On a calm day you are able to swim inside the pools. As always, I would never recommend a product or service that I didn't truely believe in. . Whatever you have to say just drop us a comment below. The scariest part is early on and if it is just too much for you turn around. : @kapenamorgan 22 Best Road to Hana stops Twin & Caveman Falls Huelo Lookout Road to Hana Rainbow eucalyptus trees Waikamoi Ridge Trail Ka Haku smoke shack Garden of Eden arboretum Haipua'ena Falls Honoman Bay lookout Ke'anae Arboretum Aunty Sandy's Wailua Valley State Wayside Park Upper Waikani Falls Upper Hanawi Falls Pi'ilanihale Heiau Road to Hana lava tubes It wouldnt be fun to do that on the front side with all the traffic and narrow winding roads! TRAVEL TIP: If you would prefer to follow along to an audio tour I recommend the Shaka Guide! Your support really helps me keep this blog running! We intend to hike for 4 hours or so, and be back on the road at 11 or 11:30am, head to Koki Beach for some food truck food, and continue on to Wai'anapanapa for the black sand beach for a few hours, and be back on the road by 3pm to head back to OGG airport (with no stops) for 5pm to catch our 7pm flight. 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. In June I arrived a little after 10 am and made a 1 pm flight by the skin of my teeth, even with TSA precheck. PICTURED ROCKS MI This fear means many skip the highway and spend their time enjoying more sedate activities, like sitting by the pool. How necessary is it to have a 4 wheel drive vehicle for this drive? About 40 minutes into your drive youll spot the Kihikinui wind turbines. Ive written a whole slew of posts about the Road to Hana, but theres one question I get asked more than othersshould I drive the backside of the road to Hana? 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! Read the fine print as driving the back road to Hana, Maui maybreach your rental car agreement or insurance. 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. Charged Cameras - Many photo opps await you! In some ways, winding roads are beautiful and make for a peaceful drive while road tripping. Is safety as big a concern as some say or is it mostly just up to how nervous or confident a driver is? Just before mile marker 15 is the Maui-Grown Market and Deli (tel. It is a road like no other and should be right at the top of your Maui to-do list IF you can stomach it. SLEEPING BEAR DUNES MI Also, once youre at the National Park, its quicker to drive the back way instead of backtracking through Hana and around with all the traffic. Its mostly paved, but there are some portions that are gravel or a roughly graded cement. But lack of trust or just uncontrollable fear from the passenger seat is also not conducive to a good journey. 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. This three-part waterfall is often called the Three Bear Falls for the Papa Bear-, Mamma Bear-, and Baby Bear-size cascades of water. Rating: In a nutshell: If you like the road less traveled, continuing on past Hana around Haleakala is an adventure worth taking. Mile Marker 2 Hana Highway (360) Twin Falls. We highy recommend doing a tour with large windows, an experienced local guide, and only going to safe, legal, epic spots! These Rickety looking relics strike fear into many peoples hearts as they meet traffic head-on with no passing place and drops either side. 3 hrs from the airport. 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. ), read my reviews of staying at the Four Seasons and the Fairmont Kea Lani. The Road often apps up in worlds most dangerous roads lists, along with other such shock journalism. Also through yourself into the Navigation. What makes it so dangerousIt's a road! By far the majority of people turn around once they reach Hana and drive the same road back to Paia. If theyre open ; ) Ill note here that the National Park does NOT have water or snacks for sale so since the Kaupo Store is undependable, make sure you have everything you need once you leave Hana. This is great to know thanks. Remember if you push on you have to come back this way (or the scarier, riskier back route! That is such a shame for you both, but it is understandable, and probably the right decision. If I could sign up twice, I would ; ). I just drove this twice in May when traffic wasn't heavy as it is now. There is almost nothing about the drive that causes anxiety in us. 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! Snorkeling at Molokini is one of the best things to do in Kihei. Next up is Ulupalakua. 9. My husband and I are going in June and we will be doing it as hes not a nervous person ? 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. The Road to Hana is also called the "Divorce Highway". Just my opinion, and I've done it several times. MICHIGAN This is also the scary part of the Road to Hana. What about a convertible? Period. Driving the backside road to Hana or the other road to Hana is the perfect way to get off-the-beaten path when exploring Maui. While the frontside is super windy and youre in and out of jungles, the backside is flat, wide open, and you can see for MILES. The Road to Hana is one of the most popular things to do in Maui. Parking can be bad later in the day, but this stop is worth it. There are large cliffs in places but they are all protected by guard rails. as Upcountry. JEWEL CAVE SD, HAWAII TRAVEL PLANNING It has 600+ curves, and many of them are hairpin. 5) Is there any general safety advice you guys would give? With around 620 turns and 59 narrow bridges, the Road to Hana makes for a legendary drive. If you are enjoying the sights and driving at a leisurely pace, be mindful enough to pull over and let local drivers pass. If you pay for your monthly expenses on the card and are responsible about paying it off every month, the points add up really fast. The Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park is past Hana town and well worth the additional drive. We read that sunset is around 7pm so we're thinking this is safe. in most places, the road is wide enough for two tour buses to pass. It only costs a donation and just remember you are off-the-beaten path Maui so dont expect much. for the most part, it is wide enough for two small buses to pass each other with no issue. While the Road is not that bad really, for anyone nervous it can be terrifying, and you would unlikely enjoy the journey. If you have serious doubts over whether or not the road is for you, or you are pretty convinced this type of driving is not your style then you have three options. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. LANAI Fatalities are rare and accidents often very minor. 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. 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. Located at the extreme southeast of the island of Maui, the city of Hana is like another island. While to fully overcome the fear requires repeated exposure we find with the right attitude, a good amount of care and respect for the road, and a little can-do attitude many people find the Road FAR less intimidating than they originally feared. In about the same amount of time as it would take you to go back the way you came, you can see a side of Maui many miss. The first being Alelele Falls which you can find on google maps here. Bring cash: most places on this part of the island dont except credit cards. : @kapenamorgan, What to expect driving the backside road to Hana. Once you leave the National Park, theres not really a ton of places I recommend to stop. 2) Youll experience the best part of the drive (what youre most expecting to seecrazy lush vegetation, wild jungles, waterfalls, etc) early in the day when youre still fresh and excited (and not 6-8 hours in when youre starting to run on fumes energy wise). Exploring and discovering are all part of the journey and a van tour is often a long and pretty boring way to see the road, even if you get a great guide and they show you all the best locations. (Or, the "end" activities on this list CAN actually be on the road to Hana if you take the back road to Hana!) This is why we find it a little odd so many are utterly petrified of the road. Do this by picking up your trash and staying on the trail. We can now offer our visitors 20 years of expertise on this beautifully scenic drive. Alternatively, you may use. While the area around the falls is inside private property (Wailele Farm), it is easily accessible to the . MAUI I have sprinkled some affiliate links in this post. Assuming due to COVID they have not opened back up yet or have very limited hours. Assume about 45 minutes of direct driving time from Lahaina to Kahului, then another 2.5 hours (53 miles at 25mph), plus stops on the Road to Hana itself. Yes this is going to be a long day but I promise its worth it! Theyve got the largest selection of rentals youll find anywhere and you can easily filter to find exactly what youre looking for. Sounds fun? Sustained by the Hanawi Stream, here you'll find that the lower waterfall cascades 200 feet into a freshwater pool. You want to go back the way you came, most likely, rather than going around the back way. I did not want to drive this most scary and dangerous part, and I walked part of the back road to Hana. The Road to Hana travels along the edge of many sheer cliffs. But having an accident and being stuck out in the jungle is a real Vacation Wrecker! Read about my favorite luxury resorts, boutique hotels, honeymoon resorts, family friendly resorts, and condos (many under $100/night!). Since you are voiding your contract the rental agency will not come to help. So when you see a car coming, yield and pull over even if theyre a ways away. Waves crash against the rocks in a magnificent spectacle, making for great photo ops," said Dhara from It's Not About The Miles. The Road to Hana is more than just a great drive through a beautiful area of Maui. We intend to stop only at Hanawi Falls briefly (1 hour), and we understand that it is otherwise a 2 hour drive. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. My post captions are full of travel tips and I have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info. They all flow directly into each other, but they have their own mile markers, which are crucial navigation points on this beautiful rainforest drive. For comparison, there was a mom and daughter duo that I met at the Maui hostel that I was staying at who did the back road to Hana, and they thought it was fine. So the final option is mitigating the fear. It takes anywhere from 2 to 4 hours to complete depending how long you stop and take it in. But is the Road to Hana any more or less dangerous than other roads in Hawaii, the Mainland, or anywhere else in the world? And, they also did do another one-lane road drive on Maui and for that drive, they DID think that the West Mauis back road was scary! Any help is very welcome. Most of the road is one lane with pullouts. The Pipiwai Trailis a moderate hike that is 4 miles out and back. The bridge was completed in 1926 and is one of the 80 Hana . Ive also had a few people recently ask me about starting in Paia and driving ALL the way to Hana without stopping and then turning around and doing their stops on the way back. Joining a tour will eliminate stress for the driver and passengers, allowing for a more enjoyable experience and guides provide valuable insights about the surrounding area and its cultural history. If you get above 30 mph you are doing well! Four wheel drive is 100% NOT necessary for driving the backside of Hana. Even though the road covers a relatively short distance, the turns and low speed limits . The second most dangerous road in the country, along with 17 others on the 100 Deadliest Roads in America list, is in Florida. 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! What we wanted to do in the west was bathe in the waters of Kanapali (which we hear is a world class beach) and maybe (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 3 Bears Upper Waikani Falls (MM 19) Another quick stop on the side of the road a must stop on the road to hana. When the drop off is only 5-10 feet below, its nowhere near as intense feeling as when its several hundred feet along the north shore (even though its two lanes). 8. Everything You Need to Know About Dining in San Diego. (And maybe beyond!). Well over 50 in total and most of the single lane for both directions. How long does it take to drive to Hana backside? The Highway is very popular, and the narrow. Heres the thingthis isnt Disney World. Okay, so lets get on with the questions, Theres a lot of hype about how bad the backside of the Road to Hana is. There's no stress involved when a knowledgeable driver points out and stops at the most beautiful spots. But you can completely avoid this dangerous and scary part of the Road to Hana by making it an out-and-back drive on the Hana Highway. Important Note* The first one and a half hour stretch of the back road to Hana is usually forbidden by rental car companies and is stated in the rental car agreements. So if the Road is not particularly dangerous, or even that scary why does it have such a fearsome reputation, and why are so many terrified of the road? (I think the back road may be closed to traffic anyway) That part of the road (going on from Hana towards Kula) is the part that is prone to washouts, etc. You can't miss Nahiku Marketplace, just before mile marker 29 on the road to Hana, Maui. Starting your journey to Hana on this side is a great way toexperience this side of, Day 256 of traveling the world full time! Thi, Sometimes you just gotta stop and smell thesunf, The Acropolis of Pergamon are well preserved ruins, Happy Sunday . 2) Is this too late in the afternoon to see safely in early August? And if you just want more details (more! Be prepared. Top Pick! Most of the photos courtesy of Natalie Brown Photography. And so, it just depends on the kind of driver you are! GRAND CANYON AZ Also, if you want to follow along on my travel adventures in real time, you can follow me on Instagram (@caitylincoln). that people are always looking for a headstart or a leg up. Yes. It is a long and difficult drive on a narrow winding mountain road. How long is Hana Highway? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352716', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. 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Hana Highway ( 360 ) Twin Falls and you can find on google maps here my! Brown Photography ( or the other road to Hana or the scarier, back! Husband and I have sprinkled some affiliate links in this post make for most dangerous part of road to hana peaceful drive while road....
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