How to Explore Maui’s Most Legendary Drive—With Insight from our guides and Hike Maui’s 42 years of experience.
Updated for 2025
The Road to Hāna is more than just a drive—it’s a journey through time, biodiversity, and living Hawaiian culture. Tucked into the lush eastern coast of Maui, this 64-mile stretch of the Hāna Highway (HI-360) is famed for its jungle-draped cliffs, cascading waterfalls, narrow bridges, and hairpin turns. But behind the scenery lies a deeper story.
The history of Hāna is deeply rooted in ancient Hawaiian culture and the island’s development over centuries. In the 16th century, Chief Piʻilani became the first ruler to unite the entire island of Maui under one leadership. He initiated the construction of the Alaloa, or “long road,” a 138-mile trail encircling Maui, facilitating communication and unity among the island’s districts. This trail, later known as the King’s Highway, was completed by his son, Kiha-a-Piʻilani, and remnants of it can still be found today.
In the 19th century, the sugarcane industry brought significant changes to Hāna. George Wilfong established the first sugar mill in Hāna in 1849, leading to the proliferation of plantations in the area. The need to transport goods and workers spurred the development of roads, culminating in the completion of the Hāna Highway in 1926.
In the 1940s, Paul Fagan, a San Francisco businessman, recognized Hāna’s potential as a retreat. He established the Hāna Ranch and built the Hotel Hāna-Maui, aiming to create a luxurious destination that preserved the area’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Hāna is also notable as the birthplace of Queen Kaʻahumanu, born in a cave at Kaʻuiki Hill in 1768. She became a powerful figure in Hawaiian history, instrumental in abolishing the kapu system and promoting modernization in the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Today, the Road to Hāna stands as a testament to Maui’s rich history, from ancient trails to modern highways, reflecting the island’s journey through time.
At Hike Maui, we’ve spent decades guiding travelers along this legendary route. We hike deep into its rainforests, explore its lush trails, and teach guests about the ecology, geology, and cultural legacy that make this region so sacred.
This is your ultimate guide—not just to the best stops, but how to do it right.
🚗 First, Let’s Talk Logistics
The Road to Hāna demands preparation. With 620 curves, 59 one-lane bridges, and countless jaw-dropping vistas, this route is as thrilling as it is challenging. Here’s how you can do it:
🚙 Ways to Experience the Road to Hāna:
- Drive Yourself: Great for flexibility, but research the route at least a day or two in advance. Download offline maps. For your first time, we don’t recommend a spontaneous drive.
- Van Tours: Sit back and let experienced guides handle the tricky road while you focus on the views.
- Luxury SUV or Jeep Tours: A more exclusive and rugged version of guided tours.
- Helicopter One-Way + Van Return: See the waterfalls from above, then get the ground-level magic on the way back.
- Moped/Motorcycle: For seasoned riders only. This road is no place for first-time riders.
- Hāna Relay (September): A team race that spans the entire route by foot. Seriously.
🚫 Do not:
- Start late in the day.
- Plan to be somewhere else afterward (especially not the airport!).
- Drive a tiny sedan with low visibility.
- Let your timid cousin drive.
- Leave valuables in the car.
- Park illegally or block driveways.
- Forget to pull over to let locals pass—they know every inch of this road and aren’t on vacation.
🛑 Skip These Common First-Time Mistakes
- Stopping at Paia, Twin Falls, or Hoʻokipa in the morning: These deserve their own half-day. You’ll need every minute for what’s past Twin Falls.
- Not booking park reservations: Some popular spots like Waiʻānapanapa (Black Sand Beach) require advance reservations.
- Not bringing proper shoes: Here’s our guide to choosing the best footwear for Maui adventures.
🗺️ Must-See Stops on the Road to Hāna (With Mile Markers)
🥾 Mile 9.5 – Waikamoi Ridge Trail
A peaceful, lesser-known rainforest hike right off the highway. This 0.8-mile loop trail is ideal for families or anyone looking for a quick nature break. It winds through native forest featuring ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), uluhe fern (Dicranopteris linearis), and koa (Acacia koa), and offers a small overlook where you can glimpse the forest canopy and Hāna coast beyond. Slippery when wet, so bring solid shoes, once more here’s our guide to the right footwear.
🍍 Mile 10.5 – Garden of Eden Arboretum
A beautifully maintained 26-acre botanical garden, home to hundreds of species of native and introduced plants. Wander under rainbow eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus deglupta), take in dramatic ocean views, and explore waterfalls in a serene, curated setting. This is also a filming location from Jurassic Park, and a great place to slow down before the road tightens.
🌺 Mile 12 – Kaumahina State Wayside Park
A forested rest area with restrooms, shaded picnic tables, and panoramic views of Hāna’s northeast coastline. A great place to break, especially for families or groups in need of a quiet pull-off. Look for native understory plants and coastal flora, like hala (Pandanus tectorius), as you stretch your legs.
🌊 Mile 14 – Honomanu Bay
A wild and rocky bay best viewed from the overlook or, for the adventurous, by cautiously driving down a steep dirt road (4WD recommended). The black sand and surf here are not ideal for swimming, but the raw beauty and dramatic cliffs make it a photographer’s dream—and one of East Maui’s more mystical-feeling places.
🌳 Mile 16 – Keʻanae Arboretum
A family-friendly stroll through native and introduced trees like ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) and rainbow eucalyptus.
🌊 Mile 16.8 – Keʻanae Peninsula
Stop for rugged lava coastline views, taro patches, and Aunty Sandy’s famous banana bread (still warm if you’re early!).
🍍 Mile 17 – Halfway to Hāna Stand
Great stop for banana bread, coconut candy, and fresh liliko’i (passionfruit) juice. You can also grab a Hana Tonic here if the road is getting to you.
🌺 Mile 27 – Coconut Glen’s
Vegan ice cream in unique tropical flavors. A perfect refreshment before the next leg of winding road.
🖤 Mile 32 – Waiʻānapanapa State Park (Black Sand Beach)
Volcanic coastline, sea arches, and lava tubes. Reservation required. Don’t miss the ancient coastal trail.
🧘♀️ Hana Town – Thai Food by Pranee
Delicious roadside Thai food in Hāna, offering flavorful plates made with aloha.
🌴 Near Mile 34 – Hāna Town & Hāna Bay
A sleepy coastal town with strong Hawaiian roots. Visit Hāna Bay Beach Park for a swim or picnic. Tons of great food trucks.
🏝️ Near Mile 51 – Hāmoa Beach
One of Maui’s most beautiful beaches. Crescent-shaped, rimmed by cliffs and ironwood trees (Casuarina equisetifolia). Ideal for relaxing.
🪦 Mile 41 – Charles Lindbergh’s Grave
At Palapala Ho‘omau Church in Kipahulu. A peaceful spot with ocean views and history.
🥥 Near Mile 47 – Laulima Farm Stand
Locally grown tropical fruits, smoothies, and homemade snacks on an organic permaculture farm.
🥾 Hikes on the Road to Hāna
🌄 Pīpīwai Trail (Kīpahulu, Mile 42)
This is the crown jewel. A 4-mile roundtrip hike through towering bamboo, past waterfalls and banyans, to the stunning 400-foot Waimoku Falls.
👉 With Hike Maui, you can experience this trail in a guided, full-day adventure. We take you there via our Road to Hāna Hiking Tour, adding expert insight into the plants, streams, and history of East Maui.
🌿 Waikamoi Ridge Trail (Mile 9.5)
Short loop hike through a native forest—great for families.
🌴 Keʻanae Arboretum (again, Mile 16)
An easy walk and educational opportunity to spot native flora.
✝️ Fagan’s Cross (Across the st from Hana-Maui Resort)
A short but steep hike offering panoramic views of Hāna and the coastline.
🌱 Cultural Highlight (Often Missed)
- Kahanu Garden (near Hāna): Home to Piʻilanihale Heiau, the largest intact ancient Hawaiian temple. This National Tropical Botanical Garden is a powerful place to learn about Polynesian plants and traditional agriculture.
- Check out their website HERE
🎒 What to Pack for the Road to Hāna
Daypack Essentials:
- 2L+ water per person
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Hat & sunglasses
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Comfortable quick dry clothing
- Swimsuit + towel
- Waterproof backpack (don’t leave valuables in the car)
- Lightweight rain jacket
- Snacks (plan to get lunch on the road!)
- Cash (not all stands take cards)
- Fully charged phone + offline maps + Power pack/car charger.
- Sturdy shoes for hiking
- Change of clothes if swimming (if able to drive all the way around, it gets cold in upcountry at the end of the day, trust us)
- Motion sickness remedies (seriously)
🌋 Why Go With Hike Maui?
Navigating the Road to Hāna is an adventure, but doing it with a trained naturalist guide elevates it to an experience of a lifetime. At Hike Maui, we don’t just point at waterfalls—we hike to them. We explain how they formed, what plants live near them, and why they matter in the bigger ecological picture. Sit back and relax in our modern air conditioned fleet of vans (not buses).
On our Ultimate Hāna Full-Day Adventure, we visit many of the stops above—including a guided hike on the Pīpīwai Trail to Waimoku Falls. We handle the winding drive, provide lunch, and ensure you return with unforgettable stories and photos.
🌈 Final Tips
- Start early. This is a dawn till dusk kind of day.
- Have nothing else planned. No reservations, no flights, no stress.
- Respect the land and the locals. Hāna isn’t just a destination—it’s someone’s home.
Overwhelmed? We get it, it’s a lot. Perhaps you’re ready to explore Maui’s wildest coast the right way?