Road to Hana Maui

If you have not already picked up a copy of MAUI REVEALED, by Andrew Doughty, it would be to your advantage to do so. Extensive coverage of the road to Hana is provided. It was our bible for our Maui trip. My son had driven the "road" .  I decided to use Valley Isle  Excursions, in order to enable my husband to also enjoy the day to the fullest extent.  Door-to-door transport, water and soft drinks, lunch provided--Captain Dave, our driver, provided the "back story" on almost everything--types of flowers and why they came to be there, all the different changes in weather, who lives where etc.

It was truly the highlight of our first trip!

The book also provides info on staying over, etc.

I can't answer on the back way out of Hana(when we were there we were too young and cash poor to risk violating our rental agreement!), but IMO you are absolutely right to stay over and be able to go slow and enjoy the trip.  The night at the Hotel Hana (or whatever it is called now) was one of the splurges of our trip.

In addition, I'd suggest timing your trip a bit later in the day, to avoid travelling in a morning caravan of day trippers.  

lifer said:

If you have not already picked up a copy of MAUI REVEALED, by Andrew Doughty, it would be to your advantage to do so. Extensive coverage of the road to Hana is provided. It was our bible for our Maui trip. My son had driven the "road" .  I decided to use Valley Isle  Excursions, in order to enable my husband to also enjoy the day to the fullest extent.  Door-to-door transport, water and soft drinks, lunch provided--Captain Dave, our driver, provided the "back story" on almost everything--types of flowers and why they came to be there, all the different changes in weather, who lives where etc.

It was truly the highlight of our first trip!

I second using "Maui Revealed." We used it not only for Hana but for the rest of our trip to Maui. We loved Maui so I hope you enjoy your trip.  I'm terrified of heights so Hana was not terribly enjoyable for me and I think I stressed my poor husband out since I was white knuckling it the entire time!   

the ride to Hana was one of my favorite travel experiences. Beautiful. We also overnighted at Hotel Hana Maui ( it's now called something else) and it was amazing. Unless you have rented a 4 wheel drive off road vehicle, I would not go the "back way". There's a reason people don't go that way. It's dangerous and rough roads.

Psyched we are going in January!  there is what is suppose to be an awesome place to stay there  expensive but ...

travaasa.com/hana/

we will be taking an awesome private tour as opposed to a bus tour to Hana that way both of us can enjoy the sights instead of one of us paying attention to the road.  (No Ka Oi Adventures)

also check this sight if you haven't already    www.govisithawaii.com

We didn't make it all the way when I was there, but that was not a bad thing at all. It's a spectacular drive.

P.S. When you're in Kihei or Wailea, you'll probably get to Makena Beach. But you might also want to check out One'uli Black Sand Beach, which is sometimes deserted. (And the black sand is very hot!) Tricky currents but interesting snorkeling.

We went all the way around and it was one of the adventures of a lifetime.  We rented a jeep with 4wd.  Stopped a number of times on the way to Hana and the waterfalls (7 pools, I think) were spectacular - wear swim trunks.  When we got to Hana, we ate and asked a few locals about the condition of the road and only one person said there was a little water, "but not bad".  So we went for it.  Magnificent views.  Very scary too.  I recall at one point feeling as if we were in the Irish countryside very cool conditions.  Completely different from the elevated rainforest.  Anyway, as we came round, there was a winery and we stopped - the driver needed it.  It is an all day trip.

I would totally recommend it if the road is open and passable.  The locals know the conditions.  And in full disclosure, the reason we tried it was a friend of ours grew up there and told us about asking the locals.

I felt it was dangerous but honestly, the whole drive was dangerous.  On the front side, the road was tight and with oncoming traffic, very scary.  And you are very high and somehow it just didn't feel like a safe road.  On the backside, the jeep got some salt water and red mud in it and we had to drive through a few washed out areas.  It was really an experience - and yes, I would do it again.  The winery was awful but yet another Hawaiian experience.  It made the trip for us.  

A part of me feels like it was yesterday but that was a long time ago now.  The roads may be better now.  

It is a great trip - be safe and enjoy.

The top part of West Maui is worth checking out - the book says its the least appreciated drive on the island - it's like the Road to Hana without the traffic.   The Olivine pools are cool - but this can happen - fun to watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4bmEXFjnW4

In Hana - the Red Sand Beach is great.

9_iron said:

We went all the way around and it was one of the adventures of a lifetime.  We rented a jeep with 4wd.  Stopped a number of times on the way to Hana and the waterfalls (7 pools, I think) were spectacular - wear swim trunks.  When we got to Hana, we ate and asked a few locals about the condition of the road and only one person said there was a little water, "but not bad".  So we went for it.  Magnificent views.  Very scary too.  I recall at one point feeling as if we were in the Irish countryside very cool conditions.  Completely different from the elevated rainforest.  Anyway, as we came round, there was a winery and we stopped - the driver needed it.  It is an all day trip.

I would totally recommend it if the road is open and passable.  The locals know the conditions.  And in full disclosure, the reason we tried it was a friend of ours grew up there and told us about asking the locals.

I felt it was dangerous but honestly, the whole drive was dangerous.  On the front side, the road was tight and with oncoming traffic, very scary.  And you are very high and somehow it just didn't feel like a safe road.  On the backside, the jeep got some salt water and red mud in it and we had to drive through a few washed out areas.  It was really an experience - and yes, I would do it again.  The winery was awful but yet another Hawaiian experience.  It made the trip for us.

We also did the full trip (tho in May--and I think we did it in a non-four wheel drive vehicle), and I agree with all of 9_iron's comments/recommendations. I would add two things: 1) as I recall, the back half is pretty deserted, so make sure you fill the tank and take care of business in Hana; and 2) absolutely do not miss Charles Lindburgh's gravesite--it's at a tiny church about eight miles beyond Hana. It's super easy to miss, so make sure to get a map or some good directions (more info at http://roadtohana.com/palapala-hoomau-church.phpq) It's amazing to think that this twentieth century icon is buried at this tiny little church overlooking the ocean--it's breaktakingly beautiful in its simplicity.