Tips for Surviving the Road to Hana Day Trip
Back in Dec 2019, hubby was supposed to go on a business trip to Maui. A convention was happening on the island, and he was told 2 months in advance that his work would be sending him. My sister and I were super excited to hear this and decided to go with him, but extend our stay into the weekend.
It turns out that 2 weeks before he was supposed to go, his work canceled his business trip. By this point, my sister and I had already purchased our airfare, reserved accommodations and tentatively planned our schedule. We wanted to make a sister trip out of it.
On the list of things to do was the Road to Hana. This is the ultimate road trip on Maui. It takes you from Paia on the northern side of the island by the ocean, through lush tropical vegetation along the eastern side to the town of Hana. It’s a 4-6 hour drive (depending on where you are staying in Maui) full of ocean views, switchbacks, narrow bridges, and waterfalls. Pipiwai Trail (located at the southeastern side of the island at Haleakala National Park) was the culmination of our Road to Hana day trip.
My sister and I rented a car during our stay in Maui. We decided before we got to the island that we were going to make a day trip out of it. Pipiwai Trail was our main goal for our Road to Hana trip, so we figured we’d make other stops on the way back. My sister and I had planned to get to Pipiwai Trail as early as possible. I cover the trail in another post.
(For those of you that are outdoor connoisseurs, feel free to bring whatever you need – compass, GPS, radios…but we managed fine without them.)
I hope the following tips will help you if you decide to make the drive!
Plan Ahead Which Sights to See
The Road to Hana has so many trails, parks and waterfalls – it’s impossible to do it in a day. I recommend you pick the most important sights to see. My sister and I had dinner together a few nights before our flight to Maui, went over our research/map notes and decided what was on our ‘must see’ list.
Bring Meds, Bug Spray, Water, and Snacks
Headache medicine. Antacid. Non-drowsy allergy medicine. Dramamine. Bring all of the above. In the event you are prone to motion sickness, I recommend motion sickness pills before your drive. The allergy medicine can probably wait until you’re closer to the trails. Give the meds some time to kick in before you actually need them. I’d hate for you to be sneezing while hiking. And speaking of hiking…bring bug spray so you won’t get eaten alive by mosquitos.
Dress Appropriately
If you’re going to stop and look at any waterfalls, trails…anything that involves getting your shoes dirty, wear hiking shoes. Also wear layers in case it’s cold in the morning or if it rains.
Bring Cash
Hana Hwy has plenty of privately owned food/snack stands. Some take card payments, but definitely bring enough cash to cover meals and drinks.
Take Small Transportation
If you plan to make the drive, don’t rent a big car unless absolutely necessary. We had a cute little Kia, it was compact and easy to drive. I wasn’t kidding when I said parts of Hana Hwy get narrow. The roads will get so narrow that only one car can fit.
Time Your Drive
I recommend leaving early. My sister and I planned to make the drive in 4 ½ hours to Haleakala National Park. If you leave early, you won’t see as many cars on the road. Personally, my sister and I felt much better making this drive at the crack of dawn – we felt more comfortable driving knowing we were the only ones on the road. If you time your drive early enough, you won’t be heading back home too late. This isn’t a drive back you should be making in the dark…so for a day trip, definitely recommend heading back after lunch.
Be Careful When Driving
Starting around Mile 4, you will be driving through a LOT of switchbacks, hills and narrow areas. Switch to a low gear during those really tight hairpin turns and downhill roads so you aren’t always riding your brakes. You may encounter construction/road work during your drive, so definitely be on the lookout for the workers. Also, after Hana and towards Haleakala National Park, the roads can get pretty treacherous. Uneven pavement. Potholes or cracks that could blow a tire. I don’t mean to say this to scare you, but just take your time and don’t speed so you can avoid any bad road conditions.
Note: You can technically drive along the backside of Haleakala (southern part of the island), but if your car rental agreement doesn’t cover this, they aren’t responsible if anything happens and you may have to pay extra fees. Best to start on the Paia side.
Have Extra Trust and Respect for Your Companion(s)
You’re probably wondering why the heck I would even say this. What does trust and respect have to do with this road trip? You are about to spend half a day in a car on a bit of a treacherous drive. I have heard stories of newly married couples getting into fights or divorcing. Let the driver do the driving but speak up if you’re uncomfortable. On the way back to our hotel, my sister mentioned I was making the turns as if I was playing a video game, so I eased up on them. 😀
Download Your Playlist
Since you’ll be driving through a rainforest and rocky cliffs, you will eventually reach a point where cell phone reception goes out. So no music streaming from your phone to your car. If you download your playlist, then you can play music offline. Your radio will go out too, so you’ll want music for the long drive. Pick something lively so you stay awake!
Note the Mile Markers/Landmarks
Have one person keep an eye out on the mile marker signs. The signs are on the side of the road as white vertical triangles. You won’t see every single mile marker, but enough so you have an idea where certain landmarks are located. Which leads to…
Bring a Map and Notes about the Drive
It could be a map you snatched from the rental car company lobby. Or from your hotel. Or even a printout of a map you found online, which is what we did. Because you will lose cell reception, your map app may not be able to pin your location. We brought a pencil to checkmark the places we had passed to keep track of where we were along the drive.
Be Courteous to Other Drivers
Just be nice overall to other drivers. Sections (mind you, not a lot) of Hana Hwy allow for passing on a single lane road. Plenty of signs warn you if the road is too narrow. Do not drive past the yield signs…the narrowest parts of the roads (especially the bridges) will have signs that indicate you wait at the yield sign until incoming traffic has crossed.
If it’s still dark in the morning, proceed with caution, stop and flick your highs for a second so the other driver knows to go. When the sun is up, stick a hand out the window and wave at them to proceed. Allow those driving downhill to go first if you’re on a narrow road. Everyone seemed to follow these rules – tourists and locals – and were in no rush to hurry on the road. Take your time.
Also, if you need to pull over to take a photo of a waterfall, there are designated areas on the side of the road where you can park. Basically, don’t be THAT person that stops on the highway and set your hazard lights on. There is enough parking on the side of the road for certain sights that drivers are coming and going at different times. So be patient with other drivers who are waiting for a parking spot. Signal to other drivers behind you that you’re waiting for a spot and guide them to pass you if the road is clear and they can’t see in front of you.
Just to recap, my sister and I did this drive the opposite way most people do…we made stops on the way back to Paia AFTER hiking Pipiwai Trail. A few notable sights to see:
As you get close to Kaumahina State Park (between miles 12-13), you’ll be greeted by ocean views on your left.
Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread (between miles 16-17). A sign at the entrance of the turnout points towards Ke’anae – follow the road and Aunty Sandy’s is on the right. You can’t miss Aunty Sandy’s banana bread! We got there for a late lunch (sandwiches and chips) and 2 loaves of banana bread (1 to eat, 1 to freeze and take back home) just as they were an hour away from closing.
Waialohe Park is at the Ke’anae turnout along the way to Aunty Sandy’s. You can stop and get a good ocean view and photo.
Upper Waikani Falls, also known as the Three Bears, is an amazing sight. You have the option to see it from your car – you really can’t miss it – or you can park and make the trek to the base of the falls.
Honokalani Black Sand Beach (approx. mile 32) is a must-see! Even for us SoCal gals who have been to some beautiful beaches…we had to stop at this one. Plenty of parking at Wai’anapanapa State Park. Wander around the park grounds to stretch your legs, walk down the hill to the beach.
Waimoku Falls at the end of Pipiwai Trail was one of the best parts of the road trip!
Enjoy the Drive!
The Road to Hana is a very unique experience, so I encourage you to take it all in! As cheesy as it is to say that ‘life is too short’, it’s so true. So just have fun, know that you’re doing something most people don’t ever get to do. Pat yourself on the back for having the courage (and setting aside the time) to do something out of the ordinary. Trust me, a 5 hour drive does NOT sound fun. I am NOT a road trip person, but this was one of the best drives I’ve ever done and I never regretted it.
Have you done this road trip before? Did you like it? Comment below!
