How To Have The Best Time On The Road To Hana

Take the road less traveled! Tips to help you make the most of your experience on the beautiful, winding road to Hana in Maui, Hawaii.

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The road to Hana, or the Hana Highway, is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful drives in all of Hawaii.

You can’t research what to do in Maui without seeing the road to Hana at the top of the list.

While planning my honeymoon to Hawaii I wanted to make sure I maximized my enjoyment of all the natural beauty around me. Maui was the only island I hadn’t visited before, so I was excited to share this new experience with my spouse.

After arriving on the island I started planning for the drive. I kept hearing from the locals and other visitors that the drive is difficult, slow and can be testing on even the strongest of relationships.

I’m not going to lie, based on this information, I was initially nervous and intimidated. I even questioned if it would be a worthwhile activity for us to do when our goal was a relaxing vacation.

Luckily, I didn’t let the negativity hold me back because the experience of driving on the road to Hana was absolutely the highlight of my time on Maui!

I believe my positive experience was due to careful consideration of the warnings I heard from others. I used the information to help me prepare for the worst-case scenario.

Ultimately, instead of fearing the drive, I found ways to plan for a better experience, and it worked!

A Note About The Best Vehicle For Driving The Road To Hana, Maui:

When selecting a vehicle for Maui, I knew right away that I wanted a Jeep with a soft top so we could really enjoy the weather and the view. Just personal preference!

The road from Paia to Hana is mostly paved so you could technically do this drive with just about any vehicle. In fact, I saw just about every size and type of vehicle on the road! Keep in mind, some of the places you may drive off of the main road to explore aren’t in the same condition.

Now, if you plan to go the back way to do the road to Hana or circle all the way around the island instead of turning around once you get to Hana, you should be warned.

The road beyond the Seven Sacred Pools that goes around the southeast side of the island is rough. In fact, I would not recommend that drive.

If you do choose to give it a go, you should only consider it if you have a Jeep or other 4WD vehicle. Be warned: going this way could be a serious problem if you have a rental car, so if you choose to go, do so at your own risk!

Look for deals on rental cars here:

Here are my tips to help you have the best experience driving the road to Hana in beautiful Maui:

1. Download A Guide For The Road To Hana

If you want to see the best of the road to Hana without having to stress about directions or watching for mile markers, you need to get yourself a guide.

To be your own guide, you just need to download an app! There are a few choices, but the best one I found is: Road To Hana Maui GyPSy Guide

This app was the best $7 I spent during my time in Maui!

You will need to download the app before you take off, as you most likely wont have reception on your phone while you’re on that part of the island.

Luckily, once you have the the guide downloaded, it uses GPS to track your location and will talk to you automatically to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

You can sit back, relax, and learn about the different sights before you get to them so you can decide if you want to stop or keep going to the next place.

To locate where the guide begins talking you through the drive, I entered “Hana Hwy” in my maps app on my iPhone. We arrived and were in the perfect location to start the drive – truly, it was as easy as that!

Please, make sure your travel companion is in charge of the phone, as you must be hands-free as a driver in Maui.

An important note about cell service on the road to Hana:

It is important to remember your phone may not have service during the drive. That means if you have other stops in mind along the way you will want to write down or note the location of them before you head out.

The other important thing to remember to bring with you is a car phone charger! Using the app can use your battery quickly, and you don’t want the phone to die when you’re on the road.

It can also be useful to have an auxiliary cord with you to attach your phone to the car, in case your rental doesn’t bluetooth capability. Being able to have the directions play out of the car speakers can be helpful to make sure you can clearly hear the guide.

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2. Start Early To Get The Most Out Of Your Day On The Road To Hana

Set your alarm clock and get up to make sure you make the most of your day.

After talking to lots of locals, they all said to start the drive “early” – but what does that really mean?

It seems, many people start their drive between 8am and 9am. I would recommend getting up even earlier if you can swing it.

We choose to leave our hotel around 6:30am so we would be in Paia around 7am to start the journey.

Just keep in mind, the earlier you leave, the more likely it that you will miss the crowds. You’ll also have more time to explore the many beautiful stops along the way.

The other reason to start your day early is because you do not want to be driving back in the dark if you can help it. This is first and foremost for safety reasons. Another motivating fact would be that the point of the drive is the view and if it is dark, you won’t be able to fully enjoy the experience!

Now, if you do head out later in the day, you may want to consider spending the evening in Hana. There are limited lodging options, but there are some.

Considering an overnight stay? Select your dates to see available lodging options and prices in Hana:

3. Make A Pit Stop To Get Gas And Snacks Before Heading Out On The Road

There will not be any gas stations until you reach Hana, so it is essential that you stop and fill up before you head out on the road.

To make your trip more enjoyable you will also want to pack some food and drinks. There are a few fruit stands and food trucks spread out throughout the drive, but an extremely limited amount of options.

Luckily, you will most likely be driving right by a bunch of grocery stores on your way to Paia and can make a stop!

Here are a few of the grocery stores you will be driving by in Kahului:

• Whole Foods Market: 70 E Kaahumanu Ave, Kahului, HI 96732
• Safeway: 1090 Ho’okele St, Kahului, HI 96732
• Foodland: 90 Kane St, Kahului, HI 96732

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Restroom Availability On The Road To Hana:

Now, if you’re like me you may be worried that if there aren’t gas stations, there may not be places to stop and use the restroom.

I want to put your mind at ease, you don’t need to worry too much! There are many along the way at rest stops. Plus, if you use the app mentioned above, it will mention places to stop and take a break.

4. Plan To Go Slow When Driving On The Road To Hana

Mentally prepare yourself that this drive will be three or more hours. There are hundreds of switchbacks and almost 50 one lane bridges. Then sit back, relax, and enjoy the experience.

This drive is about the journey, not the destination.

There are a variety of different types of drivers on the road to Hana and not all of them are tourists. If someone behind you is wanting to move faster than you’re comfortable with, just pull over and let them pass.

There are many places to pull off and allow people to pass, which will make the experience much for enjoyable for all of you.

Roll down the windows, tune the radio to some island music and just soak up the sun!

If you suffer from motion sickness, make sure to plan ahead as well. Make sure to try to keep looking up and avoid reading. I would recommend to bring patches or medication that have helped in the past as well, just in case!

5. Don’t Try To Do Everything Along The Way

There are so many beautiful things to see on your way to Hana!

From waterfalls to arboretums, from black sand beaches to bamboo forests. The list goes on and on!

Even if you leave very early, be prepared that you will have to be selective about which sights you choose to visit.

The guide app mentioned above suggests 5 “must-do” stops, all of which we did during our visit along with a few extras because we planned enough time by leaving early in the day.

The suggested stops are all excellent.

I also recommend that if you plan to swim or do hiking along the way, you may want to bring sunscreen, a towel and an extra set of clothes.

Conclusion

Preparation is key for a great experience on the road to Hana in Maui! Download the guide, wake up early, make a pit stop and then just enjoy the ride. The journey will show you a place that you could only imagine! Lush, beautiful, with some absolutely amazing views.

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Now I want to hear from you – Are you planning to drive the road to Hana? What are you excited about seeing during the drive?

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