The road to Hana is 53 miles from Kahului airport to Hana. It will take you every bit of 2 1/2 hours to get there because the road is long and winding, with over 600 curves and 54 bridges. At some points you will only be able to go 5-10 mph. The road has recently been resurfaced and is in excellent condition. You do not want to rush because the road offers some of the most spectacular scenery found anywhere in the Hawaiian islands. You do not want to miss any of the scenic waterfalls, mini cascades, eucalyptus groves, bamboo jungles and breath taking views of the ocean along the road as you drive.

The Hana Highway was designated in 1999 as a National Millenium Legacy Trail, and in June 2001 most of it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. There is only one gas station in all of east Maui, with just one pump, and prices are higher here than other parts of the island, so be sure to fill up before leaving for Hana. 

For the adventurer, many hidden places of ancient Hawai'i await your discovery: spectacular waterfalls filling crystalline fresh water pools, beaches of red cinders, salt/pepper, or black sand, traditional Hawaiian foot highways, wild tropical botanical gardens, rare native birds and numerous historical sites including the Wainapanapa Wet Caves and the mysterious 15th century Piilanihale Heiau, the largest temple in Hawai'i.

An added bonus in winter and spring are the migratory humpback whales in the waters surrounding Maui. You may get a glimpse of them spouting or breaching just off Nanualele Point.

Ohe'o Gulch

Ohe'o Gulch, better known as the "Seven Sacred Pools", is one of the major sightseeing attractions on a trip to Hana. When you have made all the way to Hana, it is surely worth to drive eight more miles. The Kipahulu Valley is part of the Haleakala National Park, and there is a Visitor Center at the parking lot. Waimoku Falls Trail and Ohe'o Gulch are separated only by the street. A visit to Oheo Gulch is a stroll of 30 minutes on a paved way, while a hike to Waimoku Falls and back takes approximately one and a half hour.

Wai'napanapa State Park

Wai'anapanapa State Park is located just outside of Hana off Hana Highway. Inside one of the most popular State Parks which allows beachside camping, Wainapanapa Beach is spectacularly scenic and dangerous if not respected. The beach itself is a small pocket of black sand. The ocean here is rough with a large shorebreak and an ocean bottom that drops off quickly to overhead depths. This is a wonderful place to camp or rent a cabin, but the beach itself offers only breathtaking scenery and stark beauty. Wai'anapanapa has great facilities. There are showers, restrooms, cabins, and picnicking facilities. The snorkeling and diving can be great here, but unfortunately, it is seldom very calm. Swimming is possible, but caution should be exercised, there is no lifeguard. The beach is open to the ocean, no outside reef to break the force of waves and current. The water can be very rough at this location. Within the park there are a few "wet" caves and lava tubes with pure, fresh water running through them. There are also a few lava tubes extending from the shoreline into the water. This is a visually stunning area with many historical points of interest.

Hana Driving Tips

• Leave as early as you can
• bring plenty of film
• pack a lunch or pick one up in Pa'ia on the way
• make sure you have a full tank of gas
• plan for an all day adventure
• take along Boss Frog's Hana Tape Tour