Nahiku Marketplace. Eventually, the Hana Highway turns into the Piilani Highway. And some of those narrow and windy parts of the road are without a guard rail. However, on the Kahekili Highway, the narrow roads closely hug the edges of their respective cliffs, resulting in topsy roads on some stretches. Want to read more? This means you are taking all the risk when driving the reverse road to Hana. Plus if you are staying in a popular area like Kaanapali on West Maui it is another 45 60 minuets getting to the starting point and back to your hotel. The road is very comfortable for one car to drive on, the problem comes when you pass another car. At this historic store you can purchase snacks and use a restroom if you are a customer. Yikes. Super dangerous. The Road to Hana is generally known for it's 52 miles of winding turns, liable to cause nausea and dizziness among even the most experienced road trip enthusiast, as well as it's 59 Lara Croft-esque stone bridges nestled in the thick Hawaiian jungle. But in general, I did not think the Road to Hana was dangerous or scary. Driving the Road to Hana means that you will be driving the Hana Highway. How long to travel Maui? Skip it. We respect your privacy. What makes this drive so special? 1. There are many adventures to have in Hana so I always recommend staying a night or two in Hana to be able to experience all that Hana has to offer. This park contains one of. Hairpin bends slice through thickly-forested mountain slopes, and there are no. The first is one we dont advise. In ancient times most of the Hawaiians lived in this area opposed to current day West Maui or South Maui. The tours use GPS to offer turn-by-turn directions and audio narration with stories and music. 13 years ago Save IMHO, it's neither dangerous nor scary. The 3-5 miles just past Kipahulu (the National Park, AKA Seven Sacred Pools) are the worst, but its not unlike the last few miles leading up to Kipahulu on the other side (past Hana coming into the National Park). The back road to Hana starts in Kula town about 15 minutes past Makawao, one of Maui's most charming towns. JEWEL CAVE SD, HAWAII TRAVEL PLANNING Its 11 miles past Hana town and takes a little over half an hour to reach with no stops. Any help is very welcome. I did not want to drive this most scary and dangerous part, and I walked part of the back road to Hana. : @kapenamorgan, What to expect driving the backside road to Hana. Right: Driving the back road to Hana is where you will find roads that can be dangerous or scary! The popular way is to start the Road to Hana is by passing through the town of Paia. I thank you in advance. Road To Hana (Maui) - Toughest Section DrMKC 739 subscribers 56K views 7 years ago This is the dashcam video of the toughest 30 minutes on the famous Road to Hana in Maui. Google has no clue what the drive times are on Maui and Hawaii in general. Unsubscribe at any time. GRAND CANYON AZ The Road to Hana actually goes beyond the town of Hana, all the way to Haleakala National Park. What makes it so dangerousIt's a road! Hi Im Jess. Alternatively, you may use. 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. Overall i am a confident driver so it was fine, but I can definitely see many drivers not making this drive all the way to Hana town. Hana, the quaint little backwater town has just the one road leading in or our and this is the drive of a lifetime! Guoliang Tunnel ( China) Should I be confident in my ability to do this drive with precious cargo (my girlfriend's and my own life)? And we have some questions that we're hoping you lovely folk can help answer: We're planning to drive from Kanapali Beach to Hana about 3pm on Aug 7th, to arrive around 6pm at our lodgings in Hana. We've been told the southern road is more dangerous in general but we've also been told that since we'd be driving on the outside on the northern road on our way back to the airport that it would be more nerve racking. You need to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight and it's a 3 hour drive from Wainapanapa IF you aren't behind a slow train(qnd the traffic will be very heavy during that time you are headed to the airport) also if weather caused a downed tree or landslide you are just stuck. Distraction is a great way to keep the fear at bay. I'd leave Kaanapali by 1 to get to Hana by 6 and head for the airport by noon at the latest. We hoped to stop at the garden of eden but it had a long line of cars so we kept going, we made a reservation at the black sand beach. After walking it, I did not have any regrets in deciding not to drive the back road to Hana! It's windy contains 65 hairpin switchbacks, 600 sharp turns, and 59 one-lane bridges. Am I missing something youre trying to tell me? 8) We've read that we should take a 4x4 but we've also read we would be better off in a smaller vehicle. There are quite a few places to stop to eat now, and quite a few restrooms now, What to Eat at Universal Studios, Hollywood, Chicago, Illinois Visitors Guide Basics. The last gas station until you get to Hana is right next to Grandmas Coffee House which is one of the best breakfast spots on Maui. Serious accidents involving tourists on the Highway are rare, compared to the rest of the islands where tourists accidental deaths are higher than average! (The other is the crater at the top of Haleakala .) We find the best solution (like most things in life) is good communication. I cant wait to see it!!! Anytime you start toward Hana after lunch you will start meet cars headed toward you and that will slow you down on the 59 one way bridges. HAWAII VOLCANOES HI Next up is Ulupalakua. Even really confident drivers who have rarely experienced this type of road suddenly find their grip tightening and the beads of sweat forming. Make sure your partner is aware of your fears and explain they may not be entirely rational but still real. The rainforest trail starts near the National park visitors center and takes you past 2 waterfall outlooks, an ancient banyan tree, through a magical bamboo forest and eventually to the awe inspiring 400 foot Waimoku Falls. The only sketchy part is if you're driving along the cliffs edge backwards into Hana on the waters edge. The drive to Hana is known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world with waterfalls, beaches, history, and views (you can even see the Big Island in some parts). It will make you feel like your on a wild foreign adventure tho. This will leave you with a deeper understanding and connection to Hawaii. Mostly this stems from rumors (I like to call it an urban legend, hmm maybe Ill call it a jungle legend lol) about it being illegal to take rental cars back this way. If you aren't planning on stopping at any of the waterfalls, trails, scenic viewpoints, etc., the drive straight from Lahaina to Hana will take a good 2.75-4 hours, depending on time of day. But there is more to it than that the enduring reputation that this is a dangerous road manifests itself in your mind. Accidents are common and you may be more likely to have a small bump, brush a wall/banking, or get stuck in a ditch than regular highways, but you are less likely to actually injure yourself than on most roads in Hawaii. The most dangerous part of the Road to Hana is the back road to Hana because this is where you will find one-lane roads with no shoulders and a cliff that drops off right alongside the road. Maybe well do Kanapali only and then head out east? This being said, travel at your own risk. The backside road is VERY different from the front road and definitely worth experiencing. The fear is in your head so some positivity might help get your head around it. (This is NOT like the Hana Highway normal route around the north side, which is paved all the way.) If you are enjoying the sights and driving at a leisurely pace, be mindful enough to pull over and let local drivers pass. It's very isolated, no cell service and prohibited by all the major (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? FLORIDA, U.S. NATIONAL PARK SITES Its the quintessential Hawaiian mom and pop shop and its a great place to grab a cold drink and use the restroom. Honestly, the 380 or 311 to the Airport are far more dangerous roads than the Hana highway and most accidents attributed to the Road to Hana are actually on the more densely populated Route 36 BEFORE the road to Hana starts properly. Yes, it is long, hard work, challenging, and costs a full day of your vacation along with a precious lie-in, but there is so much beauty and wonder along this little highway it has to be right at the top of your bucket list. What about a convertible? Also through yourself into the Navigation. The Road to Hana is one of the best things to do in Maui! So the final option is mitigating the fear. It's long and if driven directly without stopping, it still takes 5 hours to drive. **Kaulahao Beach aka Kuau Beach Park. GULF ISLANDS FL You land in the morningcoming from mainland or another island? THEODORE ROOSEVELT ND Drive safe and slow, especially along these winding bits of road, specifically on . Maybe at one point that was true, but I dont really think it is anymore. 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 main thing that makes people fear the road is reputation! What are your fears and doubts? . Since you are voiding your contract the rental agency will not come to help. This towns contains the Ulupalakua Ranch Store. 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. The sheer remoteness of the area also plays on the mind. Also, is anyone planning a drive but is fearful of the road? 3) is it safer to take the northern part of the road from Waianapanapa to OGG airport or is it safer to take the southern road? Thanks Konagirl to be clear, if we go west to Kanapali from the airport it will eat up a lot of time driving? Yes, if you drive straight from Paia to Hana, you might see less people at the spots near Hana, but by the time you start working your way back to Paia those spots are still going to crowded. So many people dont really plan their trip to Hana and end up starting out late in the day and just stopping wherever they see cars so those stops along the north shore are still going to have visitors all day long. Located at the extreme southeast of the island of Maui, the city of Hana is like another island. other than a slight hindrance to your rate of progress there is nothing to worry about. And finally, someone with little experience outside of their comfort zone, someone who driving is an anxious experience for in the best of times would just fond the road far too much. You dont really need a touring plan for the order of how to hit all your must see spots. The road is narrow (a generous one lane road with plenty of spots to pull over and let someone pass) and winding and there are quite a few blind corners, but generally speaking, the road also isnt very high up in these portions as it is on the front side. What is scary to some is nothing to others. There are no straight sections to this drivethe curves are constant. Take your valuables with you or at the very least keep them out of sight. We personally have no issues at all but the fear is very real in many people and cant be dismissed. For most of the drive, a very narrow road winds through lush, green forests. If theyre open ; ) Ill note here that the National Park does NOT have water or snacks for sale so since the Kaupo Store is undependable, make sure you have everything you need once you leave Hana. Finally Know your limits. After the viewpoint the road gets narrow to a point that only one car fits. This part of Maui is known as Upcountry. Other people revel in that sort of environment. We will land in the morning, rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. The Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park is past Hana town and well worth the additional drive. You cant enjoy the drive with a angry local right up your back side, let them be on their way and you can relax! We can now offer our visitors 20 years of expertise on this beautifully scenic drive. ANSWER. However, the Road to Hana is not dangerous in and of itself, and for seasoned drivers, the trip should be a breeze. While to fully overcome the fear requires repeated exposure we find with the right attitude, a good amount of care and respect for the road, and a little can-do attitude many people find the Road FAR less intimidating than they originally feared. Driving a car is dangerous. paia town. I probably would not go to West (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? It gets pretty windy! As you continue driving down the Piilani Highway youll come up on some old homes and a bunch of run down old cars. So you are trying to figure out whether you should do a Road to Hana tour or if you should do the Road to Hana on your own! If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. That is such a shame for you both, but it is understandable, and probably the right decision. How long is Hana Highway? You will need to allow more time than you have. It is such a unique and wonderful Road through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. The Road to Hana runs approximately 52 miles from the beach town of Paia, over 59 bridges, and through 620 curves.Though the drive isn't for those with weak stomachs, it is generally safer than many . And this is the part of the Road to Hana that I DO think is scary! If you only have one day, theres still a lot to see, so snap a picture and be on your way. 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: To compare this road to other highways of death such as the North Yungas Road in Bolivia or the Brazils Road of death is ridiculous. If you get above 30 mph you are doing well! In general I did not find the main part of the Road to Hana to be particularly dangerous or scary. If I could sign up twice, I would ; ). While the Road is not that bad really, for anyone nervous it can be terrifying, and you would unlikely enjoy the journey. Hearing the driver explain they understand this bend is tight and blind so they are taking it slow and wide helps you understand they are not recklessly hooning around the blind bend! Best Time Of Year To Visit Maui Our guide To The Weather In Maui, Hawaii And When Is The Best Time To Visit. Joining a tour will eliminate stress for the driver and passengers, allowing for a more enjoyable experience and guides provide valuable insights about the surrounding area and its cultural history. **Mama's Fish House. Its a no brainer. In terms of the road, no there aren't cars falling off of it all the time (I mean, it happens, but) and it's not that scary to me if you are used to winding mountain roads. Theyre seriously the only company I ever use. This snake-like road is 52 miles (84 km) long and runs from Kahului to Hana. Its so incredible itll change your life! It is just not inside their comfort zone. ***Want to get FREE flights to Hawaii? The bridge was completed in 1926 and is one of the 80 Hana . Strange, our hosts at our lodgings told us the southern road was faster back to the airport from Haleakala you say its longer for sure? Who thinks of these things? I guess depending on what youre most interested in seeing/doing you could try this, but here are my thoughts: I strongly recommend driving the Road to Hana the right way or clockwise from Paia for a couple of reasons: 1) youll be on the inside lane the whole way around (no hugging the tight shoulder where theres a 200 foot drop off mere feet away from your tire) which is a bigger deal when youre driving on the road past Hana. Side Note: If youre looking for a rental car for your trip, I LOVE Discount Hawaii Car Rentals. I personally dont like to be on the road after dark at all, but once I make it to Kula (really even Ulupalakau), its fine driving back in the dark. However, it also comes with a fearsome reputation, and strikes fear into the hearts of many. 22 Best Road to Hana stops Twin & Caveman Falls Huelo Lookout Road to Hana Rainbow eucalyptus trees Waikamoi Ridge Trail Ka Haku smoke shack Garden of Eden arboretum Haipua'ena Falls Honoman Bay lookout Ke'anae Arboretum Aunty Sandy's Wailua Valley State Wayside Park Upper Waikani Falls Upper Hanawi Falls Pi'ilanihale Heiau Road to Hana lava tubes We would love to hear from those who braved the road though. 4 The Road Is Winding. Full Gas Tank - You most likely won't need a whole tank, but just in case. They have a small shop with local,handmade Hive to Home and Bees to Body products. Starting your journey to Hana on this side is a great way toexperience this side ofHaleakala volcano. Remember if you push on you have to come back this way (or the scarier, riskier back route! If you are still undecided about whether or not you want to drive the Road to Hana on your own, there are Road to Hana tours. As always, I would never recommend a product or service that I didn't truely believe in. A few of my favorite moments from the past year! You have the option of walking down to get much closer to the falls, but with the car situation not preferable, we chose not to. Okay, once you pass this portion (the first 3-5 miles past Kipahulu), the road clears up nicely into a wide open terrain. 2) Youll experience the best part of the drive (what youre most expecting to seecrazy lush vegetation, wild jungles, waterfalls, etc) early in the day when youre still fresh and excited (and not 6-8 hours in when youre starting to run on fumes energy wise). This road is also part of the daily commute for Maui's residents, so drive with aloha to avoid any frustration. 10 Best Museums In Chicago Which Museums Should You Visit In The Windy City? Everything You Need to Know About Dining in San Diego. 10) Lastly, is it wiser to hire a local driver to pick us up and drop us off at each location? We intend to stop only at Hanawi Falls briefly (1 hour), and we understand that it is otherwise a 2 hour drive. 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. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352716', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. Way.: if youre looking for a rental car for your trip, I ;! 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