If the (only) road from Kaanapali to central (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? ANSWER. It gets pretty windy! Its so incredible itll change your life! 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. The Single file traffic is easily regulated with simple give way systems and you just wait your turn at the give says one each side of the bridge until it is your turn to cross. You dont really need a touring plan for the order of how to hit all your must see spots. Driving a car is dangerous. Distraction is a great way to keep the fear at bay. It has 600+ curves, and many of them are hairpin. While the road is coastal, large parts of the highway scarcely even offer a sea view and the perilous section that most people fear is only around 10 miles between Mile Marker 9 and Mile Marker 19.5. The Surface is pretty well maintained but is often wet, slippery, and covered in jungle debris. What are you wanting to do west? Most folks begin their road to Hana drive from the town Paia on Highway 36 which ends after mile marker 16. 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 ? NEW YORK It is! The Road to Hana is one of the most popular things to do in Maui. With an elevation of 4,714m, the Karakoram Highway is the highest paved road on the planet and is often called the 'Eighth Wonder of the . The first being Alelele Falls which you can find on google maps here. (I think the back road may be closed to traffic anyway) That part of the road (going on from Hana towards Kula) is the part that is prone to washouts, etc. 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. If you need road assistance it's cash costing $800-1200 if and when a tow truck comes. Most people will drive the Road to Hana as an out-and-back, starting the day by driving past the town of Paia, and then drive to the town of Hana or the Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park. Try to leave Paia by 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. and plan on being back in Paia before dark. We do not think so. NORTH DAKOTA But is the Road to Hana any more or less dangerous than other roads in Hawaii, the Mainland, or anywhere else in the world? If you get above 30 mph you are doing well! In general I did not find the main part of the Road to Hana to be particularly dangerous or scary. 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. Alelele Falls is a short hike that takes 15-20 minutes to reach. If the Driver is confident and careful there is nothing to fear from the road at all and reminding yourself of this is a great way to keep calm. The Road to Hana is more than just a great drive through a beautiful area of Maui. Yes this is going to be a long day but I promise its worth it! ARIZONA So they will tailgate manically, overtake when shouldnt and speed of once they get clear. This towns contains the Ulupalakua Ranch Store. Lets support local and sustainability. Know that theres a possibility that youll have to reverse if a car is coming in the opposite direction. The photo slideshow below shows each of these stops. Full Gas Tank - You most likely won't need a whole tank, but just in case. 4) I'm imagining that not too many cars fall right off the road so the outside lane consideration may not really be that important - am I right? 10 Best Museums In Chicago Which Museums Should You Visit In The Windy City? ***Want to get FREE flights to Hawaii? We all have different phobias and they can not be dismissed just because we do not suffer from them. But it comes with risks and possibly some stress. The main part of the Road to Hana which is not particularly dangerous means the drive that most people do. Ive yet to see a current rental car contract that even mentions where you can or cant take the car on Maui (and I always read the fine print!). Ive written a lot here about this and I dont want it to sound scary, but I also want you to know EXACTLY what youre signing up for. Click here to check rates for your trip. Fatalities are rare and accidents often very minor. Preparation is an important part of safety, so make sure to plan your Road to Hana tour ahead of time. It really is just better for everyone to pull over and just let less patient people past. other than a slight hindrance to your rate of progress there is nothing to worry about. There are plenty of tasty restuarants in Paia to choose from. Whatever you have to say just drop us a comment below. Any help is very welcome. We go into detail in the linked article, but, Spoiler alert! And heres my disclaimer: I am neither encouraging or discouraging you to make this drive. But really, we want people to experience the road for themselves. Next on the left side of the road perched on a hill, youll see a little shop with several potted plants and such. You are able to drive down the road to see the church up close or there is a viewpoint that overlooks the church on the bay after the bend in the road. A very anxious and scared driver is a dangerous one. The Jungle Canopy envelopes the road leading to mild claustrophobia and an uncomfortable sense of being consumed. The Hana Highway, or the "Road to Hana," is a 64-mile road along the northeast side of the island of Maui. 5) Is there any general safety advice you guys would give? The Road to Hana is an absolutely stunning road trip to take on any Maui vacation, and is 100% a must-do. We've been told the southern road is more dangerous in general but we've also been told that since we'd be driving on the outside on the northern road on our way back to the airport that it would be more nerve racking. The first is one we dont advise. 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 Keanae Peninsula is one of the most famous Road to Hana stops. This will leave you with a deeper understanding and connection to Hawaii. Maui's Road to Hana is one of the most famous (or infamous) drives in the world and in my opinion is the #1 don't miss thing to do on Maui. We highy recommend doing a tour with large windows, an experienced local guide, and only going to safe, legal, epic spots! THEODORE ROOSEVELT ND I think nearly all of us have some kind of phobia, some irrational, spiders, birds, outdoors, speeches, heights, flying. But heres the thingits still not really unpleasant unless you know what it used to be like before there was the surge in tourists. However, on the Kahekili Highway, the narrow roads closely hug the edges of their respective cliffs, resulting in topsy roads on some stretches. for the most part, it is wide enough for two small buses to pass each other with no issue. What are your fears and doubts? There are literally signs posted telling you to honk as you go around the blind corners. Here they sell fresh fruits, smoothies and coffees all grown locally on their farm. 9) Is there anything I'm not considering that I should be considering? Just before mile marker 15 is the Maui-Grown Market and Deli (tel. It won't take you 5 hours to get to Hana either. as Upcountry. Also, is anyone planning a drive but is fearful of the road? The Road to Hana travels along the edge of many sheer cliffs. Is this even possible? 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). Driving the Road to Hana means that you will be driving the Hana Highway. So glad you are going to get back and finally see it, Finally getting to drive the road after missing out will probably make the journey all the more special! I wouldn't suggest driving through Kahakuloa to any tourists. If you go, (just like anything you do), you do so at your own risk. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS TN NC Its 11 miles past Hana town and takes a little over half an hour to reach with no stops. FLORIDA, U.S. NATIONAL PARK SITES ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353051', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rental car companies. If the Road the Hana is proving scary, that Back route will scare the Bejebous out of you! All proceeds go to keep Jess traveling and coffee . The bridge was completed in 1926 and is one of the 80 Hana . You want to go back the way you came, most likely, rather than going around the back way. This means you are taking all the risk when driving the reverse road to Hana. Initially, we just thought it was just nervous drivers or drivers with little experience of this type of road. 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! 1. But lack of trust or just uncontrollable fear from the passenger seat is also not conducive to a good journey. Finally Know your limits. So most people drive the Road to Hana as a day trip, as an out-and-back drive. We did the Road many years ago when it was more of a cow path. Paia is a small, laid back town on the Northshore of Maui. Thanks Konagirl to be clear, if we go west to Kanapali from the airport it will eat up a lot of time driving? Anytime you start toward Hana after lunch you will start meet cars headed toward you and that will slow you down on the 59 one way bridges. Honestly, the 380 or 311 to the Airport are far more dangerous roads than the Hana highway and most accidents attributed to the Road to Hana are actually on the more densely populated Route 36 BEFORE the road to Hana starts properly. PICTURED ROCKS MI In the end, was it all worth it for YOU? For most of the drive, a very narrow road winds through lush, green forests. 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? The only sketchy part is if you're driving along the cliffs edge backwards into Hana on the waters edge. Soon you will come up on St. Josephs Church, this is such a beautiful piece of Maui. This is the wrong way to do it. Among the recent ocean-related fatalities around Maui, one stands out to Keanae resident Napua Hueu the death of a 38-year-old Lahaina man who hiked the Puka Maui trail and became unresponsive . 9. And if youre driving clockwise around the island, you will need to yield to them since theyre on the outside lane (which means you have the inside lane and it feels MUCH safer). However, the bridges are regularly inspected and are perfectly safe for light traffic. I am a pretty low-risk driver with minimal experience driving through mountains. I thank you in advance. MOUNT RUSHMORE SD P.S. Really just understanding that the Road is actually perfectly serviceable and 99% of the fear is in your mind can help overcome that fear. Set Aside Multiple Days. Hawaii is known for some of the world's most beautiful waterfalls, and Maui is no exception. The biggest mistake most people make when visiting Hana is trying to do it all in one day. The back road to Hana starts in Kula town about 15 minutes past Makawao, one of Mauis most charming towns. As always, I would never recommend a product or service that I didn't truely believe in. paia town. The average visitor is not going to think twice about the number of people they encounter along this road unless they were truly thinking they would be the ONLY ones driving to Hana. These Rickety looking relics strike fear into many peoples hearts as they meet traffic head-on with no passing place and drops either side. Kipahulu is home to some of the Road to Hana's most famous stops from the Pools at O'heo (Seven Sacred Pools), Pipiwai Trail, and Waimoku Falls. Its a completely different adventure than driving the front side. Ahhh, the backwards Road to Hana. Is safety as big a concern as some say or is it mostly just up to how nervous or confident a driver is? While to fully overcome the fear requires repeated exposure we find with the right attitude, a good amount of care and respect for the road, and a little can-do attitude many people find the Road FAR less intimidating than they originally feared. (This is NOT like the Hana Highway normal route around the north side, which is paved all the way.) The Road to Hana is only 52 miles but the average speed 25 mph. The Road to Hana is one of the best things to do in Maui! How long does it take to drive to Hana backside? Drive safe and slow, especially along these winding bits of road, specifically on . I have sprinkled some affiliate links in this post. When driving the Highway, We tend to be calm as Hindu cows. 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. . 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. 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