Road to Hāna

60 miles of switchbacks, waterfalls, and rainforest on Maui's east coast

The Road to Hāna is one of the most celebrated drives in the United States. The route follows the rainforested northeast coast of Maui for about 100 kilometres, winding through 59 one-lane bridges and past an almost continuous series of waterfalls, pools, and viewpoints before arriving at the remote village of Hāna. It is not fast driving — most people allow a full day, and a night in Hāna makes the trip considerably more relaxed.

The best stops include Twin Falls near the start, Waikamoi Ridge Trail for an easy forest walk, the Garden of Eden botanical garden, and the black sand beach at Wai'ānapanapa State Park (reserve a timed entry permit online). Past Hāna, the road continues to the Kīpahulu district of Haleakalā National Park, where the Pīpīwai Trail takes you through a bamboo forest to the spectacular Waimoku Falls, and the Oheo Gulch pools are visible from the trail (swimming is often closed due to flash flooding risk).

The drive back the same way is standard; some continue around the south coast past Ulupalakua Ranch — the road is paved all the way now, though the south side gets far fewer visitors and has almost no services.

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A story
The road to Hāna has 59 bridges, most of them single-lane and built in the early 20th century. The longest stretch between pull-outs is barely a mile — the challenge is not the distance but the patience it demands.