If you couldnt look out and see the ocean, youd probably think you were in parts of Texas or another western state. Just indicate into one of the MANY pull-outs and let them by. TRAVEL TIP: If you would prefer to follow along to an audio tour I recommend the Shaka Guide! If you have ANY questions about planning your trip to Hawaii, you can join my free Facebook group here. How long to travel Maui? It's one of the most beautiful drives in the world. But it comes with risks and possibly some stress. The back road to Hana conditions are as followed. We've been researching the attractions on the Hana Highway since 2002 when the highway first made a major and incredibly positive impression on us. Charged Cameras - Many photo opps await you! Certainly not for tourists. About 40 minutes into your drive youll spot the Kihikinui wind turbines. There are plenty of shoulders to pull over, take in Mauis beauty and also take a few pictures. The Road to Hana is not undiscovered anymore and there are just people everywhere. Im there answering questions every day and there are 7500+ other friends who have a ton of Hawaii information to share! This is great to know thanks. 4) I'm imagining that not too many cars fall right off the road so the outside lane consideration may not really be that important - am I right? The area we grew up in, the rural High Peak District of the UK has hundreds of roads tighter, narrower, with more turns, more blind bends, bigger, more exposed drops, and are one lane for both directions for hundreds of miles. The first lookout on the left is Koki Beach overlook but you can skip this and continue to Hamoa Beach further ahead. Any single track bridges or narrow one-car sections are marked with Give-way signs and road marking. ***Want to get FREE flights to Hawaii? Pretty much everybody and their dog knows about driving the Road to Hana on Maui. It is just not inside their comfort zone. Fortunately we had no issues but it was a windy, rainy drive and Im glad we did it but dont think we would do it again. On average, that's one bend every 176 yards. It also says its 2h40mins from OGG to Nahiku but Ive been told Id better give it 5 hours so Im getting that I should more or less double the amount of time Google maps suggests. At this point, people will then turn around and drive back the same way they came. But still, people fear the road and take the I survived the Road To Hana T-Shirts Seriously. The fear is in your head so some positivity might help get your head around it. But heres the thingits still not really unpleasant unless you know what it used to be like before there was the surge in tourists. It REALLY isnt a bad road. The legendary road to Hna is only 52 miles from Kahului; however, the drive can take anywhere from two to four hours to complete since it's fraught with narrow one-lane bridges, hairpin turns and incredible . The water that cascades down creates a small pool at the bottom of the falls that you can swim in. Travel to or from the region of Hana to any other major population center takes several hours by car. Hna Maui. 9) Is there anything I'm not considering that I should be considering? If the Driver is confident and careful there is nothing to fear from the road at all and reminding yourself of this is a great way to keep calm. Yes, it's curvy, and yes, you do need to be careful around blind curves, but it's paved all the way and not bad to drive. The Numbers really do not match the roads reputation. They have a small shop with local,handmade Hive to Home and Bees to Body products. Soon you will come up on St. Josephs Church, this is such a beautiful piece of Maui. You can't miss Nahiku Marketplace, just before mile marker 29 on the road to Hana, Maui. You land in the morningcoming from mainland or another island? The photo slideshow below shows each of these stops. What makes it so dangerousIt's a road! We are aware for some the road is a terrifying prospect and we are not trying to diminish that. One of the best places to view Hanawi Falls is from the Hanawi Falls Bridge. 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. Skip it. Waipahu, Oahu Harlan Sheppard/Flickr So glad you are going to get back and finally see it, Finally getting to drive the road after missing out will probably make the journey all the more special! As we made our way along the southern coast of Maui, we found the scenery to be beautiful and varied. Take the moral high ground and just drive in a way that ensures YOUR safety! Yum! I cant wait to see it!!! Fatalities are rare and accidents often very minor. Hana, the quaint little backwater town has just the one road leading in or our and this is the drive of a lifetime! Bottom line: read the actual fine print of your contract and know YOUR situation with your personal insurance and dont just go on hearsay. Before you embark on your adventure, you want to make sure you have a full tank of gas. Heres my best tip for driving past Hana: always try to follow a car in front of you. While a lot of the guides/apps say to try to be the first car in a line while driving through the frontside so you dont have to watch their brake lights too closely while youre looking around, I think the opposite is true when youre driving past Hana. The bridge was completed in 1926 and is one of the 80 Hana . Located at the extreme southeast of the island of Maui, the city of Hana is like another island. as Upcountry. Driving a car is dangerous. The Road to Hana starts in Kahului and ends in Hana. Maybe explore the south? The main thing that makes people fear the road is reputation! It was quite an experience with three kids in the back seat. The next and last stop until you get to Ulupalakua (Maui Wine and the Ranch Store) is the Kaupo Store. Hairpin bends slice through thickly-forested mountain slopes, and there are no. Be sure to take your lunch and dont e xpect a bathroom break! Is safety as big a concern as some say or is it mostly just up to how nervous or confident a driver is? This fear means many skip the highway and spend their time enjoying more sedate activities, like sitting by the pool. Its so incredible itll change your life! EVERGLADES FL My post captions are full of travel tips and I have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info. GRAND CANYON AZ ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353132', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui backs up, as it often does, it could well be longer. Among the recent ocean-related fatalities around Maui, one stands out to Keanae resident Napua Hueu the death of a 38-year-old Lahaina man who hiked the Puka Maui trail and became unresponsive . They will be miserable. Really just understanding that the Road is actually perfectly serviceable and 99% of the fear is in your mind can help overcome that fear. This towns contains the Ulupalakua Ranch Store. While the Road is not that bad really, for anyone nervous it can be terrifying, and you would unlikely enjoy the journey. Their reasoning is that the popular sites closer to Hana would be less crowded by getting there earlier and then I guess they think that the crowds at the stops closer to Paia will have moved on towards Hana so by the time they retrace their steps theyll have all the popular spots to themselves. Should I be confident in my ability to do this drive with precious cargo (my girlfriend's and my own life)? 10 Best Museums In Chicago Which Museums Should You Visit In The Windy City? It is not a place for nervous drivers, and if even attempting the Hana Highway is questionable for you, do not even consider the back route. I say if youre brave enough to get to Hana and Kipahulu, you might as well go the whole way around! What about a convertible? The Road often apps up in worlds most dangerous roads lists, along with other such shock journalism. I am a pretty low-risk driver with minimal experience driving through mountains. So if you're interested in the Road to Hana, then you may also be interested in these top things around Maui: Waianapanapa State Park Nakalele Blowhole Lahaina Banyan Court Hookipa Beach Maui Ocean Center (Aquarium of Hawaii) Iao Valley State Monument Haleakala National Park It was the perfect solution. Most of the road is one lane with pullouts. If you ask them directly, theyll hem and haw (they give you the strong impression that its forbidden) but basically what it comes down to is they wont come and get you if you have a problem.. And to finish with my most solid argumentif a big tour bus can drive the backroad to Hana, so can you ; ). If you are in charge of the directions and finding the stops, that is one less thing to distract the driver and gives you something to do. Mile Marker 2 Hana Highway (360) Twin Falls. Also known as State Highway 340, it also happens to be one of the most dangerous roads in Maui. Supprised you were not impressed with the beach, we love the uniqueness and other worldly charms of the place, and the reservation system probably means its less busy that it can be, but still, it is just a beach really, Glad you had the experience, we find people definitely regret not going mor than people regret going, even if it wasnt really their thing. The drive time from Kula town to Kahului is about 4 hours, but with all the fun things to do and see this is a whole day excursion lets say 10-12 hours. It is a tough question to answer as if we accept this is an irrational fear it can be hard to put your finger on what exactly is the trigger! 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. And if youre driving clockwise around the island, you will need to yield to them since theyre on the outside lane (which means you have the inside lane and it feels MUCH safer). We will land in the morning, (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You really should be more fearful driving to the airport or shipping in Walmart, are you going to buy an I Survived Wallmart Kahului?. We personally have no issues at all but the fear is very real in many people and cant be dismissed. Or someone from the rural US where roads amble on for hundreds of miles with barely a bend would find the almost endless snaking of the road completely daunting. Side Note: If youre looking for a rental car for your trip, I LOVE Discount Hawaii Car Rentals. Need a coffee or fresh fruit after your refreshing waterfall plunge? Now lets get to the exciting part the best stops along the backside road to Hana! Expect scenic views, volcanic structures and the sweet taste of freedom. Its the quintessential Hawaiian mom and pop shop and its a great place to grab a cold drink and use the restroom. I know it may sound tempting but swimming under the falls is dangerous as rocks get unlodged and fall from the top of falls which can knock you in the head. We do not think so. If the Road the Hana is proving scary, that Back route will scare the Bejebous out of you! Hawaii is known for some of the world's most beautiful waterfalls, and Maui is no exception. Thi, Sometimes you just gotta stop and smell thesunf, The Acropolis of Pergamon are well preserved ruins, Happy Sunday . It's a full day trip that can even be stretched out to 2 or 3 days, if you truly want to explore all the amazing Road to Hana stops. Take a van or coach tour Having an air-conditioned vehicle with a driver/guide is really the best way to see Hana. Next up is Ulupalakua. Kipahulu is home to some of the Road to Hana's most famous stops from the Pools at O'heo (Seven Sacred Pools), Pipiwai Trail, and Waimoku Falls. **Mama's Fish House. Another beautiful coastal church on the back way to Hana drive is Huialoha Church. And heres my disclaimer: I am neither encouraging or discouraging you to make this drive. 1. My friend and I visited Maui in 2019 and neither of us was brave enough for the drive. There is no beach, but the rocky coastline is spectacular as far as scenery goes. What is the Weather Like in Chicago, Illinois? Super dangerous. Sipping pineapple wine is an unusual thing to do in Maui and is one of the best things to do Upcountry Maui although I recommend that you spend a separate day exploring as there are many cool things to do Upcountry. Also you can't enter the Park to hike the Pipiwai Trail until 9 am. Bring ones you don't mind getting muddy. 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. In the end, was it all worth it for YOU? If the front side is lush and jungle-like, the backside is dry and desert-like (once you get past Kipahulu). My husband and I are going in June and we will be doing it as hes not a nervous person ? Lets support local and sustainability. I would def want to get there before dark the first day, though. 10) Lastly, is it wiser to hire a local driver to pick us up and drop us off at each location? In some ways, winding roads are beautiful and make for a peaceful drive while road tripping. Alelele Falls is a short hike that takes 15-20 minutes to reach. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. How long does it take to drive to Hana backside? Period. Rating: In a nutshell: If you like the road less traveled, continuing on past Hana around Haleakala is an adventure worth taking. We go into detail in the linked article, but, Spoiler alert! It has 13 hairpins that will have you climbing from 5,617 feet above sea level to 6,677 feet above sea level in just three. ARIZONA This is a great place to stop to fuel up with gas, grab a coffee or a hot meal. You cant enjoy the drive with a angry local right up your back side, let them be on their way and you can relax! GRAND TETON WY Hazards aside, you're not giving yourself nearly enough time in either direction. The road is very comfortable for one car to drive on, the problem comes when you pass another car. What is scary to some is nothing to others. 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. . 9. On Another Note: If youre looking for a condo or vacation rental for your trip, I always book with Vrbo. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352891', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui -- you are going to eat up most of your time driving. There are 620 bends, many of them extremely sharp or hairpin turns, over the course of that 64 miles. 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! I promise all the bumpy and narrow road conditions are worth it because we havent even reached the highlights of this trip yet. As always, I would never recommend a product or service that I didn't truely believe in. Paia is a small, laid back town on the Northshore of Maui. I will say though, that while I have driven this in a Jeep, Ive also driven it in a sedan and a full size pickup. If you take the road past Oheo Gulch (Seven Pools) and past Lindbergh's grave and continue around the south side of Maui to go all the way around, you will have to drive on about 5 miles of unpaved dirt and gravel road. Despite what the name suggests, the town of Hana is not the destination; it's the drive itself. more! The back road to Hana is not like this the whole way, or even most of the way, but it is there! 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Scenery to be one of the most dangerous roads in Maui Kihikinui turbines! About 40 minutes into your drive youll spot the Kihikinui wind turbines TETON WY Hazards,! On St. Josephs Church, this is such a beautiful piece of,... Detail in the back road to Hana T-Shirts Seriously say if youre looking for a peaceful drive while road.! I would def want to make this drive with precious cargo ( my girlfriend 's and my own life?... To Hawaii, you 're not giving yourself nearly enough time in direction... To Hamoa Beach further ahead it as hes not a nervous person the world & # x27 s... As followed travel tips and I visited Maui in 2019 and neither of was. One of the most dangerous roads in Maui Ulupalakua ( Maui Wine and Ranch! Def want to get there before dark the first lookout on the Northshore of Maui other... Back seat Hana backside, you want to get to Ulupalakua ( Maui Wine the. What is scary to some is nothing to others from 5,617 feet above level! 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most dangerous part of road to hana