Somehow I am still on island time, so this week is a bit of a struggle. Chicago has also decided to go in full fall mode, so it will be most likely snowing next week.
By far the coolest thing we did in Hawaii was the Road to Hana. It is a 65 mile stretch of highway that connects the beach town of Paia to the town of Hana in east Maui. Along the highway there are different stops to be made, usually only indicated by a mile marker. Waterfalls, scenic viewpoints, banana stands and black sand beaches are a few of the stops to be seen. However, the road isn’t just your casual hour long car ride. The roads wind through the cliffs, are narrow and in many places, only one lane. Would I do it again? 100 percent yes.
What to Expect: Like I mentioned, the roads are quite dangerous, so the max speed you’ll reach at any given point is 20 mph. It took us a solid 7 hours to do the entire round trip (and we didn’t even go all the way to Hana). However, we stopped at about 10-15 locations to take photos, enjoy the moment, and stock up on the world famous banana bread.
Nick and I did a little research before hitting the road, but to be honest, not much. We rented a four-door car to make the trek. When we went to go pick up the car, we were upgraded to a red Mustang, and figured why not go all out with the convertible. Not gonna lie, one of the best decisions of the trip. Definitely recommend a hatch back Jeep or a convertible. We used Avis car rental (our preferred) and they were awesome!
Where to Stop: I think there are over 30 stops to be made along the highway. You just need to pick and choose what which ones grab your attention. If were were to do it again, I think we would spend all day making each individual stop and stay the night in a B&B in Hana. Some of our favorites were:
Paia Town. It’s Maui’s historic plantation town and so picturesque.
Jaws. I wish we would have made an actual pit stop here. The waves can reach up to 60 feet and you can see some legit surfing.
Kaumahina State Wayside Park. Mile marker 12. Scenic overlooking view of the ocean and trails.
Keanae Village. Just before Mile Marker 17. The cover photo was taken here. Actually unreal. There are also swimming spots
Wainapanapa State Park. Mile Marker 32. Black sand beach. Sea Caves. I could have spent a whole day here.
Any and every waterfall.
What to Pack: No matter how many stops you make, this will turn into a whole day adventure. With that being said, be sure to stock up. The majority of the road is rural with a few fruit and banana bread stops along the way (no restaurants or gas stations along the way). I would recommend stopping at the grocery store in Paia and grabbing the essentials.
Be sure to include these items:
-Sunscreen. Still rocking a farmer’s tan.
-BUG SPRAY
– Water bottles
-Trail Mix, Chips, Cheez-Its…snacks to eat in the car
-Sandwiches. There are a ton of picnic spots, so choose one and enjoy a meal with a view.
-Swimsuit and Towels. Beaches & waterfalls galore.
-Tennis Shoes. These hikes are legit..and muddy.
-Wet Wipes. Just trust me on this one.
To share this post, use this photo!
Leave a Reply