The official start of the Road to Hana is in Paia Town, a beachy neighborhood with cute shops and some good restaurants to grab a bite for breakfast. Check out the tour highlights in the app if you need some restaurant recommendations. Your next food stop will be in a few hours at Garden of Eden Arboretum (a paid attraction) or even further down the road for some delicious, fresh-made banana bread. If you’re not hungry, keep driving to the next stop! 

The consistent strong winds and good waves here, make Ho’okipa a world-famous beach for windsurfing and kite surfing. You can stop here briefly to check out the surfers! There is a great view from the parking lot above that overlooks the beach.

To access Jaws, you’ll need a 4-wheel drive vehicle for a muddy dirt road. During the months between December and March, when the wind and ocean conditions are just right, Jaws can produce waves as high as 70 feet! There are many big wave competitions held here every year, that attract the best surfers from around the world. However, most of the time this beach has little to no waves. So unless it’s winter and you are sure that Jaws is “breaking,” we suggest you skip this beach and keep driving.

The first of many waterfalls on our excursion today is Twin Falls. Unbeknownst to most, there are actually three different falls in the area - Twin Falls, the most easily accessible, rope swing, and caves. Each requires a hike, and most people just quickly stop at Twin Falls for a picture or a quick dip in the swimming hole. It’s a beautiful falls, but there are so many to see. We recommend taking a quick peek at the first falls as there are more waterfalls and better hiking opportunities down the road.

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This family-friendly trail is a short, three-quarter-mile loop that takes you through a forest of giant eucalyptus and mahogany trees. Stop here if you need to stretch your legs and want to get in a quick walk - remember, you’ll be in the car for hours today!

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The Garden of Eden is a family-friendly spot with a variety of exotic plants from tropical rainforests throughout the world. While you’re there, you’ll see stunning coastal views and catch a glimpse of the Keopuka rock, which was featured in the opening scene of Jurassic Park.

Note: there is an admission fee to enter the Arboretum

HOURS: Open Daily 8am - 4pm

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This well-maintained park is a great place to stretch your legs and use the restroom. However, if we’re being honest, this isn’t always the cleanest rest stop. If you can, wait until you get to the Ke’anae Peninsula. If you do hop out of the car, snap some photos of the peninsula which we will be visiting in a bit.

The park is closed until further notice due to COVID-19. Check their website for updates.

Pullover to view beautiful sheer cliffs and crashing surf at Nua’ailua Bay!

The Ke'anae Peninsula is a short detour off of Hana Highway, but it’s well worth the time for its stunning views of the ocean ripping through jagged lava rock. There are also some public restrooms near the peninsula.

Ke'anae arboretum is really a lovely botanical garden that is also free and a great place to stretch your legs a bit. A short walkway leads through a myriad of trees and plants from around the world - including giant bamboo trees, African tulip trees, taro plants, banana, papaya and breadfruit trees. Each is marked with a nameplate showing the country of origin and plant name. This is, for sure, the best place to go if want to see the rainbow eucalyptus trees up close and take some pictures. It really looks like the color has been painted on the trees.

Plan on spending around 30 minutes strolling through the gardens here. If everyone is tired and wanting to get back, then this is something you could pass up. You decide.

It is kind of tricky to find the arboretum. The front entrance is not very obvious, and comes quickly around a turn. Look for a small park sign and a green gate. You will need to park down the street and walk in. After you enter the gate, there is a nice 20 min stroll along a paved road before you come to the actual arboretum. Take as long as you want and then turn around the way you came to exit the arboretum. Admission if free.

Now, just around the bend from ching’s pond is an amazing overlook of the Ke’anae peninsula. You will see a large shoulder on the left that you can pull in for a great bird's-eye view of the peninsula.

Notice the many taro patches that dot the landscape. Again, pull into the parking area up ahead on your left for the overlook. This is a great place for a picture with that special someone if you can manage to take in the view.

Wailua valley state wayside park is not much of a park... more like an overlook. Here, you can get an excellent view of little Wailua Town and a famous church called the “coral miracle church”. When you get to the overlook, you will see the Haleakala Volcano behind you. You may even get lucky and see a waterfall or two cascading down in the distance.

The park is currently closed due to COVID-19. Check their website for updates.

Waikani Falls is actually a series of three waterfalls, also known by its nickname -- the Three Bears Falls. Don’t worry, there are no bears in Hawaii. The falls likely got this nickname because the three falls have varying heights: short, medium and tall, just like the family of bears in the children’s story Goldilocks and the Three Bears. 

Note: Do not stop at the falls! There is no parking.

This is a nice little wayside park, and a welcome sight for weary travelers. Here you’ll find restrooms, a nice little waterfall and picnic tables. If you brought a picnic lunch, this is an ideal place to stop. But since the park does get crowded with tour buses, if you prefer to avoid the crowd, there are a few other options and picnic locations down the road:

• Nahiku landing (no restrooms - 10 minutes further)

• Wai'anapanapa park with restrooms and showers (20 minutes further)

• Hana town with restaurants and restrooms (25 minutes further)

As we continue along Hana Highway, we’ll stop by a lava cave hidden on the side of the road. This cave was formed when hot lava from an eruption cooled and hardened on the exterior, while it continued flowing in the inner core.

After the lava drained out the hardened exterior shell remained, forming a cave. Duck and watch your head as you enter the cave, the entrance is small and there are some jagged rocks, but it quickly opens up to where you can easily stand up.

You don’t need to stop, but just before the turn to Nahiku Road, look out for a waterfall on the side of the road. Most people drive by and don’t even notice it’s there! You’ll see it under the bridge. As you look for the waterfall, please be mindful of the other drivers on the road. Also, if you’re traveling in the summer months and don’t see the falls, it could be because they’ve dried up.

Before the larger Nahiku marketplace, you'll first come upon a little vegan ice cream shop that makes small batch ice cream with coconut milk instead of dairy milk. It's a little different, and plenty ono! Perfect for those lactose intolerant or anyone else that loves local style gelato.

HOURS: Open Daily 10:30AM-5:30PM

If you’re hungry, this is a great place to stop to grab a bite. At the Nahiku Marketplace, you’ll find a variety of cafes and restaurants, serving up island-style fish tacos, beer battered fish and chips, shrimp, some tasty Thai food, and even a few pastry options. The next food stop is in Hana Town, which is just two stops away, but if you visit both it will probably take about an hour to an hour and a half.

The marketplace may be temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

More than just a garden, Kahanu Gardens is also a cultural site and National Historic Landmark. Here, the focus is on plants of value to Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. You’ll learn about the connection between the ancient Hawaiians and the land. The garden is also home to a thatched canoe house and one of the largest heiau (or temple) in all of Polynesia.

Note: There is an admission fee to enter the garden, and it closes at 3pm.

Please Note: Parking AND entrance fees are now required to visit Waianapanapa. You MUST make an advance reservation to visit the park. NO same day reservations will be accepted. * Book your reservation on www.gowaianapanapa.com. 

Visit one of Maui’s only black sand beaches. Created when hot lava shattered on contact with the ocean, this beach is unlike any others on the Road to Hana.

While you’re there, look out for the freshwater cave that leads to the ocean, a blowhole that shoots water into the air, a sea arch formed from erosion, and a hiking trail along the coast. 

This is a great spot to spend some time, stretch your legs, lay in the sun, and even have a picnic.

Entrance is $5 per person AND $10 per vehicle to park. 

Please Note: Parking AND entrance fees are now required to visit Waianapanapa. You MUST make an advance reservation to visit the park. NO same day reservations will be accepted. *

Book your reservation here and for help planning your visit click here. 

This is a must stop place on our tour today. There are lots of fun things to do and explore here. You got two freshwater caves where you can swim. There is also a blowhole, a sea arch, and one of Maui’s only black sand beaches. Plan on spending anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour here exploring the many interesting features here.

There is an outdoor shower and public restrooms here if you need to use them. 

Entrance costs $5 per person and parking is $10 per car. 

Congratulations! You’ve made it to Hana. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. But don’t worry, the tour isn’t over - some of the best stops are yet to come! We recommend you grab a bite to eat here in Hana, there are loads of options to choose from. This is the last stop for food until you get back to Paia Town.

Note: Visitors should not go to the Red Sand beach. Many years of overuse have caused erosion resulting in a dangerous hike along steep cliffs to and from the beach.

This general store has been owned and operated by the same family since 1910. It has everything from snacks to souvenirs. It’s a great place to stop to pick up food and drinks for the road. You can also skip it for now and visit on the way back.

Pro Tip! The only gas station in Hana is next door. Fuel up here if you need to.

You made it to Hana! Now, take a few minutes to lay down and relax at Koki Beach. One interesting feature of this spot is the large hill beside it. Hawaiians have a name for this spot - it’s called Ka Iwi o Pele, which means the bones of Pele. Actually, this hill is a cinder cone that erupted lava just before Mount Haleakala went dormant.

This is a perfect family beach because of the protected cove and the large sandy area. If the waves aren’t too strong, there is some pretty decent snorkeling on the far left side of the cove. Park next to the road and access the beach by a set of stairs.

Just after Haleakala National Park where you’ll find Seven Sacred Pools, we have another secret swimming hole for you to check out. This is a wonderful alternative to Seven Sacred Pools because it is usually uncrowded and you can also do some rock jumping. Sometimes the waterfall is dry, but you can still swim in the pool below.

As you continue driving towards Kipahulu (Haleakala National Park), look out for Wailua Falls along the road. Up to this point you have already seen a ton of waterfalls. But this one is the largest of them all, at 80 feet tall. The best view is from the right of the bridge. There's no need to stop, just be mindful of other drivers on the road as you keep an eye out.

This is by far one of the most popular stops on the Road to Hana. ‘Ohe’o Gulch, also known as Pools of ‘Ohe’o and Seven Sacred Pools, are a series of cascading waterfalls that lead to pristine pools. Take in the natural beauty and reminisce on all you’ve seen and learned on your tour today.

Note: There’s a $30 entrance fee per car to enter Haleakala National Park. Please Note: Seven Sacred Pools can get crowded, if you’re looking for another stop that’s less busy, skip this spot and head to Venus Pools (check below for more details). We recommend you do one of the two, especially if it’s getting late.

Once you get to Haleakala National Park, there’s a 3.5 mile rain forest trail that offers beautiful views of two waterfalls and a bamboo forest. The hike is rated moderate and takes about 2 hours to complete, if you’re short on time, or looking for a family-friendly option, hike to the first lookout point where you can see Waimoku Falls. From there, turn around and continue to Seven Sacred Pools.

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Note: There’s a $30 entrance fee per car to enter Haleakala National Park.

Just past Haleakala in a remote graveyard is the final resting place of Charles Lindbergh. If you’re not familiar with this famous figure, Lindberg was an aviator known for making a nonstop flight from New York to Paris. In 1972, he was diagnosed with lymphoma and after receiving various treatments in New York to no avail, he decided to spend the remainder of his life on Maui. Behind the church is a small park, feel free to walk around and enjoy the serenity here. 

Your first of nine waterfalls for the day! Visiting Alelele Falls requires a short hike that crosses a stream, but other than that, it’s pretty accessible. The falls are roughly 50-feet tall and there’s a pool for you to swim in. If you’re looking to get to Seven Sacred Pools or Venus pools (both a few stops away) skip this stop -- those are both great swimming holes as well. Haleakala National Park charges a fee to enter. Fees are $30 per vehicle or $25 per motorcycle. If you are entering on foot or bike the fee is $15 per person. You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $55. As of June 2020 (COVID 19 response) The summit area is now open for sunrise viewing and must be reserved on Recreation.gov. Reservations allow access to the Summit District of the park from 3:00am to 7:00am. Please visit here for more information.

If you need to fill up on some snacks or drinks, this is your last chance for a while. This historic store was originally built by an enterprising Chinese immigrant in the 20s, but now run by a local Kaupo resident. You can find all the old cameras on the shelf that belonged to the original owner of the store. Quite an interesting place to make a stop. But oh, by the way the store is open from 10am - 5pm (if you are lucky). Sometimes on occasion they are not open.

Note: the restroom is in a wood-style shack but at least the toilet flushes. With water scarce in the area, “donations” for the bathroom are welcome.

Also, the kaupo store is going through a transition as they try to re-build the old store. Until then, the store is outside on the grass under a tent.

The store may be permanently closed due to COVID-19.

There was an ancient settlement here in the area called nu’u. Nu’u means 'height' in Hawaiian, likely named after Haleakala mountain’s great height of over 10,000 ft. Soon, you’ll find a couple of dirt roads to your left. One of the paths has an unlocked metal gate. These paths leads to a small bay called nu’u bay, and a wildlife refuge.

If you insist on going, please park your car on the highway, and walk down. Make sure to close the gate behind you, if you decide to enter. Be warned that it’s a long walk to a view that overlooks Nu’u Bay. Only do so if you have plenty of time before sunset.

If you really need to use the restroom, they do have a compostable porta-potty shack next to the bay.

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Get one more beach in before you end your day! There’s a short walk to the shore, and when you get there you’ll notice it’s different from the other beaches on this tour. The beach is filled with rocks! Although you won’t feel sand between your toes, stop and listen as the waves crash onto these rocks. You’ll hear a loud rumbling if the conditions are right.  

As you drive along this country road you’ll soon spot a rock formation in the ocean. This sea arch was created by an ancient dried lava flow that has carved out a hole by the ocean’s unrelenting waves. 

Along the drive, you will drop down into a way cool looking valley. That valley is the Manawainui gulch, and is a major natural water canal. As you drive over the bridge, pay attention to the magnificent rock layers that were formed layer by layer by red hot lava.

If we had a helicopter, we could trace this gulch all the way back to the Haleakala summit. En route, you’ll find numerous magnificent waterfalls along the way. But of course, this is a driving tour - not a helicopter tour!

Near the gulch is an overlook to get a perfect view of this gulch. Be aware that the wind here can get really strong!