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Maui's famous road to Hana is an adventure in which the journey is the destination. Steeped in legend, history, and natural beauty, this drive is a quintessential Hawaiian experience you will never forget. Print this page out so you can take it on your drive.

What is the Road to Hana?

Hana town lies near the far eastern tip of Maui, and the Hana Highway runs down the northeast coast of Maui to reach it. This is the windward coast of the island, so it receives the bulk of the rain that comes to Maui. In all, the Hana highway has more than 50 one-lane bridges and over 600 curves, with countless waterfalls.

Tips for Driving the Road to Hana

• Don't expect any gas or supplies until you get to Hana, so be prepared before you start.
• It's a good idea to bring a picnic lunch with you (you can get one in Paia). You may see some fruit stands along the way, but there aren't many true restaurants.
• Bring bug spray if you plan to hike, beach stuff if you plan to swim, and certainly your camera.
• Show some Aloha while driving -- don't tailgate, watch the road for stopped cars, pull over if you want to enjoy the scenery, and yield to the locals. Some people live here and would appreciate your respect for their homes.
• Start early and plan to spend all day enjoying the road. Better yet, spend a night in Hana and give yourself more time.

Mile marker 0: Leaving Paia

We begin in the town of Paia / Haiku on the Hana Highway (Highway 36) and head east. When 36 turns into Highway 360, the mile markers go from 16 to 0 near a white bridge. This is the "true" start of the Road to Hana.

Mile marker 7: Painted Forest

Our first stop along the road to Hana is the Painted Forest, a group of rainbow eucalyptus trees planted just off the road. The trees are on the left side of the road just before mile marker 7 and are easy to miss if you aren't looking for them. There isn't really a great place to park here, so be very careful of the traffic if you stop. Also, this is private land, so do not cross the barbed-wire fence.

Mile Marker 11.5: Haipuaena Falls

A half mile past mile marker 11 is a small roadside turnout for beautiful Haipuaena Falls. A short trail leads to the base of the lower falls. There is a trail to the upper falls, but it is slippery and dangerous and not recommended.

Mile Marker 12: Kaumahina State Wayside

Around mile marker 12, we reach the Kaumahina State Wayside, and great views of the curving coastline open up. This is a good place to use the restroom and stretch your legs a bit.

Mile Marker 16.5: Keanae Peninsula

The Keanae Peninsula (photo, right) is about halfway along the road to Hana. The turnoff to the road down onto the peninsula is about a half mile past mile marker 16. The Keanae Peninsula is home to the town of Keanae, with a beautiful church, peaceful palm trees, small farms, and endless coastal views. This is a great place for a picnic lunch.

Mile marker 19.5: Waikani Falls

Continuing east on the Hana Highway, Waikani Falls is located between mile markers 19 and 20. Waikani is also nicknamed "Three Bears Falls" because of its three individual falls. When there is a lot of rain upstream, these three falls sometimes join together into one gushing flow. The turnout for the falls only offers limited parking right by the road, so be careful when you stop here.

Mile marker 32: Waianapanapa Beach

Near mile marker 32 there is a sign for the entrance of a state park. This is Waianapanapa Beach State Park, a black sand beach located just west of Hana. Here there are beautiful plants, restrooms, picnic areas, and great views of the coastline. A well-maintained stair trail leads down to the gravelly black lava beach.

Hana Town

A few minutes after Waianapanapa Beach is the town of Hana. This photo shows Fagan's Cross on a hill above the town. Paul Fagan bought the inn in Hana in 1946 and gave it new life as the Hotel Hana Maui, Maui's first resort. Hana is a small town with a few stores, a gas station, some bed and breakfasts, and the Hotel Hana Maui. There is also a small beach (Hana Beach) used by the locals. Lodging is limited here, so make reservations if you plan to spend the night.

Hamoa Beach

Just past Hana, if you turn left on Haneoo Road you will come to Hamoa Beach (photo). Hamoa Beach is a small beach used by the Hotel Hana Maui, although by Hawaii state law all beaches are required to provide public access. Swimming is often good here in the summer, but the beach can be dangerous when surf is up. Offshore is coconut-topped Alau island. This was Mark Twain's favorite beach on Maui.

Mile marker 45: Wailua Falls

After Hana, the Hana Highway changes from Highway 360 to County Road 31, and the mile markers start counting down. At mile marker 45 south of Hana, beyond Hamoa Beach, is Wailua Falls. Wailua Falls is 95-feet high and is one of the most-photographed waterfalls in Hawaii. Parking is available on the left just beyond the falls, across the bridge. There is a short trail to a closer viewpoint of the falls, but it turns into slippery boulders near the end. The falls is so large that it is possible to get a number of outstanding photos by focusing on portions of the waterfall.

Mile marker 42: Oheo Gulch

The final stop in our overview tour is Oheo Gulch, at around mile marker 42. Oheo Gulch is located in the Kipahulu (coastal) section of Haleakala National Park. In the mid-twentieth century this area was advertised as "Seven Sacred Pools," but this marketing slogan has since been abandoned. A short trail leads over from the visitors' center to the point where Oheo Gulch reaches the ocean, with a series of small cascades and pools (photo). There are also several longer hikes to waterfalls up above.

Mile marker 41: Lindbergh's grave

Beyond Oheo Gulch, the only other point of interest is Charles Lindbergh's grave, located off a small road just past mile marker 41.

Click the photos below to learn more about Maui's Road to Hana OR visit our MAIN Road to Hana page for even more photos and information.