Hawaii's Scenic Drives

More Than a Road, It's a Journey

There's a moment on every Hawaiian road where the rest of the world falls away. It might be when the scent of wild ginger and damp earth drifts through your window on the road to Hāna. Or when the sky opens up over the stark lava fields of Saddle Road, revealing a universe of stars. This is a different kind of driving.

A mainland road trip is often about conquering distance. About getting from point A to point B. Here in Hawaiʻi, the road itself is the destination. It's not a path you conquer. It's a story you enter.

The Pono Driver's Handbook: Essential Island Etiquette

Before you turn the key, understanding the local road culture is the most important preparation you can make. Driving with pono—with righteousness and respect—ensures a safe and positive experience for both you and the local community. These aren't just tips. They are the unwritten rules of the road that flow from the heart of the Aloha Spirit.

The Shaka Code

You'll see it everywhere: a pinky and thumb extended, the three middle fingers curled. This is the shaka, Hawaii's most iconic gesture. Its origin is a story of aloha itself, traced back to Hamana Kalili, a sugar mill worker in Lāʻie who lost his three middle fingers in an accident. His unique wave became a symbol, first used by kids to signal that he wasn't around to stop them from jumping on the sugar trains. It eventually evolved into the all-purpose sign of goodwill it is today.

On the road, the shaka is essential non-verbal communication. When another driver lets you merge into traffic, a quick, low shaka out the window is the local way of saying "thank you." It's a greeting to a friend, a sign of mutual respect between surfers, and a general expression of "everything's good." It immediately diffuses tension and spreads aloha. Don't be shy. Embrace it.

The Pace of Paradise

Life moves differently here, and so does traffic. Aggressive driving is deeply frowned upon. Unnecessary honking is considered rude and startling, reserved only for genuine emergencies to prevent an accident. The pace is relaxed. If you find a line of cars forming behind you on a winding road like the Hāna Highway or Saddle Road, the courteous and expected action is to find a safe pullout and let the local traffic pass. Remember, you are on vacation. They are on their way to work, school, or home. Rushing is counterproductive and goes against the grain of island life.