Street to Hana: Freeway Map, Issues to Do And Ideas
The world-famous highway to Hana is likely one of the must-do experiences when visiting Maui. It may be overwhelming planning what to see on this iconic highway journey when you will have restricted time. So we’ve rounded up all of the highway to Hana stops that we did on Maui’s epic coastal drive. You don’t should see all the pieces (until you will have the time) so we’re right here that can assist you select what are the highest stops that it’s essential to make.
The Street to Hana, aka The Hana Freeway, takes you from the surf city of Paia to the peaceable city of Hana. It’s straightforward to search out the very best stops on the highway to Hana, all it is advisable to do is comply with the mile markers. Now we have included the mile marker for every cease on the Hana Freeway on this information. It’s a welcome boost to any Maui trip.
The Street To Hana
Most individuals make a day journey out of the highway to Hana drive and start in Paia within the morning spending the remainder of the day working their approach out to Hana City stopping alongside the best way. We as a substitute drove instantly out to Hana earlier than dawn to discover Hana City and its close by points of interest earlier than making our approach again slowly within the afternoon. It was the very best determination we made. We averted the site visitors and had lots of the high stops on the Street to Hana all to ourselves.
The Hana Freeway is likely one of the hottest day journeys on Maui, so it may well get very busy quick. We advocate leaving early and driving on to the Swimming pools at O’he’o Gulch a part of Haleakala Nationwide Park which is about half-hour past Hana. Getting there early beats the crowds and you may hike the Pipiwai Path to Waimoku Falls in relative peace and quiet after which, you possibly can then spend the day slowly making your approach again to Paia.
Beneficial Street To Hana Excursions
High Street to Hana Stops
Site visitors on the highway to Hana from Paia to Hana is plugged and stopped later within the day. Seeing the sights in reverse order, helps you to benefit from the viewpoints and waterfalls at your personal tempo. Plus, we discovered the views on the best way again, approach higher than on the best way out as we had been on the suitable facet of the highway with unobstructed views!
Refill Earlier than you Depart Paia
Get your Maui self guided tour to discover the highest websites on Maui and examine with CarRentals.com to check automobile rental charges. And see our suggestions for locations to remain in Maui at The place to Keep in Maui – The Greatest Resorts
Sizzling Hana Freeway Tip
Earlier than heading out, seize some connoisseur picnic lunches to take with you on the Street to Hana. The Hana Picnic Lunch Firm places collectively lunch and breakfast to your highway journey. Order the day earlier than 2 pm in an effort to set out early within the morning. There are picnic tables alongside the route the place you possibly can cease to benefit from the extraordinary ocean views. Or you possibly can seize some banana bread and a espresso earlier than leaving and save lunch for when you arrive in Hana.
Observe: The espresso outlets and eating places don’t open till 7 am, so if you wish to choose up provides for the day, we propose doing it the night time earlier than and making a espresso out of your resort.
1. Paia City
Paia isn’t only a cease on the Hana Freeway, it’s a vacation spot unto itself. Situated on the North Shore of Maui, there are many issues to do in Paia to maintain you occupied. We advise spending a few nights having fun with this surfer’s city. Ho’okipa Seaside Park is a good place to observe the world-class surfers and windsurfers and Baldwin Seaside is a gorgeous lengthy sandy seashore that could be a must-visit.
Making our base in Paia we stayed on the hip boutique resort, the Paia Inn, the place we woke early to make our approach to Hana. After selecting up a espresso at Paia Bay Espresso Bar and ordering a boxed lunch at CJ’s diner we had been on our approach.
2. Haleakala Nationwide Park
As we talked about above we drove on to the top of the Street to Hana to start our highway journey. Moving into the wrong way of the site visitors.
The maps and guides can have Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Swimming pools) as your final cease on the highway to Hana, however we wish to be totally different, so that is the primary cease of our day.
Situated half-hour past Hana at Mile Marker 42, this department of Haleakala Nationwide Park is attractive. When you arrive, you’ll stroll the Pipiwai Path to a few of the most scenic points of interest on Maui. This lovely portion of the nationwide park homes a bamboo forest, the 400-foot-high Waimoku Falls, the Seven Sacred Swimming pools ( Oheo Gulch), and the Haleakala volcano. This was undoubtedly the spotlight of our highway journey and we spent nearly all of the morning right here.
It prices $30 per automobile to enter Haleakala Nationwide Park. This offers you entry to the nationwide park for 3 Days which incorporates the Haleakala Summit. So you possibly can spend the day right here at some point, after which head to Upcountry Maui and catch the dawn on the Haleakala Summit the next day.
3. Pipiwai Path
The Pipiwai Path is a straightforward path full of scenic views. The 4-mile mountaineering path is a gorgeous scenic stroll that takes you thru enormous Banyan bushes and an unlimited bamboo forest earlier than you attain your ultimate vacation spot on the lovely and really excessive Waimoku Falls. In case you are into mountaineering be certain to take a look at our information High 12 Hikes in Maui to Take your Breath Away for some nice options across the island.
4. Bamboo Forest
The bamboo forest was a spotlight of the path. Now we have by no means seen such a pristine bamboo forest outdoors of Asia. The bamboo was delivered to Maui by Asian migrants engaged on pineapple farms to make use of as scaffolding. There’s a boardwalk that cuts via the forest and strolling trails placing you within the heart of this gorgeous scene. Be sure to spend a little bit of time right here, it’s attractive and really uncommon to see.
5. Waimoku Falls
The top of the path involves the 400-foot-high Waimoku Falls. It’s postcard-perfect for pictures. We advocate having a very good pair of water footwear or Tevas as you’ll be crossing streams. By arriving early, we shared the waterfall views with just one different individual. It was actually spectacular.
Observe: Obey the indicators to not get too near the falls. We noticed different folks ignoring it, however have heard that there have been deaths at these falls because of falling rocks. It feels secure sufficient to take a look at, however it’s harmful.
6. Seven Sacred Swimming pools (Oheo Gulch)
The Seven Sacred Swimming pools (Also referred to as the Swimming pools of ‘Ohe’o or Oheo Gulch) are one of many high points of interest to see on Maui and they’re additionally positioned within the Nationwide Park. They will get very crowded, so it’s value getting there early. It’s a pretty cascading steps waterfall. It’s a quick loop path of solely 1km.
Bear in mind, the Seven Sacred Swimming pools Path is usually closed because of flooding and there have been deaths at Oheo Gulch obey the indicators and comply with the principles.
Upon getting completed up within the Nationwide Park it’s time to make your approach again to Paia. We advocate stopping as a lot as doable at any scenic lookout that you would be able to.
We stopped at lots of the waterfalls and scenic lookouts on the best way again and actually loved driving on this route. For one, we had been now on the suitable facet of the highway to have the cliff views and two, we weren’t sitting in site visitors till the night.
7. Wailua Falls
Wailua Falls is taken into account Maui’s most photographed waterfall and you may cease right here for some picture alternatives. It’s essentially the most accessible waterfall on the highway to Hana and it’s a pretty cascade of 80 toes over a rocky jungle setting.
Wailua Falls is positioned a mile marker 45 in your approach again from the Swimming pools of O’he’o. You’ll be able to swim within the plunge pool under these waterfalls
8. Koki Seaside Park
Koki Seaside Park is a pleasant picture cease since it’s a combination of crimson, black, and white sand. It’s not an appropriate swimming space as a result of sturdy currents, however it’s a good picture cease for a scenic view. It’s positioned simply outdoors of Hana and is an efficient spot to benefit from the connoisseur picnic lunch that you simply had packed earlier than leaving Paia.
The turn-off for Koki Seaside is positioned at Mile Marker 51.
9. Hamoa Seaside
Hamoa Seaside is that good crescent-shaped sandy seashore that everybody is searching for. There’s a car parking zone right here, that fills up quick and you must stroll down a set of stairs to get to the seashore. The seashore is owned by Hana Maui Resort, so you may be sharing it with company who’ve entry to all of the facilities. However there are restrooms open to most people. When you keep the night time in Hana, this can be a good seashore to spend a while at.
Hamoa Seaside is positioned at Mile Marker 50 and there’s a car parking zone right here. The stroll down is steep so be ready when you have mobility points.
10. Hana City
By the point we obtained to Hana City (aptly nicknamed heavenly Hana), it was time for some meals. Hana is taken into account the “conventional Maui” feeling like a sleepy city you’d count on on the Hawaiian Islands. I think about that is what Paia was like a few a long time in the past.
When you resolve to spend the night time in or round Hana, it’s an important place to chill out for the day. You’ll be able to try the cultural heart, chill out on the seashore or get pleasure from some downtime on the spa. There’s a picnic space the place you possibly can seize a chew to eat and chill out by the water taking within the ocean views or you possibly can hit one of many eating places.
We grabbed snacks on the basic retailer as a substitute of choosing a sit-down lunch. There was an excessive amount of to see and we didn’t wish to waste time consuming. So with our automobile stocked once more with meals, we had been on our approach. Each time we’re on a highway journey, we want meals readily available.
11. Wai’anapanapa State Park
In a nutshell, Wai’anapanapa State Park is the place you get that basic picture of the Hana Freeway. With lovely scenic viewpoints and a black sand seashore, it’s a must-stop for at the least {a photograph}. There are some mountaineering trails, caves, and a blowhole to discover right here.
It’s right here that you simply’ll see the Pa’iloa, the basic black sand seashore of Maui. There’s a stairway main all the way down to the seashore the place you possibly can rise up shut with the graceful black pebbles lining the shore.
Observe: Wai’anapanapa State Park is positioned simply previous Mile Marker 32 and it’s essential to make reservations to enter the State Park.
12. Hana Lava Tube
That is your probability to go inside a lava tube for those who’ve by no means been. The Hana Lava Tube was fashioned by lava flowing to the ocean for a two-year interval. Because the outer layer cooled, the lava continued to move inside making a tube. Give your self an hour to see it. It’s undoubtedly probably the most underrated stops on the Hana Freeway the place guests can discover the 0.3 miles on their very own to discover the caverns, stalagmites, and lava tubes.
- The Hana Lava Tube is positioned at Mile Marker 31 and the doorway price is $15 per individual for a self-guided tour. There are restrooms right here.
13. Hanawi Falls and Higher Waikani Falls
Two of the stops on the best way again which can be positioned earlier than midway to Hana are the Hanawi Falls and Higher Waikani Falls. You’ll be able to hike to see them however simply be certain to discover a secure parking spot that doesn’t block site visitors.
The falls are positioned at Mile Markers 19 and 24 respecively.
Higher Waikani Falls
If you wish to cease at waterfalls, there are 18 alongside the Hana Freeway. Higher Waikani Falls is also known as the Three Bears with the papa, mama, and child bear waterfalls cascading at totally different lengths. You’ll be able to go for a swim right here or simply chill out on the boulders and benefit from the views of one in every of Maui’s hottest waterfalls.
Hanawi Falls
Hanawi Falls may be seen from Hanawi Stream’s bridge, (one of many 80 bridges alongside the highway to Hana). The cascade of Hanawi Falls drops 200 toes into the plunge pool under. The water is chilly right here so it’s not one of many waterfalls to go swimming in.
Close by there’s the Nahiku Market place the place you may get some espresso, tacos, sorbet, and different snacks that you would be able to get pleasure from beneath the shade.
14. Midway to Hana Stand
The highway to Hana is brief. When you depart early within the morning and drive instantly, you may be via it in 90 minutes. However for those who take your time, you is likely to be prepared for a relaxation cease and a brief snack by the point you get to mile marker 17. One other nice highway journey within the US is 17 Mile Drive in California.
This little store is thought for its banana bread created from native bananas. In addition they promote Maui’s favourite “shave ice,” ice cream, and different snack bar favorites. There’s even an atm for those who discover you’re working quick on money. There’s a little picnic space the place you sit beneath the shade to get pleasure from your ice cream too. If you wish to attempt one other nice banana bread try Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread which is about 4. miles earlier than you attain Midway to Hana.
15. Ke’anae Arboretum
What is sweet about this cease on the Hana Freeway is that it’s free. The principle attraction on the Ke’anae Arboretum is the rainbow eucalyptus bushes. We thought the Eurcaplytus bushes of Maui had been the best factor. They’re an invasive species imported from Asia, however you possibly can’t assist however cease to take images. They’re eye-catching. It’s a brief path so it received’t take up an excessive amount of time on the Hana Freeway to see them.
16. Honomanu Bay
If you wish to see one other black sand seashore it may be finished at Honomanu Bay. This isn’t a well-liked cease on the Hana Freeway, so one can find fewer folks right here in case you are searching for a spot with out crowds.
Situated at Mile Marker 14, Honomanu Bay is a lush shoreline of Maui the place elements of Jurrasic Park had been filmed. We snapped a shot of the coast from a helicopter. It is a cease on the Hana Freeway that you simply’ll wish to do solely when you have time as you possibly can’t drive down until you will have a 4X4. So you have to to hike.
17. Backyard of Eden Arboretum
When driving the Hana Freeway, it’s straightforward to search out the stops on the highway as there are mile markers all alongside the highway. The Maui Backyard of Eden is positioned on Mile Marker 10. There are 2 1/2 miles of maintained strolling trails and you may see the Puohokamoa waterfalls from the Backyard of Eden. It ought to take out about an hour.
There’s a cost of $15 to get into the Backyard of Eden however it’s value it if you wish to see the flora of the island. There’s an outdated mango tree, and strolling trails via the immaculately saved gardens. , so ensure you have the time to essentially discover the gardens.
18. Canyoning at Rappel Maui at Backyard of Eden
If you wish to do one thing adventurous in Maui, Rappel Maui is positioned within the Backyard of Eden the place you possibly can e-book a full-day tour to rappel down Puohokamoa Waterfall. We’ve rappelled down a waterfall and it’s wildly enjoyable!
19. Twin Falls
Twin falls is one other waterfall cease on the highway to Hana. There are the decrease falls and the higher falls and it’s a quick one-mile hike making it an simply accessible waterfall for everybody to get pleasure from. It’s an important place for a dip in one of many swimming pools. We didn’t go for a swim however you possibly can swim there. There’s additionally a farm stand the place you should buy snacks and smoothies.
Twin Falls is positioned at mile marker 2 and there’s a car parking zone that’s restricted. There’s solely room for 50 vehicles at Twin Falls, so when driving out on the highway to Hana, we advocate stopping right here instantly as soon as you allow Paia as a result of there’s a good probability you received’t get a parking spot within the car parking zone and can miss it. There isn’t any parking on the highway to Hana.
20. Ho’Okipa Lookout
We talked about Ho’Okipa Lookout as one of many issues to do in Paia. However when driving the highway to Hana, this can be a nice cease for sundown on the best way again. Situated simply outdoors of Paia on the Hana Freeway is Ho’okipa Seaside Park. It is likely one of the greatest spots on the island for sundown and an important place to observe the professionals at work.
You’ll be able to’t miss it since you’ll see all of the windsurfers taking pictures via the water as you method. The waves are enormous right here because of the right waves that break on its north shore. If you’ll learn to Kite surf or windsurf don’t go right here. That is for professionals solely. Do what we did and go to Kahului Seaside as a substitute.
21. Paia Fish Market
It’s been an extended day. (at the least in case you are nuts like us) and dinner time. Top-of-the-line locations to eat in Paia is the Paia Fish Market. Seize a plate of Mahi Mahi at this native favourite and reminisce concerning the wonderful belongings you noticed immediately on the Hana Freeway.
The place to Keep on the Street to Hana
There are only some resorts in Hana for those who resolve to remain the night time which is a good concept to permit extra time to discover. The lodging on this facet of Maui as it’s extra of rugged and distant, however you possibly can examine VRBO for trip leases within the space like this pretty keep in Hana.
We advise leaving early to beat the site visitors. The Street to Hana can change into overcrowded rapidly. When you’ve got two days, we advocate taking the total two days as there are many websites to see! There are just a few resorts in Hana, we propose the Hana Maui Resort: Examine charges and availability
We stayed at the Paia Inn in Paia and it was fabulous. It’s positioned on the seashore and is inside strolling distance of lots of the high Paia points of interest. The boutique resort has a hip vibe and affords yoga courses, recent Kona espresso, and stylish rooms.
Fast Ideas For Driving The Hana Freeway
- Be sure to select up The Street to Hana CD at any memento store in Maui. Flip it on in Paia and comply with their suggestions as you go. It performs some native music and it’s fairly entertaining besides.
- Cease in Paia to select up a field lunch at CJ’s Diner.
- Depart early, the roads are completely free and away from site visitors within the morning and also you’ll have the freeway all to your self.
- Pack additional water.
- Be sure to have sturdy water footwear with a very good grip for the waterfall trails.
- We advise taking 2 days to essentially discover the Hana Freeway, one isn’t sufficient to see all the pieces. There are lodging in Hana.
- Drive on to Hana stopping just for just a few of the waterfall and scenic ocean views in an effort to get to the park earlier than the crowds.
- Permit at the least 2 to three hours within the park to discover the mountaineering trails and make it out to the waterfalls.
- As soon as you’re completed within the park, make your approach slowly again alongside the freeway stopping in any respect the spots you missed on the best way out.
- Cease on the black sand seashore in your approach again to Hana from the park to see the locals picnicking and browsing.
- We discovered the freeway to be a extra scenic drive on the best way again to Paia so get pleasure from your afternoon.
- Pay particular consideration to the one-lane bridges, they are often tough on winding roads.
About The Hana Freeway
Maui’s Hana Freeway is taken into account one of many world’s nice coastal drives and essentially the most lovely drive in Hawaii. beginning in Paia and ending simply previous the city of Hana. It is just 45 miles (72 km) to Hana from Paia, however the drive can take a whole day once you cease in any respect the gorgeous sights alongside the best way. Learn extra: The Most Superb Info About Hawaii
The twisting highway to Hana is full of 600 hairpin turns crossing 59 bridges. The slim highway clings to the facet of excessive sea cliffs and also you typically come face-to-face with oncoming site visitors.
It’s not advisable for somebody who will not be used to driving, so for those who don’t have plenty of expertise behind the wheel, we propose taking a tour of the Hana Freeway as a substitute of driving it your self. However for those who wish to drive, and don’t thoughts one-lane bridges, get your self a cool automobile rental and hop on this highway for a gorgeous day in Maui.
To get to Hana from Paia you’ll really take highways 36 and 360. However the Hana Freeway sounds a lot cooler. We hopped on Freeway 36 in direction of Hana after which after 9.5 miles, we turned onto freeway 360 to Hana.
In some sources, you may learn concerning the Kaihalulu Crimson Sand Seaside. This culturally delicate space is on non-public property and is off-limits to guests. Please respect the posted indicators and don’t go to Crimson Sand Seaside.
The Greatest Tip for Driving the Hana Freeway
The very best tip for driving the highway to Hana is to b-line it to Hana after which drive again slowly in the wrong way. We drove on to O’he’o Gulch very first thing within the morning. It’s simply previous the city of Hana which we placed on our record to cease at on the best way again. After exploring the paths and waterfalls, we then made our approach slowly again in direction of Paia for the remainder of the day.
It was an important alternative as we didn’t have to take a seat in site visitors. Plus we had the Pipiwai Path to the waterfalls and thru the bamboo forest all to ourselves. We had been grateful for our alternative and felt fairly pleased with our determination once we noticed the lengthy strains of vehicles on the opposite facet of the highway as we drove in the wrong way of all of the site visitors.