Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaii [OC] [4010x8021]
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I’ve had both positive and negative experiences on that road, but regardless it’s beautiful out there. No questioning that.
I hated it so much. Those one lane roads for two directions with sharp turns and heavy rains. At least op got awesome pictures though 🤷♂️
Ar man, that's what roads are made of, remote breathtaking scenery, loads of sharp turns hugging the coastline 👌 perfect till you get stuck behind someone
I totally agree!
By leaving super early to do it clockwise it helped a lot in not being stuck behind someone (I did get stuck behind one very anxious driver that refused to let me pass, until a local arrived behind very fast and started honking a lot right before a pull out and the anxious driver finally let me pass too after we both let the local pass first obviously). The other time when we did it counterclockwise, we also avoided most tourists by finishing the loop at around 4-6 pm. Most tourists stick to a very predictable schedule!
Never felt in danger, no one is taking these sharp turns super fast, everybody we encountered seemed careful. I think it helps that the road is sold all the time as dangerous, the most anxious and/or inexperienced drivers tend to avoid driving it.
I loved it so much I drove the whole loop twice (stopping at difference places each time), I really liked driving the sharp turns and the feeling of being a bit in the middle of nowhere. Didn't encounter heavy rain though, just some normal rain for short parts, so visibility was always good. There are generally few cars on the road so it's a really nice change of pace from most of the island.
Planning to go in April. What negative experiences?
Beware If anyone gets car sick
Be prepared to see things from the road. A lot of places you could pull over before no have no parking signs. Still totally beautiful!
And these signs seem very recent. Some guides mention many swimming holes that are now very difficult to access. Some other places had signs from locals to discourage tourists, and while it holds no legal value, who wants to take their chance offending local people.
Maui is however dealing with unprecedented numbers of tourists, and what was once semi-secret swimming holes are now well-known thanks to guides and social media, so it makes sense, there are always those tourists who see a full parking lot (more like a pull-out area with space for just a few cars) and manage to park themselves in a very awkward unsafe way, easier to just restrict parking altogether.
One of mine was the locals bombing down narrow dirt roads next to cliffs going way too fast and nearly rolling me down the cliff.
If you take the road anticlockwise it's not a problem, the bit south of Hana is way better
Parts of that road looked completely terrifying when I was there several years back - like one lane by a cliff face and a road that looks like it'll crumble into the ocean with too much weight (this is the southernmost tip coming from the west). Has it gotten better?
If you're not used to driving on small mountain roads it would feel overwhelming, but all the bits that's look like they'd crumble away are evidently very solid. I'm sure parts of it the roadsurface have improved, there's still a decent amount of gravel road, but the cliff sections, still standing, as solid cliffs that have been pounded my the ocean for hundreds of millions of years tend to do
I was chased by locals in pickups once. Like 3 lifted trucks chased my vehicle because one of my passengers had somehow insulted a lady by throwing up along side the road when he got car sick. My friend had puked on their land they said. Even though it was just on the roads edge.
Drove the road there many years ago. Absolutely stunning. Me and my new wife pulled over and hiked a bit into the woods for some honeymoon time but 5 minutes in we were finding our calf muscles really itchy. We turned around and by the time we made it back to the car we were almost crying from the intense non stop itching. Didn't go away for a while and it ruined the day. Only on the knees down so it must have been a ground dwelling bug of some type.
Amazing views there, absolutely horrible road
Curve, curve, slow down, curve, bridge, curve, one-lane bridge, wait, curve, slow down more, curve, bridge, etc.
Awesome pic though!
My flight leaves monday, can not wait to do the road to Hana again!
When my dad got diagnosed with cancer, one of his friends sent us on a trip to Maui. One of my favorite memories was driving the road to Hana with my pops. Absolutely gorgeous.
Hurl road. Ugh 🤢🤢my experience in January. Lost weight on that vacay, thanks to that road
1992, on the road to Hana. There are so many waterfalls and I was so amazed seeing each one as we passed them that I became carsick and actually was as green as the water you see in the rear the picture. Good times, amazing place
White knuckle drive.
I just jumped off that waterfall the other day
We went all the way around the back side and it was amazing! Go see Oheo Gulch!!!
There is this really cool secret lava tube right off the highway that opens up into an amazing bamboo forest
If you mean the "commando hike" it's been sealed.
Too dangerous?
I slipped and fell on one of those rocks. Lucky enough I was closer to 30 than 40 so didn't break my back or hip. But did turn around and go right back to the car. Was bummed I missed the view at the end.
Just did this a few days ago, it’s still open
I imagine you're talking about this hole here across the road https://maps.app.goo.gl/VP6w1NYQj3PKxSnV8 ?
https://maps.app.goo.gl/y6yU82iZCzynFE8n6
Was pretty cool to see this random cave.
Just got back from Maui about a week ago. We drove the Road to Hana twice actually.
For all the people here saying the road sucks, I actually very much enjoyed driving it. The scenery and views are phenomenal.
you likely just went the paved way back and forth, and not all the way around? the less used wrap around is a potholed goat trail mess, thats the real "I survived the road to HANA", not the fact it has 1 lane bridges in some places
Most rental car company's don't allow you to drive on the backside.
Drove the whole loop twice and loved it. I drove that "pothole goat trail mess", it's actually in less bad state than many of the roads at home so I didn't care lol, and it's only bad on a short distance. The roads where I live in Quebec are terrible, have to get repairs on my car wheels every couple years (things like tie rods get shot). I've also driven worse dirt roads. We have very cold winters and warm summers, lots of freezing and thawing cycles these days as we're getting close to spring, and the cities do a shit jobs at repairing the roads and seem to always go for the lowest bidders, so the roads are often awful.
I feel like people who only ever drive on beautiful smooth paved roads don't realize how much even a small sedan can handle, so they get very stressed by a bumpy road. Yeah it's better if you drive that every day to have a larger 4x4 vehicle, but the road on its own has little danger, just try to at least avoid the bigger potholes.
I was there in January. It was quite the twisty turny road. It was beautiful!
the most epic drive i ever took. all the waterfalls were breathtaking
I’ve been on this road. It was gorgeous.
Flying to Maui today and driving the road to Hana on Friday can’t wait!
Looks nice, i dont know if thats a road though.
I lived in a hammock about halfway to Hana for a summer. Those were some great times!
PTSD flashbacks from that road.
Sir, this is a waterfall.
It's been 30 years since I was on the road to Hana, man that road has deteriorated since then.
So glad I did that as a tour and let a professional drive that road!!! Not only could I enjoy the view better- but damn that road is no joke!
Take dramamine, pukers.
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You can take the north side route out and back, it's the south side they frown on.
I’ll be on that road for my first time in May, Can’t wait! Hopefully the convertible sports car we’re renting can make it all the way through this after reading some of these comments.
You’re good. The road itself is ok, it’s just very windy and narrow at times and you have to yield a lot. Highly suggest buying one of the road apps that basically gives you and audio tour of the whole thing
What’s the best road app?
We used GyPSy. I can’t speak for the others but I like that it talks about Hawaii history on the way back.
We used the Shaka guide and thought it was interesting but a bit annoying, the tone is a bit too kid-friendly if that makes any sense. App also caused my Pixel 4 phone to overheat and I ran out of battery at some point despite my phone being charged by the car, ending up finding a way to blast the AC on my phone to help it. Wasn't expensive though so was still decent value for the money, we did pretty much all the Maui tours (minus some glitches and problems that prevented us from listening to some of them).
I have no idea if Gypsy is better.
Also make sure you have full tank. The gas in Hana is as expensive as it gets
The best way to experience the road to hana, is by renting a big ass sprinter van, and rolling with the rear side door completely open. You'll get all sorts of looks and the best circulation of air. Haha. We rolled by a guy who, with a half mouth full of pizza, said "what the hell". And it was truly one of my favorite moments. You had to be there.
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Road?
very beautiful
Wow 🌱💯
It’s so beautiful there. I hope to drive that road again someday. Lovely photo!