The Road to Hana

Heavenly Road to Hana - Hugging the ocean, this drive to Hana and beyond passes parks, waterfalls and pools.

Half the Fun Is Getting There - Leave early. The road to Hana, with its 617 turns and 56 one-lane bridges takes three hours. The lookouts, waterfalls, trails and wayside parks on the way are THE experience. Hana has things to do and beyond Hana is more: Wailua Falls and the Oheo Pools. Take Hana Highway 36; pick it up just past the Kahului Airport and follow signs. Suggested stops include:

Kaumahina State Wayside Park has a short stroll to a coastal overlook. Walk into the forest to see giant vines climbing into the sky and paper bark folding off trees.

Keanae Arboretum is free and has examples of 150 trees. It’s located half-way to Hana.

Wailua Valley State Wayside offers a view of Keanae Valley and Koolau Gap in Haleakala’s rim, plus taro patches. Puaa Kaa State Wayside is great for a picnic in a rainforest with small waterfalls and pools.

Waianapanapa State Park is ruggedly beautiful with lava outcropping just offshore from a small, back sand beach. It sprawls 122 acres and has a picnic area, native hala forest, cave, blowholes, shoreline fishing and camping.

Turn left off Hana Highway at Keawa Place to pretty Hana Bay. The nearby Hana Cultural Museum is open daily. Back on the highway, stop at the Hasegawa General Store, it was established in 1910 and sells products by local residents like celebrity Jim Nabor’s mac nuts.

Fifteen minutes past Hana is the 95-foot Wailua Falls; have your camera ready, it’s right on the highway. Oheo Pools is in Haleakala National Park. Get info down by the ranger station where you pick up trail heads. Take a 15-minute Kuloa Point loop trail down to the ocean or the Pipiwai Trail. It is one hour each way and goes up to the 400-foot Waimoku Falls where you can swim among numerous cascading pools.

TRAVEL TIPS
•Start by 8:30 a.m., earlier is better
•Leave Hana by noon if doing Oheo Pools waterfall hike
•Driving at night not recommended
•All wayside parks have restrooms
•Rental car companies forbid driving the unimproved road from Kipahulu to Ulupalakua

YOU’ll NEED
•Full tank of gas
•Lunch to go, water for Oheo Pools hike
•Towel,swimsuit, bug spray, shoes that can get muddy
•Camera and film