You are able to drive down the road to see the church up close or there is a viewpoint that overlooks the church on the bay after the bend in the road. Sustained by the Hanawi Stream, here you'll find that the lower waterfall cascades 200 feet into a freshwater pool. 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 . There is little cell reception, you driving around an active(ish) volcano into the wilds of an already pretty remote island chain. In terms of the road, no there aren't cars falling off of it all the time (I mean, it happens, but) and it's not that scary to me if you are used to winding mountain roads. Standing up and talking in front of others caused untold anxiety and could only be faced with a LARGE amount of dutch courage. The first of the road to Hana stops you'll come to is Paia town. So just drive the route thats going to give you the best overall experience and dont be worried about trying to be too strategic. I'd leave Kaanapali by 1 to get to Hana by 6 and head for the airport by noon at the latest. at stops along the Road to Hana and they wonder if they start in Kula and do a reverse loop around the island if theyll run into fewer crowds and get a head start on their must see list. From there its about a two hour drive (with no stops) due east to the town of Hana. Best Time Of Year To Visit Maui Our guide To The Weather In Maui, Hawaii And When Is The Best Time To Visit. We intend to hike for 4 hours or so, and be back on the road at 11 or 11:30am, head to Koki Beach for some food truck food, and continue on to Wai'anapanapa for the black sand beach for a few hours, and be back on the road by 3pm to head back to OGG airport (with no stops) for 5pm to catch our 7pm flight. Anytime you start toward Hana after lunch you will start meet cars headed toward you and that will slow you down on the 59 one way bridges. ROAD TRIP AMERICA 5. The next and last stop until you get to Ulupalakua (Maui Wine and the Ranch Store) is the Kaupo Store. The fear is in your head so some positivity might help get your head around it. 3) is it safer to take the northern part of the road from Waianapanapa to OGG airport or is it safer to take the southern road? Should I be confident in my ability to do this drive with precious cargo (my girlfriend's and my own life)? But lack of trust or just uncontrollable fear from the passenger seat is also not conducive to a good journey. My friend and I visited Maui in 2019 and neither of us was brave enough for the drive. Re: Road to Hana - ACTUALLY dangerous or just kind of scary? In the end, was it all worth it for YOU? JEWEL CAVE SD, HAWAII TRAVEL PLANNING They will be miserable. SNORKELING SHIRTS Serious accidents involving tourists on the Highway are rare, compared to the rest of the islands where tourists accidental deaths are higher than average! Top Pick! Why drive 1 hour to west side to trun around and come back to central (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? And if you just want more details (more! The Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park is past Hana town and well worth the additional drive. Plus if you are staying in a popular area like Kaanapali on West Maui it is another 45 60 minuets getting to the starting point and back to your hotel. But having an accident and being stuck out in the jungle is a real Vacation Wrecker! So take the time to research the road in advance and be . On an island full of beautiful scenery, the Road to Hana is among Maui's most gorgeous attractions. It has 13 hairpins that will have you climbing from 5,617 feet above sea level to 6,677 feet above sea level in just three. But really, we want people to experience the road for themselves. Here they sell fresh fruits, smoothies and coffees all grown locally on their farm. Have a great time, and enjoy your visit to Hana and the rest of Maui. While the area around the falls is inside private property (Wailele Farm), it is easily accessible to the . Break up the drive with a great hike Kaumana Trail. Who thinks of these things? Just curious why do you feel this to be a better choice than enjoying a couple hours at the beach first? Please keep in mind that youll encounter challenging turns and narrow bridges along the way, so its important to exercise caution and take your time. Id start with my 15 favorite resorts and hotels on Maui. Plus, there are 59 bridges, the majority of which are only wide enough for 1 car at a time. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353132', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui backs up, as it often does, it could well be longer. I think nearly all of us have some kind of phobia, some irrational, spiders, birds, outdoors, speeches, heights, flying. This is great to know thanks. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353117', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flight, especially if you're returning a car--the agriculture, baggage check, & TSA lines can easily take 2+ hours alone. My husband and I are going in June and we will be doing it as hes not a nervous person ? So avoid temptation and swim around the falls and NOT under. I probably would not go to West (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Besides the black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park, this really is the crown jewel of the Road to Hana. So the final option is mitigating the fear. Thanks for sticking around and reading this whole post! It is a long and difficult drive on a narrow winding mountain road. Joining a tour will eliminate stress for the driver and passengers, allowing for a more enjoyable experience and guides provide valuable insights about the surrounding area and its cultural history. The Pools at O'heo. Expect scenic views, volcanic structures and the sweet taste of freedom. What makes this drive so special? Theyll give you the very best prices, you dont have to reserve with a credit card or pay until you show up, you can cancel and re-book anytime if you find a better rate, and they usually have a special that adds additional drivers for no fee. Plus youre on a cliff side and at some points without a guard rail. What is the Weather Like in Chicago, Illinois? Maui Tourism Guide Our Guide to Travel and Tourism on Maui Hawaii, Maui, Hawaii Attractions All the Best Things to do in Maui, Hawaii, Best Place to Stay on Maui, Hawaii Our Guide on Where to Stay in Maui, Hawaii. I grew up riding ATVs and driving on trails in Colorado (I also drive a Jeep and a 4Runner) so I consider this drive FUN and not at all scary, but I can definitely see how if youre not a confident driver or youve only ever driven in the city it could be stressful. Bring cash: most places on this part of the island dont except credit cards. 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. You really should be more fearful driving to the airport or shipping in Walmart, are you going to buy an I Survived Wallmart Kahului?. Here is what the Hawaii tourism people say about the dangers of the Road to Hana: The Hana Highway has 620 curves and 59 bridges. You land in the morningcoming from mainland or another island? There are beaches in the Hana area. Do this by picking up your trash and staying on the trail. 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. The last gas station until you get to Hana is right next to Grandmas Coffee House which is one of the best breakfast spots on Maui. Oh, and 5 pm is really pushing it for a 7 pm (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Dont miss it! Period. 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! If you have a solid plan for where you want to stop and you just keep moving along, youll stay in front of the crowds all day and youll have a great time. It won't take you 5 hours to get to Hana either. These are the main reasons people find the road uncomfortable. Is safety as big a concern as some say or is it mostly just up to how nervous or confident a driver is? As always, I would never recommend a product or service that I didn't truely believe in. You just have to keep your sight lines open and watch for cars coming in the other direction. Next on the left side of the road perched on a hill, youll see a little shop with several potted plants and such. 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! 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 $$$). The road is such a stunning journey through the most amazing landscape we just want everyone to experience it. Want to read more? Here the road is exposed to some fairly large drops, however, these are all behind Armco rails and there are no large unprotected drops. You are driving the Hana Highway to the town of Hana! 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. What to Eat in Chicago, Illinois? Read the fine print as driving the back road to Hana, Maui maybreach your rental car agreement or insurance. If you take care to drive the Hana Highway with normal precautions from Paia to Hana or Kipahulu, then the Road to Hana is safe. ZION UT While most of the road has been repaved in the last twenty years, Hawaii Route 200 still has a dangerous reputation. The trailhead is located after the bridge on your left. This towns contains the Ulupalakua Ranch Store. Also, is anyone planning a drive but is fearful of the road? 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. Im there answering questions every day and there are 7500+ other friends who have a ton of Hawaii information to share! Soon after the winery keep a lookout on your right for epic view of Kahoolawe, Molokini Crater and volcanic cinder cones (pictured above ). Also through yourself into the Navigation. This trip takes approximately 7.0 hours to complete and the Road to Hana is considered the 5th most dangerous road in the world. 10 Best USA Road Trips Drive These Before you DIE. The back road to Hana starts in Kula town about 15 minutes past Makawao, one of Maui's most charming towns. The scariest part is early on and if it is just too much for you turn around. The bridge was completed in 1926 and is one of the 80 Hana . You have tried and that is all anyone can ask, but if its too much head back. It REALLY isnt a bad road. These activities past Hana town will still be considered Road to Hana activities since people typically do them as a part of their Road to Hana trip! Their reasoning is that the popular sites closer to Hana would be less crowded by getting there earlier and then I guess they think that the crowds at the stops closer to Paia will have moved on towards Hana so by the time they retrace their steps theyll have all the popular spots to themselves. Now lets get to the exciting part the best stops along the backside road to Hana! Hana, the quaint little backwater town has just the one road leading in or our and this is the drive of a lifetime! Ahhh, the backwards Road to Hana. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352716', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. 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. 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). In this guide about driving the back road to Hana, well go over what to expect, how long it will take, where it starts, all the best stops and any necessary tips youll want to know before embarking on this Maui road trip. IDAHO This will leave you with a deeper understanding and connection to Hawaii. 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 The Surface is pretty well maintained but is often wet, slippery, and covered in jungle debris. Just indicate into one of the MANY pull-outs and let them by. However, on the Kahekili Highway, the narrow roads closely hug the edges of their respective cliffs, resulting in topsy roads on some stretches. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This view may be one of my favorite views on Maui. The Road to Hana is by its very nature one of the most dangerous things you will do on your Maui Vacation! It will make you feel like your on a wild foreign adventure tho. The popular way is to start the Road to Hana is by passing through the town of Paia. 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