Maui's Magic Isle Roads

The Road to Hāna: A Pilgrimage into the Rainforest

The Road to Hāna is arguably the most famous scenic drive in all of Hawaiʻi, but it is also the most misunderstood. It is not a highway in the conventional sense. It is a 64.4-mile-long meditation. With over 600 curves and 59 one-lane bridges, the drive is a lesson in patience and presence. To treat it as a race to the finish line—the sleepy town of Hāna—is to miss the point entirely.

The true destination is the journey itself: a slow, sensory immersion into a world of cascading waterfalls, fragrant rainforests, and breathtaking coastal cliffs. Plan for a full 10 to 12-hour day, and begin your journey from the north shore town of Pāʻia, your last reliable stop for a full tank of gas and supplies.

Must-See Stops & Hidden Gems

While it's impossible to see everything in one day, a well-planned trip can include a mix of iconic landmarks and quieter, lesser-known spots.

Iconic Stops

The journey unfolds with a series of unforgettable landmarks. Hoʻokipa Lookout offers a stunning vantage point to watch world-class surfers and spot honu (green sea turtles) resting on the beach below. Twin Falls (mile marker 2) is the first major, easily accessible waterfall area, offering a chance for a swim in its lower pools. The Garden of Eden Arboretum (mile marker 10.5) is a paid-entry botanical garden, but its immaculate grounds and views of Puohokamoa Falls make it a worthwhile stop.

The Keʻanae Peninsula (past mile marker 16) is a stunning detour onto a finger of land covered in traditional taro fields (loʻi) and pounded by the raw power of the Pacific. The crown jewel of the drive for many is Waiʻānapanapa State Park (mile marker 32), home to a spectacular black sand beach, sea caves, and a coastal trail. Advance reservations are mandatory to enter this park and they fill up quickly, so book well ahead of your trip.

Finally, beyond Hāna town lies the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park, where you'll find the pools of ʻOheʻo Gulch (often called the Seven Sacred Pools) and the trailhead for the magnificent Pīpīwai Trail, a 4-mile roundtrip hike through a dense bamboo forest that culminates at the base of the 400-foot Waimoku Falls.