One of the world’s most popular drives is the Road to Hana in Maui. The drive from Paia to Hana is about 2.5 hours one-way crossing many switchbacks and single-lane bridges. Once you reach Hana, there is actually is nothing uniquely impressive. This is because the journey is all about the sights along the way. While most do this road trip in one day, I stretched it out to 2.5 days to take in all the views, do some hikes and not feel rushed. Even with 2.5 days, we were never bored and could have to spend another. 

Day 7 – Friday, November 15, 2019

After breakfast at Paia Bay Coffee, we started our journey. Our first stop was the Garden of Eden Arboretum. With a paid admission of $15, we explored the unique flora including the unique rainbow eucalyptus tree and banana trees. 

We drove up Ke’Anae peninsula for some nice views and Aunt Sandy’s banana bread, acclaimed best on Maui. It was served fresh and warm out of the oven. 

Next, we stopped at Upper Waikani Falls and completed a short hike to get up close. Standing at the foot of the three falls, the mist was refreshing on this hot humid day. 

We continued our drive with various stops along the way. We had Hawaiian bbq along the road and I fell in love with the Hawaiian vibes (and signage here!)

We picked up our camping gear in Hana and set up at Waianapanapa State Park for two nights. While we wanted to explore this park right away, the home to a famous black sand beach, we moved onto finding the Kaihalulu (Red Sand) Beach near Hana. This beach is not as easily found but we continued passing warning signs and eventually was rewarded with this excellent beach. 

The sand was red as expected but the water was surprisingly calm and shallow for swimming due to a natural rock barrier. With minimal tourists to share this beach with, we watched the sky change colors as the sunset. This was one of my top highlights on the road to Hana —a spot most daytrippers skip due to limited timing. 

We ended the night hitting a small Thai food truck in Hana. Mediocre but I missed eating noodles. Again, there is nothing of real interest in the small town of Hana. We watch the stars near our camp and listen to the waves coming in. 

Day 8 – Saturday, November 16, 2019

We woke up naturally early and caught an incredible sunrise overlooking the Holokalani beach, steps from our tent. In my opinion, this sunrise was more spectacular than the one we saw on Haleakala. Unless you stay overnight in Hana and get great weather, most people wouldn’t be able to catch this sunrise.

Because we camped here, we were among the first people to take photos and explore the black sand beach without many other tourists. Our morning hike along the Pailoa Bay coast was hot but I loved how the bright green lush plants contrasted the dark black volcanic rocks. On this clear blue sky day, we even got to see the summit of Haleakala. We finished our hike with a refreshing dip in the water. This park was beautiful and one of my favorite sights on the road to Hana.

We continued our drive past Hana to the Ohe’o seven sacred pools. Along the way, we stopped at Wailua Falls and grabbed lunch at Huli Huli Chicken on Koki Beach. 

We re-entered the other side of Haleakala National Park, the Kipahulu area. We completed the 4-miles in and out Pipwai trail in 3.5 hours. The trail leads to Waimoku Falls but I think the main attraction on the hike is the massive banyan tree and a bamboo forest. The banyan tree was unlike any tree I’ve ever seen… It wasn’t just huge like a redwood… it was monstrous!

I was more impressed at how raw, wild and quiet this bamboo forest was compared to Sagano in Kyoto, Japan. At the end of the trail, we saw the tall Waimoku Falls. We ventured closer, ignoring the warning signs. The view up close wasn’t overly impressive but it was a nice way to cool off.

We finished the afternoon with the pools at ‘Ohe’o. It was a nice dip but a popular spot with tourists. The clouds were coming in and this may have influenced our less than impressed opinion these pools. 

Day 9 – Sunday, November 17, 2019

We woke up to a pouring morning in our tent. There was no sunrise to see but just greyness in the skies. We packed up as it rained and drove out of there as soon as we could. As we got further away, the skies cleared and we were able to stop at Hanawi Falls and Lower Waikani Falls. They were great stops to stretch our legs and use the restroom on our drive back. We also stopped at Twin Falls but didn’t go all the way to the upper falls (poor researching!)

Our last stop before Paia was Ho’okipa Beach outlook. We enjoyed the view of big waves and surfers catching them. The sun was shining and we stopped for our last meal at Paia Fish Market. We finished our trip off with picking up final souvenirs from Honolulu Cookie Company and of course, enjoying one last Ululani’s shaved ice.   

---

Not to my surprise, I loved Hawaii. I can see why it is a famous destination and inspire people all over the world to open tiki bars, poke shops, host luaus and wear floral printed shirts. It’s a place that feels foreign with its Polynesian roots and yet conveniently familiar with American culture. The landscape is spectacular and that is one of the biggest draws in my books. The local people are also welcoming, friendly, and English-speaking so there are no communication barriers. The only downside is it is an expensive destination. Hotels were at least $200 a night for basic accommodations and casual meals were easy $50 for two people. 

I know I won’t be back in Maui for a while as I’d want to visit the other three main islands; Oahu, Hawaii, and Kauai. Upon returning home, I immediately miss it and am seriously contemplating whether or not to come back next year and explore Kauai!