GULF ISLANDS FL Maui's "road to Hana" is a curvy coastal road with views of cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, and miles and miles of lush rainforest. What are your fears and doubts? Next on the left side of the road perched on a hill, youll see a little shop with several potted plants and such. There are many adventures to have in Hana so I always recommend staying a night or two in Hana to be able to experience all that Hana has to offer. In the end, was it all worth it for YOU? Locals can be a problem as they are generally a lot more confident on the road and view the tourist as a major inconvenience. Peru is a destination for nature lovers, hist, Hiking in and out of Haleakala Crater on Maui is o, Sunset state of mind . Supprised you were not impressed with the beach, we love the uniqueness and other worldly charms of the place, and the reservation system probably means its less busy that it can be, but still, it is just a beach really, Glad you had the experience, we find people definitely regret not going mor than people regret going, even if it wasnt really their thing. You need to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight and it's a 3 hour drive from Wainapanapa IF you aren't behind a slow train(qnd the traffic will be very heavy during that time you are headed to the airport) also if weather caused a downed tree or landslide you are just stuck. The other feature of the highway is the endless bridges. There are no straight sections to this drivethe curves are constant. You dont really need a touring plan for the order of how to hit all your must see spots. For comparison, there was a mom and daughter duo that I met at the Maui hostel that I was staying at who did the back road to Hana, and they thought it was fine. There are twice as many awesome things to do on the road to Hana as there are on the back side to Hana so again that will also be an all day excursion hence why I recommend staying a few nights in Hana. How long does it take to drive to Hana backside? But this doesn't stop many adrenaline junkies from taking on the route which separates Bolivia's capital, La Paz, and Coroico in the Yungas region. Break ins do occur. 3 Bears Upper Waikani Falls (MM 19) Another quick stop on the side of the road a must stop on the road to hana. Google says its 47 mins but Im getting the idea google doesnt know how long these roads really take? Driving the Road to Hana means that you will be driving the Hana Highway. If I could sign up twice, I would ; ). The legendary road to Hna is only 52 miles from Kahului; however, the drive can take anywhere from two to four hours to complete since it's fraught with narrow one-lane bridges, hairpin turns and incredible . So if you have no problem with the highway spouting off you dont see the big issue isnt particularly helpful to those that do fear it! The Scariest thing I have ever had to confront in my lifeMy wedding speech! For about 20 miles (32 km) between Wailuku and Kapalua, you need to navigate rocks on one side and steep cliffs on the other. The water that cascades down creates a small pool at the bottom of the falls that you can swim in. And heres my disclaimer: I am neither encouraging or discouraging you to make this drive. Google has no clue what the drive times are on Maui and Hawaii in general. We highy recommend doing a tour with large windows, an experienced local guide, and only going to safe, legal, epic spots! It will make you feel like your on a wild foreign adventure tho. 1. PEARL HARBOR HI have no issue at all, but it is narrower, more exposed, and in places has no asphalt topcoat (Dirt Track). By taking a Tour the pressure and risk are on someone else and you can take comfort in the fact this person does it daily and as they are still around, and not on the bottom of a sea cliff, they must be doing something right. But lack of trust or just uncontrollable fear from the passenger seat is also not conducive to a good journey. The steep valleys encrusted in the jungle start off the imagination and you half expect to bump into a Dinosaur. You can drive the road to Hana yourself, or take a tour in a van . As you can see, the. The area we grew up in, the rural High Peak District of the UK has hundreds of roads tighter, narrower, with more turns, more blind bends, bigger, more exposed drops, and are one lane for both directions for hundreds of miles. Drive safe and slow, especially along these winding bits of road, specifically on . If you are still undecided about whether or not you want to drive the Road to Hana on your own, there are Road to Hana tours. Bring ones you don't mind getting muddy. Ive written a whole slew of posts about the Road to Hana, but theres one question I get asked more than othersshould I drive the backside of the road to Hana? Have a great time, and enjoy your visit to Hana and the rest of Maui. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352716', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. Know that theres a possibility that youll have to reverse if a car is coming in the opposite direction. There are a variety of ways you can drive the Road to Hana: out and back in one day (classic route) stay in Hana as your basecamp explore the Road to Hana over multiple days The Road to Hana is over 50 miles along Maui's rugged north shore and east side with 600+ tight turns and about 50 one-lane bridges. You really should be more fearful driving to the airport or shipping in Walmart, are you going to buy an I Survived Wallmart Kahului?. Towels - It's most likely going to rain. Is safety as big a concern as some say or is it mostly just up to how nervous or confident a driver is? The southern route will save at the most 20 minutes off your drive. So the final option is mitigating the fear. It includes 59 bridges during . Yeah we are not overly phased by these things but some people really do. Theyre seriously the only company I ever use. What are you wanting to do west? Read the fine print as driving the back road to Hana, Maui maybreach your rental car agreement or insurance. Its 60ish miles of continuously bending tarmac slice right through some unbelievable scenery, with countless waterfalls, dense jungle foliage, and plunging seacliffs allowing sweeping vistas down the coast. Super dangerous. BIG ISLAND If you have ANY questions about planning your trip to Hawaii, you can join my free Facebook group here. Unsubscribe at any time. NEW YORK The Hana Highway, or the "Road to Hana," is a 64-mile road along the northeast side of the island of Maui. The second English expressway on our list, this scenic road was recognized by the United Kingdom's Road Safety Foundation as one of country's most dangerous roads in 2010. And then, most people will end the Road to Hana at Hana or Kipahulu. This will leave you with a deeper understanding and connection to Hawaii. for the most part, it is wide enough for two small buses to pass each other with no issue. Yes. 1-2 Week Maui Itinerary, Best Time to Visit: Best Time to Visit Maui. Now lets get to the exciting part the best stops along the backside road to Hana! So take the time to research the road in advance and be . Check your rental agreement and insurance this activity may breach your contract as this area of Maui is usually forbidden by rental car companies. MOUNT RUSHMORE SD 2) Is this too late in the afternoon to see safely in early August? Also to note, the Hawaii tourism people do encourage you to do a Road to Hana tour because of the potential dangers of the Road to Hana. (try our Is the Road to Hana Worth it or Hana Highway Guide for more detailed descriptions). In some ways, winding roads are beautiful and make for a peaceful drive while road tripping. The biggest mistake most people make when visiting Hana is trying to do it all in one day. Three Bears Falls. WHAT TO WEAR HIKING, 2023 Flashpacking America | US outdoor travel blog, Road to Hana tour reviews on getyourguide, swim shirts with UV protection like these, Why a personal swim buoy is an essential for snorkeling and swimming in the ocean. This means you are taking all the risk when driving the reverse road to Hana. The drops are all protected and the chance of you ending up at the bottom of one is infinitely small. **Mama's Fish House. These single-track lanes Crisscross our road network and are often used as rat runs so you also have to contend with Businessmen in Audis hurtling along the lanes to get to a meeting! Whatever you have to say just drop us a comment below. You want to go back the way you came, most likely, rather than going around the back way. Take your valuables with you or at the very least keep them out of sight. Take a van or coach tour Having an air-conditioned vehicle with a driver/guide is really the best way to see Hana. Road To Hana (Maui) - Toughest Section DrMKC 739 subscribers 56K views 7 years ago This is the dashcam video of the toughest 30 minutes on the famous Road to Hana in Maui. Ahhh, the backwards Road to Hana. Encourage them to take things easy and to explain themselves when driving. : @kapenamorgan This is a great place to use the restroom and grab snacks/food for a picnic somewhere on the road. Before I go onif you want to read my other Road to Hana posts, you can find them here: MY favorite Road to Hana itinerary, tips for driving the Road to Hana, and where to stay in Hana (in case you decide you want to spend the night). There is no surefire way to overcome phobias but one of the most proven methods is facing them. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases that gives me a small commission at no extra cost to you if you decided to make a purchase. Serious accidents involving tourists on the Highway are rare, compared to the rest of the islands where tourists accidental deaths are higher than average! When driving the Highway, We tend to be calm as Hindu cows. Okay, once you pass this portion (the first 3-5 miles past Kipahulu), the road clears up nicely into a wide open terrain. Running from Kahului (or "where the airport is," as you might otherwise know it) to Hana on the east of Maui, the Hana Highway is a clifftop and a coastal road. If you ask them directly, theyll hem and haw (they give you the strong impression that its forbidden) but basically what it comes down to is they wont come and get you if you have a problem.. While a lot of the guides/apps say to try to be the first car in a line while driving through the frontside so you dont have to watch their brake lights too closely while youre looking around, I think the opposite is true when youre driving past Hana. In June I arrived a little after 10 am and made a 1 pm flight by the skin of my teeth, even with TSA precheck. If you need road assistance it's cash costing $800-1200 if and when a tow truck comes. I have regretted not trying since we arrived home. WYOMING About the Road to Hana. Also, once youre at the National Park, its quicker to drive the back way instead of backtracking through Hana and around with all the traffic. This trip takes approximately 7.0 hours to complete and the Road to Hana is considered the 5th most dangerous road in the world. ANSWER. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352867', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cars on the tight turns and one-lane sections); you're extremely unlikely to drive off the edge so long as you pay attention and don't speed; you don't want to take the southern (backside) road (it's at least as hazardous and a longer route to the airport). It sounds a little more intense than it is. We can now offer our visitors 20 years of expertise on this beautifully scenic drive. There's no stress involved when a knowledgeable driver points out and stops at the most beautiful spots. Finally Know your limits. You cant enjoy the drive with a angry local right up your back side, let them be on their way and you can relax! HALEAKALA HI Most of the road is one lane with pullouts. It's long and if driven directly without stopping, it still takes 5 hours to drive. If you couldnt look out and see the ocean, youd probably think you were in parts of Texas or another western state. After the viewpoint the road gets narrow to a point that only one car fits. It is not a place for nervous drivers, and if even attempting the Hana Highway is questionable for you, do not even consider the back route. The next and last stop until you get to Ulupalakua (Maui Wine and the Ranch Store) is the Kaupo Store. So most people drive the Road to Hana as a day trip, as an out-and-back drive. The Road to Hana is also called the "Divorce Highway". They hold masses here on the 5th Sunday of every month but you can explore the grounds at any time. MAMMOTH CAVE KY That's 2 extra hours after how many hours on the plane? and 59 bridges, 46 of which are one lane. All proceeds go to keep Jess traveling and coffee . So you are trying to figure out whether you should do a Road to Hana tour or if you should do the Road to Hana on your own! 9. It is still manageable, and 99.99% (warning Made up Stat!) (This is to say, they will say if something is scary, and the back road to Hana was not, to them.). Make sure your partner is aware of your fears and explain they may not be entirely rational but still real. This is the honey bee sanctuary. My husband and I are going in June and we will be doing it as hes not a nervous person ? I carry AAA independently (plus my auto insurance and credit card cover this) so I always decline all extra insurance. In this article, we take a look at what causes the Roads Fearsome reputation, and ask honestly How Scary is the Road to Hana Really?. If youve just started your Hana research, heres how it works: the Road to Hana is considered to start in Paia on the north shore of Maui. Read about my favorite luxury resorts, boutique hotels, honeymoon resorts, family friendly resorts, and condos (many under $100/night!). Paia is a small, laid back town on the Northshore of Maui. It has 600+ curves, and many of them are hairpin. at stops along the Road to Hana and they wonder if they start in Kula and do a reverse loop around the island if theyll run into fewer crowds and get a head start on their must see list. There is no beach, but the rocky coastline is spectacular as far as scenery goes. We personally have no issues at all but the fear is very real in many people and cant be dismissed. Finally, the highlight of the back road to Hana is the Kipahulu entrance to Haleakala National Park. Just three of the many many reasons to love the Road to Hana. It was the perfect solution. Click here to search for Maui vacation rentals for your trip. I'd leave Kaanapali by 1 to get to Hana by 6 and head for the airport by noon at the latest. There is almost nothing about the drive that causes anxiety in us. But you can completely avoid this dangerous and scary part of the Road to Hana by making it an out-and-back drive on the Hana Highway. You suggest skipping Kanapali altogether. And if you just want more details (more! This three-part waterfall is often called the Three Bear Falls for the Papa Bear-, Mamma Bear-, and Baby Bear-size cascades of water. This is the wrong way to do it. Take the moral high ground and just drive in a way that ensures YOUR safety! Theyll give you the very best prices, you dont have to reserve with a credit card or pay until you show up, you can cancel and re-book anytime if you find a better rate, and they usually have a special that adds additional drivers for no fee. Ive also had a few people recently ask me about starting in Paia and driving ALL the way to Hana without stopping and then turning around and doing their stops on the way back. Despite what the name suggests, the town of Hana is not the destination; it's the drive itself. What we wanted to do in the west was bathe in the waters of Kanapali (which we hear is a world class beach) and maybe (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The Surface is pretty well maintained but is often wet, slippery, and covered in jungle debris. How necessary is it to have a 4 wheel drive vehicle for this drive? Fatalities are rare and accidents often very minor. Yes, it is long, hard work, challenging, and costs a full day of your vacation along with a precious lie-in, but there is so much beauty and wonder along this little highway it has to be right at the top of your bucket list. Maybe at one point that was true, but I dont really think it is anymore. In general I did not find the main part of the Road to Hana to be particularly dangerous or scary. The drive to Hana is known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world with waterfalls, beaches, history, and views (you can even see the Big Island in some parts). Charged Cameras - Many photo opps await you! Yum! Fun fact: there are more than seven of them! It becomes a dirt road for long stretches and even though we left for the day at 7AM, after a few stops and not really rushing we ended up in a situation where we were driving the most treacherous parts after dark (we almost hit a cow at one point, as herds will just wonder over the road in certain parts). Theyve got the largest selection of rentals youll find anywhere and you can easily filter to find exactly what youre looking for. Sipping pineapple wine is an unusual thing to do in Maui and is one of the best things to do Upcountry Maui although I recommend that you spend a separate day exploring as there are many cool things to do Upcountry. The Shaka guide tours are great for independent explorers who want the freedom to explore on their own terms, but like to learn about the spots theyre visiting. Work as a team and play to your strengths. Since you are voiding your contract the rental agency will not come to help. It won't take you 5 hours to get to Hana either. 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