Road to Hana

Ho’okipa Beach Park

Our first stop was at Ho’okipa Beach Park. This is an iconic place for world surfing competitions. I was in awe just watching all the surfers out in the ocean mastering their craft. We even spotted two sea turtles riding the waves near the reef! There was lots of parking at the lookout point, and was a great spot to start off the day.

Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees

Along the Road to Hana around Mile 7 are these beautiful Eucalyptus trees. They honestly do not look real, and gives me Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory vibes!

Chasing Waterfalls

Along the Hana Hwy, you’re transported into the lush green tropical forest where you can see banana trees, Birds of Paradise, and other Maui flora. You can even see some waterfalls from your car. We ended up swimming under a waterfall for a while. It was a great way to cool off and just enjoy the day. There are many waterfalls along the way, so don’t worry if you miss the one you wanted to see due to the limited parking. As the Road to Hana is a popular destination for most, sometimes the parking areas are full and you’ll have to move on as there is no where to really safely stop.

Hana Hwy & Pilani Hwy

At first, I was nervous about the winding roads along the Road to Hana. I had read other’s reviews on their experiences, as well as hearing from friend’s recollection of theirs, and all provided a strong word of caution. But I am so happy I did go and experience this for myself! I found that the majority of the road is nicely paved and it was a really smooth ride. I think we were lucky that we did have perfect weather, so this likely made the experience more positive for us. It is not recommended to go during or after a major rainfall. I think if you just drive mindfully, be aware of others that may be coming your way along the corners, you’ll be just fine!

The views along the Road to Hana are so dreamy with each turn along the winding road. There is such a contrast in views along the Hana Hwy, where you will experience the lush green tropical forests and waterfalls, compared to along the Pilani Hwy (the backside along the Road to Hana), you’ll see views of the dryer red and brown meadows.

I will say, if you are heading along the back-way of Pilani Hwy to get to or from Hana, there was just a short distance where the road was unpaved with no barriers along the cliff side. It likely helped that I am not afraid of heights, but I can understand that if you are adverse to heights, this section of the road can be a bit freaky! Again, we were careful along here, but I’m glad we drove along the back-way. Otherwise, we would have not seen the views that we did. This side of the road is so different compared to the Hana Hwy, as you see more of the coastline, the red mountains and sea cliffs. There were wild horses and cattle running along the mountain side and I honestly felt like I was in a movie! We made a spontaneous stop along the cliff side and this had to be one of my favourite coastline views!

We had to stop by Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread shop located along the Ke’anae Peninsula. We picked up a warm, delicious loaf of banana bread that was the perfect afternoon treat. Make sure you also check out the view at the Keane Lookout.

Hana Lava Tubes

This was a really cool experience! Admission to the Lava Tubes was about $15 USD and we were provided with a flashlight to explore the caves at our own pace. We were told the lava caves span about 20 miles out! The self guided tour only allows you to walk up to a certain spot though, so don’t worry about getting lost. There are no other lights aside from the lights provided by our flashlights, so it was definitely pitch black when we turned them off to see how dark it really was! The ceiling on the lava rocks almost had a gold glimmer to it, which was really neat to see.

Black Sand Beach

The Black Sand Beach is located in Wai’anapanapa State Park and you have to make a reservation in advance if you want to enter the park. The parking voucher costs $10 USD and is a $5 entry fee per person. This was my favourite beach along the Road to Hana. You have to take in the powerful waves along the shore. The clarity of the blue ocean was perfection in contrast to the glistening black lava stones. Make sure you check out the lava cove that opens up to the ocean. It was honestly a dream to see!

Hana-Maui Resort

We stayed at the Hana-Maui Resort for 2 nights and this place was the dreamiest. This was the perfect stay to unwind after a long day of driving. I wrote about out it here.

Pipiwai Trail

Pipiwai Trail was an easy trail to walk through leading you to a mighty banyan tree, through the bamboo forest to Waimoku Falls. When the wind flows through the forest, the sounds of the bamboo creaking was so calming and like nothing I’ve ever heard.