Road to Hana (Hana Highway)

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The Road to Hana connects Kahului and the town of Hana, hugging the coast for a distance of 64 miles. It’s famous for its difficult driving terrain and spectacular scenery. Highlights along the route include the seven sacred pools of Oheo Gulch, the Twin Falls waterfall, the Wailua Falls, the Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls, the lush rainforests of the Haleakala National Park, the black sand beach at Wai’anapanapa State Park, Honomanu Bay, and the Hana Lava Tube (Ka’eleku Caverns).

Driving along the route can be challenging for more inexperienced drivers, so if you’re not confident or don’t feel like spending an entire day behind the wheel, consider joining a full-day Road to Hana tour with a local guide. For a more glamorous option, you can also get a bird’s eye view on a helicopter tour.

Things to know before you go

• Visitors must have a valid driver’s license plus international driver’s permit (depending on your country of origin) when hiring a car in Hawaii.
• Guided tours generally include a picnic lunch, drinks, and snacks.
• Bring a bathing suit if you plan to swim along the way.
• The speed limit along the road is 25 mph.
• Paia is a good place to stop if you need provisions along the way.
• Some tour companies offer wheelchair-adapted vehicles.

How to get there

The Road to Hana starts in the town of Kahului, just west of Maui’s airport. If you’re driving yourself, pay attention, and follow the information on road signs. Some tours include hotel pickup. Helicopter tours usually take visitors by car one way and return by helicopter.

When to get there

Whether you’re driving yourself or joining a tour, it’s best to start out early; even though the road is less than 70 miles long, it can take up to 6 hours to drive due to traffic, blind turns, and sightseeing stops along the way.

Walk through the Hana Lava Tube

Lava tubes—natural tunnels formed by cooling volcanic lava flows—are only found in a few places in the world, including Hawaii. Explore the Hana Lava Tube (officially called the Ka’eleku Caverns), with a tour guide to see about a third of a mile of unique geological formations, including “lavacicles” and a famous area that looks like molten chocolate.

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