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The Road to Hana
The Road to Hana is one
of the most scenic drives in the world! The road itself is the attraction rather than Hana Town
(although it's nice too). The winding road starts out in Kahului as the Hana Hwy. (Hwy. 36) and
continues past Pa`ia all the way to Hana and beyond. The name "Highway" is somewhat of a misnomer:
once you're past Haiku, with over 600 hairpin turns and 56 one lane bridges, the average speed
limit is 20 MPH. It's definitely better to take a guided tour on this one or the driver will
not get to see the incredible changing scenery for having to watch the road! You'll pass by
several small communities along the way such as Huelo, Kailua, Ke`anae, Nahiku and others that
are still very much like the Hawai`i of old times. One should definitely get off the road to
see the old community of Ke`anae on the scenic Ke`anae Peninsula. This is one of the last areas
in Hawaii where kalo (taro root) is grown in paddy-like loi to make the traditional dish of poi.If you do insist on driving
this road yourself, please be kind to the kama`aina (local people) and pull over and let them pass if you
begin to get over a couple of cars backed up behind you, especially if they're not the shiny new rental cars. As
is the case in many scenic areas, the locals have seen the beauty of the area so much that they take it
somewhat for granted and may be in a hurry to get to work or tend to their business matters. This drive is so incredible, you could write a book about it,
and several have been. Numerous waterfalls, tropical jungle, ocean views and more.
You should allow an entire day for this trip. The trip from Kahului to Hana is only a little
over 50 miles, but due to the number of scenic stops along the way, it will take about 3.5 hours
or so. If you do insist on driving it, be sure to fill up with gas before leaving as there's no
stations after Pa`ia until you get to Hana. Be sure to take something to drink with you, as there's
practically nowhere to get one on the way. Be sure to stop at Hasegawa General Store in Hana
to pickup a "I Survived the Road to Hana" tee-shirt. It's a neat store with a little bit of
everything. See our Photo Gallery for a small sampling of the scenary on this road.Be sure to stop at some of the roadside flower stands to pick up some of the incredible tropical
flowers that are grown in this area. You can find several kinds of ginger, heliconias, bird of paradise
and others at unbelievably low prices. They will stay pretty for days if you have bottle or something with
water in it to put them in for the rest of the trip. Some of the stands will have flowers out, but no
people around. Don't be afraid to stop as these operate on the honor system in a great show of aloha. Just
leave your money for your purchase in the bucket or box provided.Be advised that for most car rental agencies, they
don't allow most types of vehicles beyond where the paved road ends past Kipahulu on Hwy. 31 when coming from
the direction of Hana in East Maui. This is a very desolate area and the road beyond is quite rough
for several miles and if you break down, there are no phones, almost no inhabitants and none of the car rental agencies will come out to help you. In other words, you
are on your own and expect a tow bill upwards of $200 or more and several hours wait for the wrecker
to arrive. You will also be responsible for any damages or repairs to the vehicle. The standard coverages
for this won't apply as far as the car rental companies are concerned. If you would like to see the
southeast lava desert side of the island, the best way is to approach from the other side of the
island from the Kula Hwy. (Hwy 37/31) past Ulupalakua Ranch and Tedeschi Winery and go as far as the pavement allows.
There is some spectacular views of the island of Kaho`olawe and some large volcanic cinder
cones from this side of the island. The Plantsman would definitely recommend you contact Ekahi Tours
and arrange a tour to Hana through them. It will be the best $75.00 you'll ever spend. They will pick you up at
your hotel and they use full sized vans that can go places that the minibuses some of the other
tours use can't. Our trip included a buffet lunch at the Hana Ranch Restaurant. They now offer a
picnic style lunch and eat at Hana Bay or Wainapanapa State Park and promise it is even more fun.
After lunch they will go to the beautiful Oheo Gulch as standard. Rental cars are not allowed past
Oheo Gulch due to the road conditions and they won't come tow you if you break down. If there
hasn't been any torrential rain to wash the road out, they'll take you on to Kipahulu and
on around the south side of the island past the Kaupo desert and on to the Ulupalakua Ranch and
beyond. Just a little ways past Kipahulu is the little Palapala Ho`omau church (1857) where the pioneering aviator
Charles A. Lindburgh is buried. Just look for the tall brick smokestack of old sugarmill that operated until
1922. The road will turn off to your left to the church. The lava desert past Kaupo where Mt. Haleakala last erupted in 1790
is very eerie. You'll see several sizeable volcanic cindercones and the view of La Perouse Bay
and the island of Kaho`olawe is outstanding. If time allows, they'll stop at the Tedeschi Vineyard, where you can sample their wines. Be sure to pack plenty of
film, the scenary on this trip is just incredible! Mahalo nui loa to Chris Kanana, our knowledgeable Hawaiian guide that lives just past Hana. He
was the greatest. This guy needs his own TV show! He kept us in stitches the whole way and was
very knowledgeable with the history and sights of the area. His fabulous ginger gardens that his
twin brother works in for the cut flower trade were beautiful. See our Gallery for a photo. The Sugar Cane Train - The Lahaina, Ka`anapali & Pacific Railroad (LK&P)
The Sugar Cane Train is a must for train fans of all ages. A reconstructed turn of the century
steam train like was used to haul sugar cane, it's the only railroad on Maui and the only operational steam train in Hawaii. A narrow gauge line, it runs from the
station just off the main Honoapi`ilani Hwy in Lahaina to the Pu`uokoli`i Depot in Ka`anapali
(about 6 miles) and back. Look for the Pioneer Mill (smokestacks) on your right as you come into
Lahaina. You'll see a wide variety of scenery as the train goes
through neighborhoods, former sugarcane fields and golf courses along the way. The engine is oil
fired, so you won't have to worry about getting cinders in your eyes. The wooden
turntable at the Lahaina station is neat to watch as it turns around the
locomotive at the end of each trip. It has a singing conductor who accompanies himself on the ukelele and narrates the tour. Souvenir pictures
of your ride are available for purchase. This is a fairly inexpensive activity, especially
when you consider how unique it is. Check the tourist guides for discount coupons. They have
a variety of ride options and also have a shuttle service to the Ka`anapali Resort area available
via an old English Double-Decker Bus. Check our Maui Links for their website. Be sure to notice the the Pioneer (Coffee) Mill right
behind the Lahaina station, to the left of the large sugarmill. This is where they processed
the coffee beans for Ka`anapali Estate Coffee. Unfortunately, this has all been shut down and the mill itself will be demolished.Don't miss the next page of great things you shouldn't miss!
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Last modified on Aloha Friday, May 25, 2001