The Road to Hana and Beyond

Many of the waterfalls along the road to Hana require at least a short trek through the rainforest. Consult a detailed travel guide and pick the sites that interest you most. If you're a hiking enthusiast, you may be interested in some of the more strenuous hikes along the way.

At mile marker 10.5, between Kailua & Kaenae, plan to spend at least an hour at the Garden of Eden.

Twelve miles past the town of Hana, take a self-guided tour of the Kipahulu area of the Haleakala National Park. The waterfalls and pools at 'Ohe'o Gulch, commonly referred to as the 'Seven Sacred Pools', are some of the most beautiful sites on the island. Swim at your own risk; flash floods are common.

It will void your rental car agreement, but it's worth it. Piilani Highway circles from Kipahulu back to West Maui. It offers the most spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Be prepared for one lane roads, blind hairpin turns, roaming livestock, and sections of the mountain side that are held together by chains. Nonetheless, where else on the island can you see the profile of a human face formed on the side of a cliff (look closely, do you see it in the picture above)?

The most photogenic part of Piilani Highway begins where the paving ends. Unless you're in a hurry, go slowly over the bumpy road and take it all in. My camera battery drained shortly after St. Joseph's Catholic Church near Kaupo. When you embark on your journey, be sure to capture the black rock beaches and lava arches at Nuu Bay. Aloha.