The best road trips are those where you can cruise around on the open road at your leisure, playing road trip songs or just enjoying the sounds of nature, stress-free. The Road to Hana is the opposite. It's crowded, fairly dangerous, and definitely stressful.
This depends on what type of traveler you are and how much time you have. If you'd rather not drive, and you want a guide you can ask questions to, a Hana van tour is the best option. If you want a little more control over where you go, and you want to do your own research, driving is your best option.
Tip 2: Take nausea medicine.I have a friend who took medicine before going on the Road to Hana and her group still had to turn back because she got so sick. Getting motion sickness is pretty common along this fairly wind-y road so if you can prepare in advance, that will help immensely.
From there, you'll arrive at the official Mile Marker Zero location for the route, and then it's 35 miles to the town of Hana. Once you reach Hana, you turn around and come back the way you came. Kahului-Hana-Kipahulu-Kula: The outbound journey remains the same, starting in Kahului and heading to Hana.
Some call it the “Road to Hell” or the “Road to Divorce” because you will have to journey across 52 miles of winding road, hairpin turns and numerous one lane bridges to experience all of Hana. This treacherous drive causes couples to argue. Don't worry, it's not that bad. Just take your time and drive carefully.
The safest and most pleasant way to travel on the Road to Hana is during daylight hours. Leaving around 7 am will leave you plenty of time for driving and a few interesting stops.
Last Words: Reverse Road To HanaDriving in reverse has its advantages like avoiding crowds and congestion at the most popular stops and finding parking spots. The Road to Hana is an incredible experience from breathtaking waterfalls and black sand beaches to lush greenery and local culture.
Bug Spray - Mosquitos love Hana tourists. Charged Cameras - Many photo opps await you! Full Gas Tank - You most likely won't need a whole tank, but just in case. Respect for the land & people - A crucial component to everyone's happiness.
On the beautiful island of Maui, the gorgeous and winding road to Hana,Maui is one road you will never forget. Shortly past mile marker 17 you will see the HALFWAY TO HANA sign on your right. You probably have been traveling for about two hours at this time, so it might be a good time to stop for a great treat.
The road is unpaved but well-graded dirt for five miles, and at some points it is only one lane wide and has precipitous drop-offs, but at no point is 4WD essential. The only time you would need 4WD is during a torrential rainstorm—and in that situation, you should stay off the road altogether.
Most people start their trip in Kahului (home to Maui's main airport) with the intention of motoring the 52 miles to Hana. There is no cost to drive along the highway. However, keep in mind that most banana bread and smoothie stands along the way only take cash.
Next, the road to Hana is windy and narrow. There are dozens of areas where you have to yield, as only one car can pass at a time. Even outside of these areas, though, the road is still pretty narrow, and having a small car makes the tight spaces less stressful to drive.