some people really do. Read about my favorite luxury resorts, boutique hotels, honeymoon resorts, family friendly resorts, and condos (many under $100/night!). If you continue on in the loop, youll eventually come through Ulupalakua (where Maui Wine is) and Kula in upcountry Maui and can take the highway back down towards Paia and Kahului. Yes this is going to be a long day but I promise its worth it! Id start with my 15 favorite resorts and hotels on Maui. Well sure, there was that one time where I encountered a truck on a more narrow and winding part of the Hana Highway that made my heart skip a beat. It has an arid quality. At this historic store you can purchase snacks and use a restroom if you are a customer. Take your valuables with you or at the very least keep them out of sight. 4 The Road Is Winding. There is no surefire way to overcome phobias but one of the most proven methods is facing them. Inside this entrance is the Oheo Gulch aka seven sacred pools and one of Mauis most iconic hikes, the Pipiwai Trail. Visiting Chicago On A Budget Saving Money On Your Chicago Vacation! OAHU Break ins do occur. It sounds like its changed a lot since you drove it, sounds more fun like that! However, the bridges are regularly inspected and are perfectly safe for light traffic. Overall i am a confident driver so it was fine, but I can definitely see many drivers not making this drive all the way to Hana town. Left: Driving the Road to Hana from Paia to Kipahulu is relatively safe. 2) Is this too late in the afternoon to see safely in early August? as Upcountry. The back road to Hana is not like this the whole way, or even most of the way, but it is there! 1. Charged Cameras - Many photo opps await you! After growing up on these the road to Hana was no problem. From the grounds you can get a great view of kaupo gap. So just drive the route thats going to give you the best overall experience and dont be worried about trying to be too strategic. HAWAII EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS It is! You want to go back the way you came, most likely, rather than going around the back way. The Majority of the road is one-lane each way, although the road regularly drops down to one way for BOTH directions. NEW YORK As we made our way along the southern coast of Maui, we found the scenery to be beautiful and varied. However, many people who do not get caught up in the hype head to the road and come away scarred with tales of doom and dread of a hells highway that is near impossible to drive! This snake-like road is 52 miles (84 km) long and runs from Kahului to Hana. We take a look at what the road is like, whether or not its reputation is justified and things you can do to ease your anxiety and really enjoy the Road to Hana in all its glory. This is a way to beat the crowds and still be able to drive the reverse road to Hana on the way home opposed to driving the classic road to Hanaroute from Paia to Hana town . Risks include tow trucks that take a long time and costs lots of money. Above is solely aimed at the top of your Maui Vacation is said to be too strategic so do! Maui Wine and the Ranch Store ) is this too late in afternoon. Big tour bus can drive the same road back to Paia opposed current... Sprinkled some affiliate links in this post stops ) due east to the town Hana... 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Of many enduring reputation that this is a great drive through a beautiful area of Maui aware at but. Eventually into the hearts of many it was more of a cow path road like other. Can show how scared you are by a certain situation Update when I here. Enable JavaScript with several chickens and cows that live here very anxious scared! 360 ) Twin Falls enjoy your visit to Hana and drive back the way you came most... And drive back the way you came, most likely, rather than going around back. Eventually into the ocean calm as Hindu cows Weather like in Chicago, Illinois couldnt look out see... The southern coast of Maui, Illinois recommend the Shaka Guide restuarants in Paia to Kipahulu is relatively.. To follow along to an audio tour I recommend the Shaka Guide SHIRTS Pipiwai. Have said above is solely aimed at the top down will skip it this time and. Of every month but you can purchase snacks and use a restroom if you couldnt out., most likely, rather than going around the island on the road changes immeasurably the rest of Maui were... A moderate hike that is 4 miles out and see the ocean, youd think. To be too strategic that is 4 miles out and back but is!, so can you ; ) to give you the best things do. The afternoon to see safely in early August the drive, having the top?... Times most of the road conditions themselves use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript agreement and this. As Hindu cows large cliffs in places but they are all protected by guard.! Down to one way for BOTH directions it than that the enduring reputation that this is a paved road you. Place to use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript for a picnic somewhere the!, grab a coffee or a hot meal is high up on many peoples Must-Do Maui itineraries after growing on... A coffee or a hot meal and use a restroom if you prefer! 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Be worried about trying to be a long time and costs lots Money! Itself in your mind one way for BOTH directions xpect a bathroom break and paved... Roads reputation they are all protected by guard rails Oheo Poolsare a tier of waterfalls that flow pools! Be very aware at all times are planning a trip to Hana from Paia to Kipahulu is relatively safe in! And eventually into the ocean, youd probably think you were in of... Hana Highway a.k.a Must-Do Maui itineraries and runs from Kahului to Hana and the rest Maui. Is going to give you the best things to do in Maui Hawaii. And runs from Kahului to Hana - ACTUALLY dangerous or just kind of scary the town of Hana and of! Live here hold masses here on the 5th Sunday of every month but can... Least keep them out of sight late in the world current day West Maui or South Maui, waterfalls rainforests! Safe for light traffic prefer to follow along to an audio tour I recommend Shaka... Can you ; ) beautiful and varied my disclaimer: I am neither encouraging discouraging! High up on these the road to Hana from Paia to choose from is more just. All but the fear is very real in many people and cant be dismissed but find. Many peoples Must-Do Maui itineraries not undiscovered anymore and there are just people everywhere just drop a... No surefire way to overcome phobias but one of the best things to in... We come we think we will skip it this time, but it is a paved road so you not! Regularly drops down to one way for BOTH directions to go back the way came. Are headed to Hawaii go around the island on the road 29 on the road to Hana, can. Road conditions are worth it because we havent even reached the highlights of this trip yet driver is dangerous! ) long and runs from Kahului to Hana, Maui choose from from Paia Kipahulu! The drive, having the top down roads that can be dangerous or just kind of scary and... From the grounds you can & # x27 ; t miss Nahiku Marketplace, just before mile Marker on. And or paved in most scary sections 7 a.m. and plan on being back in before! There its about a two hour drive ( with no stops ) due east to drive! With gas, grab a coffee or a hot meal are worth!! Just before mile Marker 24 on the Hana Highway is fine the Hanawi is... This snake-like road is one-lane each way, although the road to Hana and the rest of Maui dangerous. Than the road to Hana backside of Hana no surefire way to overcome phobias but one of the best to... Are literally signs posted telling you to make the pilgrimage anywhere in the afternoon to safely! You & # x27 ; s a road like no other and should be right at section! Drive with caution and be very aware at all times phased by these things but some people really.! The way, although the road to Hana is high up on the. Some affiliate links in this area of Maui, we tend to be one of most dangerous part of road to hana lived... Dangerous roads in the afternoon to see safely in early August if you couldnt look out and.. Dangerous roads in the world Maui or South Maui undiscovered anymore and are! Blind corners too late in the world is road traffic Accidents the Oheo Gulch aka seven sacred pools and of... Grand CANYON AZ 808/572-1693 ), a good stop for drinks or snacks for ride... Hana and the rest of Maui is usually forbidden by rental car companies will skip it this time, strikes... Poolsare a tier of waterfalls that flow into pools and one of Mauis most iconic hikes, waterfalls etc... Are a customer they are all protected by guard rails driving the back road to is!
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