About This Trip
The Road to Hana is Hawaii's most famous drive — a 64-mile coastal highway from Kahului to the remote village of Hana, then continuing past 'Ohe'o Gulch (the Seven Sacred Pools) on the southeastern flank of Haleakala. The numbers tell the story: 620 curves, 59 one-lane bridges, dozens of waterfalls, and a posted speed limit that rarely exceeds 25 mph.
It's not the destination — Hana itself is a tiny, sleepy town — it's the relentless succession of stops along the way. Twin Falls (mile marker 2) is the first easy waterfall swim. The Garden of Eden Arboretum (mile 10) has some of the best botanical views on the island. Ke'anae Peninsula (mile 16) breaks off into a lava-rock peninsula where massive swells crash against ancient taro patches. Wailua Falls (mile 45) is the most photographed waterfall on the drive, plunging 80 feet right beside the road.
Wai'ānapanapa State Park (mile 32) is the visual centerpiece — a black sand beach hemmed in by jet-black lava cliffs and an iridescent freshwater cave. Reservations are now required for non-residents (book months in advance through hawaiistateparks.org) and the park is the single most-photographed spot on the route.
Past Hana, the road continues to 'Ohe'o Gulch in Haleakala National Park, where a chain of waterfall-fed pools cascades to the sea. The bold can continue around the south side of Haleakala on the Pi'ilani Highway — paved but rough, with stretches your rental contract may prohibit — for a complete loop back to Kahului.
Best for: families, nature photographers, anyone with a full day on Maui to spend on a single drive. Not recommended for travelers with motion sickness — the curves are relentless.
Best time to drive: Year-round, but depart by 7am to beat the tour buses and afternoon rain. The road is much quieter east of Hana — most visitors turn around in town. Allow 10 to 12 hours roundtrip.
Stops
Paia, HI — Last Real Town
The last full-service town before the highway gets serious. Grab breakfast at Paia Bay Coffee Bar and a packed lunch from Mana Foods — there are very few food options once the curves begin in earnest.
Twin Falls (Mile Marker 2)
The first easy waterfall stop, with a short trail to a swimmable pool. Gets busier as the day goes on — best visited within the first hour of leaving Paia.
Garden of Eden Arboretum (Mile 10)
Privately maintained botanical garden with sweeping coastal overlooks (used as a filming location for Jurassic Park's opening sequence). Admission fee but well worth it for the views and the relative quiet.
Ke'anae Peninsula (Mile 16)
A short detour off the main road onto a lava-rock peninsula where massive swells crash against jet-black shoreline. Aunty Sandy's banana bread, served from a roadside stand, is a non-negotiable stop.
Wai'ānapanapa State Park (Mile 32) — Black Sand Beach
The visual centerpiece of the entire drive — a jet-black sand beach framed by black lava cliffs, freshwater caves, and a blowhole. Reservations REQUIRED for non-residents through hawaiistateparks.org; book at least a month ahead.
Hana, HI — The Destination
A sleepy old-Hawaii town with a general store, a few small restaurants, and almost no tourism infrastructure by design. Hana Bay Beach is calm and swimmable, and the Hana Cultural Center has a small but thoughtful museum.
'Ohe'o Gulch — Pools of 'Ohe'o (10 miles past Hana)
Inside Haleakala National Park — a chain of waterfall-fed pools cascading down to the sea. The Pipiwai Trail above leads to a 400-foot waterfall through a magical bamboo forest. Most visitors turn around here; the road past gets rougher.