Considered one of the most beautiful roads in the world, Hāna Highway connects the towns of Kahului and Hāna on the island of Maui. Characterized by more than 600 hairpin turns and 59 bridges, this 109 km stretch of road is known for being both impressive and treacherous. But once you get past the nerves, wonder takes over at every curve! We're taking you on a discovery of the must-see stops on Hāna Highway. 

Paia

Your journey begins in the small village of Paia, on Maui's north coast. You'll find the Paia Fish Market here, as well as several shops and restaurants for your shopping needs. This is where you can fill up on gas and grab snacks for the drive.

Ho'okipa Beach Park and Viewpoint

Before heading onto Hāna Highway, make a quick detour to the Ho'okipa viewpoint. This vantage point offers lovely views of Ho'okipa beach, considered one of the region's best surf spots. 

You may see (weather permitting) top surfers and windsurfers taking on the massive waves. Worth noting: winter is the best season for surfing here, and the break is reserved for experienced surfers only. 

The beach is also known as a meeting spot for Honu, Hawaiian sea turtles…

Good to know: Once you've seen the viewpoint, you can get back on the road and reset your odometer to zero—you're officially on Hana Highway now.

Twin Falls - Kilometer Marker 2

Here come the first waterfalls you'll see on Hana Highway. Located in the heart of a biodiverse farm, you'll find 3 falls: 

• The Lower Falls: two cascades just steps from the parking area with small pools perfect for swimming and cooling off; 

• The Upper Fall: a lovely waterfall accessible after a nearly 2 km hike that requires crossing a stream by wading. 

On your way back, you can stop at the farm stand to buy fresh-pressed sugarcane juice, fruit, and some treats. 

Note that these waterfalls can be quite busy due to their easy accessibility (roadside with parking). 

Good to know: Avoid swimming during heavy rain to prevent sudden flash flood risks.

Waikamoi Nature Trail - Kilometer Marker 9.5

Continue a few kilometers to the Waikamoi Nature Trail. This is a short hiking path through a tropical forest where you'll stroll among towering eucalyptus and other majestic trees. 

You have two options: 

• a 700 m loop (about 10 minutes of walking) and 

• a 1.7 km loop (20 to 30 minutes of walking) that leads to a picnic area. 

Garden of Eden Arboretum - Kilometer Marker 10.5

A kilometer further on, don't miss the Garden of Eden Arboretum. Designed by Alan Bradbury, a landscape architect and Maui's first ISA-certified arborist, this garden contains over 700 species of exotic plants and trees from around the world... 

You'll see century-old mango trees, rainbow eucalyptus, bamboo forests, tropical flowers, and much more. You can also enjoy stunning ocean views and vistas of the Puohokamoa Falls. 

While entry is paid (20 $ for adults, 10 $ for 5-16 year-olds, and free for children under 5), a visit to this garden is well worth the detour. Plan for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Fun fact: the opening scene of Jurassic Park was filmed near an impressive Keopuka rock that you can see from the Garden of Eden Arboretum.

Honomanu Bay - Kilometer Marker 14

For your road trip, we recommend stopping at kilometer marker 14 to catch a glimpse of Honomanu Bay, a stunning black sand beach nestled in a lush valley. 

It's also one of the best places to see and photograph Hana Highway itself, as you can see a section of road snaking along the cliff face. 

Note: it's possible to descend to Honomanu beach, but given the rough road conditions, we advise against it if you don't have a 4x4. Watch out for waves and currents that aren't conducive to swimming.

Keanae Peninsula and Keanae Arboretum - Kilometer Marker 16.8

Just after kilometer marker 16, you'll find Keanae Peninsula, a coastal enclave on a lava flow from Haleakala volcano. You'll find several viewpoints along the road to admire these volcanic landscapes. 

Then head to the Keanae Arboretum. Located along Pi'inau'au Stream, this garden offers visitors 150 varieties of tropical plants from around the world, native and non-native Hawaiian trees, and Hawaiian crops such as various types of taro, ginger, yam, hibiscus, papaya... Entry is free and the visit is quick (the trail is only 800 meters long). 

Finally, you can visit the Keanae Overlook, which provides panoramic views of Keanae's characteristic taro patches with the sea as a backdrop. 

Upper Waikani Falls - Kilometer Marker 19

Located just after kilometer marker 19, Upper Waikani Falls (also called Three Bears) are among Maui's most popular waterfalls. These are 3 parallel cascades, with the highest reaching 70 m. It's possible to reach them for a swim after a short hike. 

Good to know: There are very few parking spots near the falls. To see them in person rather than just from your car, we suggest parking a bit further away and walking back across the bridge on foot to reach the waterfall viewpoint. Use caution when walking along the roadside!

Hanawai Falls - Kilometer Marker 24

Continue to Hanawai Falls, located just after kilometer marker 24. These waterfalls are also visible from the road, making them a must-stop on Hana Highway. The water from the lower falls drops over 60 m. Again, you can reach the pools for a swim after a hike.

Hana Lava Tube - Kilometer Marker 31

Hana Lava Tube is one of the most popular attractions on Hana Highway. Formed by molten lava thousands of years ago, the lava tube contains stalactites and stalagmites. You can take a guided tour to learn more about these geological wonders.

To reach Hana Lava Tube, turn left toward "Ula'ino Road". This section of road is located around kilometer marker 31.

Kahanu Garden - Kilometer Marker 31

Continuing after the Ula'ino Road exit, you'll find Kahanu Garden, a botanical garden surrounded by one of Hawaii's last intact hala forests. It mainly features ethnobotanical collections of plants traditionally used by Pacific island residents. 

In addition to its many plant and tree species, Kahanu Garden is famous for housing the Pi'ilanihale Heiau. This is a lava rock structure that took over 300 years to build and is now considered the largest historic heiau (or temple) of the Polynesian people. 

To explore these natural and historical gems, you can take a 1.5-hour self-guided tour (18 $ for adults, 10 $ for those 12 and under) or a 2-hour guided tour (30 $ for adults, free for children). 

Waianapanapa State Park - Kilometer Marker 32

Located on an isolated and rugged volcanic coast, Waianapanapa State Park features many natural treasures including a stunning black sand and pebble beach (Pa'iloa beach), freshwater caves with mysterious legends, a natural stone arch, native hala forest... It's also an excellent spot for observing seabird colonies.

Camping areas are also available for travelers looking to take a break and spend a night on Hana Highway. 

Note: to visit Waianapanapa State Park, you must reserve in advance and book a parking spot. Entry costs 5 $ per adult (free for children) and parking is 10 $ per vehicle.

Hana - Kilometer Marker 34

You've arrived at your destination in the small seaside village of Hana. Take the opportunity to stretch your legs and explore this quiet waterside town before heading back the way you came.

Note: once you've passed the town of Hana, you can continue and take the road in the opposite direction. Don't be surprised if kilometer markers start counting down from this section of road onward.

Hamoa Beach - Kilometer Marker 51

Near the town of Hana lies one of Maui's most beautiful beaches: Hamoa Beach. It was even one of the favorite beaches of famous author Ernest Hemingway. Bordered by cliffs and surrounded by lush vegetation, Hamoa beach is strikingly beautiful. To reach Hamoa beach, turn about 800 m past kilometer marker 51 at "Haneo'o Road". 

Wailua Falls - Kilometer Marker 45

For many travelers, Wailua Falls are the most beautiful waterfalls on Hana Highway. Located at the southern end of the Wailua River, the falls feature two streams cascading down 25 m. 

Once again, they're super easy to access since they're right off the road. Just cross the bridge, park a bit further on, and walk to the viewpoint. You can also descend to the foot of the cascade by taking the mauka trail. Once there, you can swim, but be careful not to get too close to the base of the falls.

Kīpahulu District in Haleakalā National Park - Kilometer Marker 42

Still have some time? Finish your road trip with style by exploring the Kīpahulu district. This section of Haleakala National Park features two hiking trails leading to natural gems: 

• Kūloa Point Trail: an 800 m round-trip trail offering stunning ocean views, archaeological sites, and the Ohe'o Gulch pools (the Seven Sacred Pools); 

• Pīpīwai Trail: a moderate 6 km hike through tropical forest offering magnificent views of Makahiku and Waimoku Falls.

The park has a camping area for travelers looking to extend their stay after their Hana Highway road trip. 

Good to know: all visitors must have an entrance pass to enter Haleakalā National Park. Passes are valid for 3 days and cost: 30 $ per private vehicle, 25 $ per motorcycle, and 15 $ per pedestrian or bicycle.

Return to Kahului

To return to Kahului, you can continue on the road instead of turning back, but this section is even more treacherous than Hana Highway. That's why it's absolutely not recommended to drive it after dark or during heavy rain. 

Nervous about driving those winding roads but dreaming of a Hana Highway road trip? Why not hire a private driver so you can enjoy the journey without the stress of navigating the curves? At Nomadays, we can organize a custom trip for you and take you to all the hidden gems along Hana Highway. Don't hesitate to contact us to plan your getaway!