The Road To Hana

Or as I like to call it, The Highway To Hell. Hana is located on the far east side of Maui. Unless you want to take your chances on the back road, there’s really only one way in and one way out of this place. The highway winds in and out of the valley’s along the cliffs of Maui. With over 600 curves and 54 bridges, it has to be one of the most winding roads on the planet. It’s really a marvel of engineering that somebody actually built this thing. To top it off, there’s an abundance of bottlenecks with two cars trying to squeeze through a one-lane section dangling 1,000 feet above a rocky shoreline. It’s not that the drive to Hana is particularly frightening or treacherous, although it may be for some. The road just never seems to end.

You see, unfortunately, my wife, Jana, had to be in Hana at a particular time for a meeting. It was our first time taking the road, so we were completely unfamiliar with the area. We were staying in the town of Lahaina on the far west of Maui, about as far away from Hana on the island as you can possibly be. If you’re thinking, “It’s just an island, how far could it possibly be?” — well, it’s not the distance so much as the time it takes to get there. For some crazy reason we were under the impression that we could make it to Hana within a couple hours and have time to bathe in the tropical waterfalls along the way. We were mistaken. Also, we went in January, and it was cold! I know it’s Hawaii, but when you’re really high (in altitude — I need to clarify for some people) in the middle of winter, it’s too cold for a swim in a tropical waterfall unless you’re from Canada. So, we only made a few stops along the way. I climbed down into a couple little streams and hiked a few random paths, then jumped back in the car and rushed to our meeting.

Three Bears Falls, or Waikani Falls, on the Road to Hana

We finally arrived in Hana by late afternoon. I dropped Jana off for her meeting at Hotel Hana, a gorgeous and expensive resort, then explored the area myself on foot. As I looked toward the mountains, I noticed a giant cross on a hill surrounded by tiki torches. The cross is known as Fagan’s cross. I decided to hike up there for a better view of the town. Upon reaching the cross, I looked back down on the quaint town of Hana and out to the ocean. I really had a sense of being in an isolated spot in the middle of nowhere. It was a very peaceful feeling. I had the entire hill to myself and it was just a great time to reflect on how blessed I am to live in such a beautiful and diverse state. The appeal of a small Hawaiian town like Hana suddenly made sense, and our rush journey to get here was worth it.

After meeting back with Jana, we decided to check out Hana Bay. It’s a short romantic walk along the black-sand beach, created from eroded lava rock. The beach had a small and mostly local crowd with the exception of a few people snorkeling in the cold water near an abandoned pier. There are picnic facilities, restrooms and a snack bar in the location.

The sun was getting closer and closer to the horizon, and we realized it wouldn’t be the wisest decision to navigate the Road to Hana back in the dark. I drove back like I was racing the 100-yard dash. I think we made record time, even the locals were pulling over to let us pass. We managed to make it to the hippy town of Paia just before nightfall and celebrated with some fantastic organic pizza from The Flatbread Company.

Overall, the road to Hana is a journey I would love to make again with ample time to explore the sights and trails along the way. From Lahaina, it took four hours to reach Hana with only a few brief stops. So, if you’re planning on making the journey, learn from our mistakes and set aside the entire day. Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the adventure. There are so many farms, waterfalls and trails we didn’t have the opportunity to visit. Although we were rushed, the landscape never ceased to be anything short of stunning. Since there are no signs or billboards, I would recommend a guide or audio CD so you know where to stop along the way. If you don’t know where to stop, it all just looks like jungle. Boss Frog’s Road to Hana CD was highly recommended by our friends and the Maui Information Guide Web site has many helpful tips to consider before you go. I would also recommend going during the summer. Winter in Hawaii is the rainy season and it can get chilly in the mountains. Now that you know what not to do, have fun and be safe!

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