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Once you reach the town, you can have lunch at Travassa Hana or at Hana Ranch which also has a take-out window, if you are in a hurry. If you prefer to fly, Pacific Wing Airline offers daily flights to Hana, either from Honolulu, Oahu, or Kahului, Maui. After you reach Hana, the highway becomes even more like a footpath than a road and heads to the Kipahulu Visitor Center at Haleakala National Park. Not everyone gets excited at the thought of a three and a half hour drive. We did hear some people complain that they didn't like the drive but the majority of travelers we met thoroughly enjoyed it.

The easiest way to drive the road is to spend at least one night in Hana - that way you won't have to drive for the entire day. If you do plan on doing the whole drive in one day than you should get an early start, particularly if you are starting out from West Maui (Kapalua, Napili, Lahaina). The drive from Kahului (the Main Airport) to Hana takes about 3 and a half hours but the time goes by really fast. Once you reach Hana you can stop for lunch. The Hana Ranch has a take-out window if you want to grab some food for a picnic in Haleakala National Park. From Hana, it will take another 45 minutes to reach the Kipahulu Visitor Center at Haleakala. Once you reach the Park entrance you can park and take a short walk to the Seven Sacred Pools. On the way back to your hotel you can stop at Hamoa Beach for a swim. If driving for more than three hours one way is not really your idea of a fun vacation than you can fly over the highway and Haleakala National Park on a Helicopter Tour. A helicopter tour is a great way to see Maui. Here are our top 5 driving tips for Hana Highway:

  • It may sound really obvious but the drivers should keep their eyes on the road. Don't get distracted by the scenery, if you want a better look just pull your car over and take all the time you need.
  • When you do pull over make sure that other cars can still get around you safely. Again, it may sound obvious but we saw a couple park their car on a one lane bridge and get out to pose for a photograph.
  • The road gets really narrow in places and the locals (as well as some tourists) drive the highway very fast, so watch out on the sharp turns and single lane bridges.
  • Be considerate of the local people. You may be on vacation but they are trying to get to work so pull over and let them pass if you are driving slower than they are.
  • Last but not least, get good directions. There are plenty of road signs and the actual highway has almost no exits that aren't driveways but some people do manage to get lost. One couple we spoke with said the drive to Hana took them 18 hours. (Apparently they went the wrong way around the entire Island of Maui... not the best part of their vacation.) So just ask your hotel concierge for directions. Be sure to get a good road map when you rent your car, they're free.

Affordable Hana Ranch Restaurant

Once you reach Hana, stop for a quick lunch or a take-out from the Hana Ranch Restaurant just off the main road. Hana Ranch Restaurant is located on the Town Center. This eatery is a great place to stop for a casual, inexpensive meal. The restaurant offers a daily lunch buffet, and dinner on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights. For those in a hurry, there is a take-out window for sandwiches, hamburgers, salads and drinks.

Hana Bay Beach

The road passes next to the Hana Bay Beach, popular for swimming, picnics and outrigger canoeing. The bay and its black sand is the result of lava eroding and washing into the ocean from a nearby stream. This area is well protected and is usually a very safe place to swim. It is the perfect spot for picnics and water activities such as outrigger canoe races. You can often see canoe clubs practicing this ancient Hawaiian sport in the late afternoon. Hana Bay on Maui has benches for picnics, restrooms and a snack bar. Another great stop along Hana Highway is Hamoa Beach.

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