Day 4: The Hana
Highway
IT'S AN INFAMOUS 64.4 miles of winding, twisty road with one-lane bridge crossings. Drive fast
at your peril: huge tour buses can swoop around the bend with no warning, and
there are hairpin turns galore. The Hana Highway stretches from Kahalui to the
small town of Hana on the far eastern rim of Maui, and then circles about the
southeast end of Haleakalā National Park, where one large gravel section still
remains. Once you exit Paia and head east toward Hana, it’s time to wake up and
stay alert. You will want to have your eyes prepped for any oncoming vehicles,
as well as enjoy the stunning jungle and the large number of waterfalls you’re
apt to see.
The Hana Highway
is almost completely paved. However, when we visited, the foliage was intent on
taking back the road. Many ferns and trees overhung in the way ahead, making it
difficult to spot oncoming vehicles. The locals who live out this way will whip
around the road so fast that it’ll make your head spin. Pull over to let them
pass. Also, be mindful of bicyclists. We followed a cyclist for nearly a mile,
unable to pass because the road was too narrow to pass safely, and we couldn’t
see far enough ahead to see if anyone was coming. We had to wait for the
cyclist to signal that it was okay for us to pass him.
The bamboo
forests that surround you are utterly magical. I’d never seen so much bamboo in
my life. Also, if you’re in the passenger seat, then prepare to be dazzled by
the sheer number of waterfalls at every bridge and along pull-outs. It may be
possible to get tired of waterfalls, you’ll see so many (unless it’s been dry
lately). There are rest spots along the way where you can buy fresh fruit and
pastries from local stands, as well as use the restroom. It usually takes around
2.5 hours to navigate the entire highway to Hana.
We, in our
wisdom, decided to spend the second half of our trip in Wai'anapanapa State
Park, a wondrous black sand beach and
volcanic field a mere ten minutes from Hana. That meant that we got to drive
the Hana Highway. A lot. While we gradually acclimated to craning our heads
around turns to see who was coming, and endured the stops at the bridges to let
oncoming traffic pass, it was very tiring. The scariest part was driving the
Hana Highway at night. There weren’t many cars, but there was a man walking
down the middle of the street who could have been easily hit, and around one
blind turn, we slammed on the breaks to keep from hitting a dog. Because of the
poor visibility along the Hana Highway, if at all possible, avoid driving it at
night. During the day, drive slowly and courteously, but don’t be too hesitant.
Let others know you’re present and embrace the beauty of the legendary Hana
Highway.
Upcoming Day 5: Wai'anapanapa State
Park
Read more in the Hawaiian Travel Series:
(0) Intro: Welcome to Maui
(1) Day 1: Northwest Maui: Lahaina
Disclaimer: The
above is presented as fiction, not fact.
