While the road is coastal, large parts of the highway scarcely even offer a sea view and the perilous section that most people fear is only around 10 miles between Mile Marker 9 and Mile Marker 19.5. There are plenty of shoulders to pull over, take in Mauis beauty and also take a few pictures. Hairpin bends slice through thickly-forested mountain slopes, and there are no. As you can see, the. Ewa Beach, Oahu Robert Linsdell/Flickr The National Drug Intelligence Center mentions the high use of methamphetamine in Ewa Beach as well, and according to AreaVibes, you have a 1 in 27 chance of being a crime victim. While the area around the falls is inside private property (Wailele Farm), it is easily accessible to the . ZION UT LANAI You can drive the road to Hana yourself, or take a tour in a van . This part of Maui is known as Upcountry. The popular way is to start the Road to Hana is by passing through the town of Paia. We intend to stop only at Hanawi Falls briefly (1 hour), and we understand that it is otherwise a 2 hour drive. Back on the Hana Highway, as you leave Maliko Gulch, around mile marker 11, you'll pass through the rural area of Haiku, where you'll see banana patches, cane grass blowing in the wind, and forests of guava trees, avocados, kukui trees, palms, and Christmas berry. The steep valleys encrusted in the jungle start off the imagination and you half expect to bump into a Dinosaur. Besides the black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park, this really is the crown jewel of the Road to Hana. I just drove this twice in May when traffic wasn't heavy as it is now. 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 . Even really confident drivers who have rarely experienced this type of road suddenly find their grip tightening and the beads of sweat forming. There are beaches in the Hana area. There's no stress involved when a knowledgeable driver points out and stops at the most beautiful spots. (This is to say, they will say if something is scary, and the back road to Hana was not, to them.). I have regretted not trying since we arrived home. The Road to Hana is over 50 miles along Maui's rugged north shore and east side with 600+ tight turns and about 50 one-lane bridges. After the viewpoint the road gets narrow to a point that only one car fits. Pullover for quicker drivers, Take the widest line on blind corners, Give way on the single-lane sections if you are not sure others will. Starting your journey to Hana on this side is a great way to experience this side of Haleakala volcano . 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. Is safety as big a concern as some say or is it mostly just up to how nervous or confident a driver is? EVERGLADES FL Narrowed it down to a certain location? If I could sign up twice, I would ; ). NORTH DAKOTA 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. The other feature of the highway is the endless bridges. 13 years ago Save IMHO, it's neither dangerous nor scary. You can't miss Nahiku Marketplace, just before mile marker 29 on the road to Hana, Maui. Ive written a lot here about this and I dont want it to sound scary, but I also want you to know EXACTLY what youre signing up for. You want to go back the way you came, most likely, rather than going around the back way. My post captions are full of travel tips and I have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info. Parking can be bad later in the day, but this stop is worth it. 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. This will leave you with a deeper understanding and connection to Hawaii. Road to Hana Tips, Tricks and Advice How to Survive the Hana Highway! 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 a tough and fairly common problem. The Best Stops on the Road to Hana Early Stops Most of the big waterfalls and impressive black sand beaches are later on in the drive, so for the first hour or so, just enjoy the road and get as far along as you can to keep the crowds way behind you, especially if your objective is to do the Pipiwai Stream Trail Hike: Ive written a whole slew of posts about the Road to Hana, but theres one question I get asked more than othersshould I drive the backside of the road to Hana? MAMMOTH CAVE KY If you couldnt look out and see the ocean, youd probably think you were in parts of Texas or another western state. It was ok, not really our thing. These Rickety looking relics strike fear into many peoples hearts as they meet traffic head-on with no passing place and drops either side. If the (only) road from Kaanapali to central (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Driving the backside voids your rental car contract. But really, we want people to experience the road for themselves. There is nothing but sharp - blind turns, one way roads, one car bridges on roads that continuously turned and not wide enough for two cars. So drive with caution and be very aware. These falls are some of the best waterfalls that Maui has to offer. If you havent already, you will soon understand why thisis a perfect spot for them. When driving the Highway, We tend to be calm as Hindu cows. Three Bears Falls. Also through yourself into the Navigation. 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 Its 11 miles past Hana town and takes a little over half an hour to reach with no stops. ROAD TRIP AMERICA And if youre driving clockwise around the island, you will need to yield to them since theyre on the outside lane (which means you have the inside lane and it feels MUCH safer). 'Death Road', Bolivia Officially known as North Yungas Road, this route usually goes by its more ominous moniker. Drive Defensively, there may be idiots on the road but pre-empting them and driving n a defensive manner ensures you are less likely to get into trouble. Thanks for sticking around and reading this whole post! But heres the thingits still not really unpleasant unless you know what it used to be like before there was the surge in tourists. Know that theres a possibility that youll have to reverse if a car is coming in the opposite direction. Other parts get windy and are on a side of a cliff. Just indicate into one of the MANY pull-outs and let them by. UTAH We will land in the morning, rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. On Another Note: If youre looking for a condo or vacation rental for your trip, I always book with Vrbo. This road is also part of the daily commute for Maui's residents, so drive with aloha to avoid any frustration. Maui's "road to Hana" is a curvy coastal road with views of cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, and miles and miles of lush rainforest. for the most part, it is wide enough for two small buses to pass each other with no issue. You suggest skipping Kanapali altogether. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Left: Driving the Road to Hana from Paia to Kipahulu is relatively safe. If you need road assistance it's cash costing $800-1200 if and when a tow truck comes. Its possible that some companies offer roadside assistance coverage that you can purchase additionally and maybe this portion of the road isnt included in that. in most places, the road is wide enough for two tour buses to pass. If you only have one day, theres still a lot to see, so snap a picture and be on your way. There are closer beaches to the airport like in Kihei which is considered south Maui. 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. If you have serious doubts over whether or not the road is for you, or you are pretty convinced this type of driving is not your style then you have three options. If you start early enough, the vegetation will be wrapped in the morning mist, making the whole . The Road to Hana is about 65 miles long, but don't let this relatively short distance fool you. The Single file traffic is easily regulated with simple give way systems and you just wait your turn at the give says one each side of the bridge until it is your turn to cross. If youve just started your Hana research, heres how it works: the Road to Hana is considered to start in Paia on the north shore of Maui. Take your valuables with you or at the very least keep them out of sight. On average, that's one bend every 176 yards. If you get above 30 mph you are doing well! Theyre seriously the only company I ever use. But you can completely avoid this dangerous and scary part of the Road to Hana by making it an out-and-back drive on the Hana Highway. 5. Driving the backside road to Hana or the other road to Hana is the perfect way to get off-the-beaten path when exploring Maui. 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. The Road to Hana is also called the "Divorce Highway". 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. How necessary is it to have a 4 wheel drive vehicle for this drive? 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. In the end, was it all worth it for YOU? Who thinks of these things? So when you see a car coming, yield and pull over even if theyre a ways away. 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. Now lets get to the exciting part the best stops along the backside road to Hana! Stop at the Laulima fruit stand next. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353082', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui to start the RTH? However, the Road to Hana is not dangerous in and of itself, and for seasoned drivers, the trip should be a breeze. Running from Kahului (or "where the airport is," as you might otherwise know it) to Hana on the east of Maui, the Hana Highway is a clifftop and a coastal road. It is such a unique and wonderful Road through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Next on the left side of the road perched on a hill, youll see a little shop with several potted plants and such. **Kaulahao Beach aka Kuau Beach Park. 3 hrs from the airport. Outside of this section, the road is more inland, wider, slightly less bendy, and on the whole pretty sedate. (I think the back road may be closed to traffic anyway) That part of the road (going on from Hana towards Kula) is the part that is prone to washouts, etc. Maybe at one point that was true, but I dont really think it is anymore. There is no beach, but the rocky coastline is spectacular as far as scenery goes. 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. Re: Road to Hana - ACTUALLY dangerous or just kind of scary? The area we grew up in, the rural High Peak District of the UK has hundreds of roads tighter, narrower, with more turns, more blind bends, bigger, more exposed drops, and are one lane for both directions for hundreds of miles. But in general, I did not think the Road to Hana was dangerous or scary. Hamoa Beach (MM 51) Heading away from Hana, turn makai (toward the ocean) onto Haneoo Road when you reach it. However, it also comes with a fearsome reputation, and strikes fear into the hearts of many. Drive with caution and be very aware at all times. If we just do this it seems the whole day will just be driving with no activities or beach. Hiking Shoes - If you want to hike. MICHIGAN ), this will be on your mind all day ruining the trip. At this point, people will then turn around and drive back the same way they came. Check out our favorite Tours here. And should you consider avoiding it for legitimate safety concerns? 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. Okay, once you pass this portion (the first 3-5 miles past Kipahulu), the road clears up nicely into a wide open terrain. 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! 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