A ton of people ask me daily, "How is the trip to Hana?" My reply to them is "The Road trip to Hana or the flight to Hana?" I always advise the visitors to take what ever mode of transportation they want to head to Hana. Hana (Ha Na) is a very small town in East Maui. Random Hana Town Fact: Besides Kalaupapa on Molokai, Hana is one of the nation’s most isolated communities. The popular locations are the Waianapanapa State Cabins, Hana Bay, The 7 Sacred Pools, and so much more. The Road to Hana starts in Kahului in Central Maui and ends in Hana. Pending on weather conditions the trip from Kahului/Central Maui into Hana is about 5.5 hours. From West Maui to Hana we are looking at a 7 hour drive. From South Maui 6.5 hour drive. Make sure like I said in my Haleakala Sunrise post to get enough rest before the drive to Hana. Use extreme caution when driving to and from Hana for there are sharp turns and twists in the road and sharp drop offs on the side of the road. On the way to Hana once you pass Haiku and Pauwela, you will see some breath taking water falls, tons of beautiful Rain forests, and may even see whales out in the ocean. The drive to Hana is very nice and pleasant. You may even want to stop on the way there and pick up some souvenirs and produce from the local vendors out there. My favorite place to eat out in Hana is Tutus Snack Shop right on the beach at Hana Bay and Hasegawas General Store in the out skirts of Hana. You can also wee old Hawaiian Fish Ponds, Gardens, get a massage, hit the beach, and all together all out wonderful experience. Hana Maui is by far one of my favorite places to go and relax.
Notice to visitors with rental/loaner cars: Make sure to drive only on Hana Highway to and from Hana. Do not take the back roads to and from Hana. Rental Car companies strongly urge this and it may breach your rental contract with them in the event a breakdown does happen. It is very hard for Tow companies/Fire/Police/EMS/
Rental Car companies to get out there to respond to the back roads in break down events.
Tips That will Help you out before you take the roads to Hana:
Personal Check List:
-Make sure to get enough rest before the trek out
-Load up on drinks and snacks
-Leave stuff of High value at your hotel or condo room
-take only what you need with you (wallet, towels, coolers, back packs, etc)
Vehicle Check List:
-Test your lights out and make sure they work properly
-Test your breaks to make sure they work for you will need to break frequently
-Make sure to have a full tank of fuel before you depart
-Make sure your tires are inflated properly
Hana Bay:
-Swim at your own risk for there are no life guards on post. Maui Police Department Officers and Maui Fire FIghters do make patrols of the area and will assist in life guard duties if needed.
-Use good judgment before swimming
-Stay close to the shoreline and don’t venture out too far
-When walking to the docks do not go past the fence or try to climb over it.
Overall Hana Maui is a very relaxing place and hey you may not even want to leave at the ending of your Hana trip. That covers Hana maui in East Maui. Enjoy!
Posted by: Jake Smookler on twitter
March 6th, 2010
Here’s a great idea if you’re going to Maui and want to do something really unusual and fun. I admit this isn’t for everyone and it’s quite pricey, but I promise it will be an activity you’ll never forget.
I first got this idea when Yaling (my wife and business partner) and I were taking a Hawaii cruise a couple of years ago. The cruise in Hawaii is designed to give you a lot of land time. You actually get a day and a half on Maui and another day and a half on Kauai. Yaling had driven to Hana before but didn’t want to make the long journey again. I thought it would be great to take a helicopter from Kahului airport (where the ship docks) to Hana and then drive back just one way back to Kahului. Yaling suggested that we stay at Hotel Hana for the night so we wouldn’t have to fly and then drive back in one day.
I contacted a couple of helicopter companies and discovered that we could fly to Hana from Kahului. We did have to pay for a round-trip flight that cost approximately $500. We rented a car at the Hana airport for an additional $60, drove to the hotel and stayed overnight. We woke up early and had a nice leisurely ride back to the cruise ship.
Since that time I’ve discovered a company that actually specializes in air-land tours. It’s called the Hana Skytrek and is run by a company called Temptation Tours. The air-land tour takes about six hours to complete. You fly by helicopter to Hana and return in a nice comfortable van to the airport at Kahalui. Hana Skytrek even provides lunch or a special dinner if you want to do the tour later in the afternoon.
If you are already taking a vacation of a lifetime, why not do something a little different? Spend the money and be a rock star for a day! If you would like more information or want to book this tour, give me a call at 1+800-843-8771 ext. 22
Posted by: AlohaBruce
Related blog posts:
Inside Haleakala National Park
Iao Valley On Maui
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June 16th, 2009
(Note this is part 2 of our series on choosing the right location on Maui (click here for part 1)
Focusing on the south side you’ll find Kihei, home to lots of condos, one after another along the beach. While this is not my favorite location to stay, it’s certainly beautiful and can be a good choice. Be careful with your condo selection and check with a travel agent to make sure of your choices. If you’re on a tight budget, Kihei may be the right choice for you. You’ll find beautiful beaches at Kameole I, II and II, and many boat tours leave from nearby Maalaea Harbor.
At almost the tip of the southern part of the island is Wailea. Home to some of the most amazing resorts in all Hawaii, Wailea is my choice for honeymooners and those who are really looking for a vacation of a lifetime. Many five and six star accommodations are located in Wailea, but it is not only for the rich and famous, you can also find affordable condos here
as well, including the Palms of Wailea and Aqua Diamond Wailea Resort.Wherever you choose to stay when you go to Maui, make sure you do your homework to pick the best location to ensure you enjoy the vacation of a lifetime.
On the southern tip of the island is an area known as Makena. There’s only one resort in that area and it’s called the Maui Prince Hotel. The prices are pretty affordable and you get all the amenities of a major resort and the property is quite expansive. It’s truly are one of the most beautiful sections of beach in all of Maui and a short drive to the
beautiful Makena State Park.
About 25 miles to the east is Hana. If you’re looking at the map will be on the far right. Many people have heard of the road Hana which is a wonderful way to spend a day and experience a lot of natural beauty in Hawaii. You can stop along the way and see sacred Falls waterfall. There is only one major resort in Hana and it’s called Hotel Hana. It’s a beautiful plantation style resort making this a perfect quiet getaway with wonderful ranch cottages. This is a very pricey property a well worth the cost. I love to put honeymoon couples here and also like to split vacation to Maui with some time being spent in, and also time spent in Kaanapali. It’s almost like staying on two different islands.
Finally, while there’s some wonderful places to stay in bed and breakfast types of accommodations in other parts of the island, the only other hotels are located in Kahalui on the Northern side of the island. This is where the airport is located and this a very busy hub for business on Maui. The two hotels that are there are very marginal and are not recommended unless you’re staying there for a night or a really inexpensive place to stay. It’s about 20 minutes to the Wailea/Kihei area and about 45 to 50 minutes to the Kaanapali area.
(Note this is part 2 of our series on choosing the right location on Maui (click here for part 1)
Related posts
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Getting Around the Hawaiian Islands
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Posted by Bruce Fisher
@AlohaBruce
May 25th, 2009
It happens. The old standby gets accused of being trite, boring, no longer fashionable.
Compared to the other islands, Oahu is still holding its own, but now it seems to be cool to downgrade it. Waikiki is too “touristy.” Honolulu is a big city now, with the inevitable traffic, industrialization and loss of the Aloha Spirit.
Okay. Maui has been called “the world’s greatest island.” It has the amazing Haleakala, the charm of Hana, the history of Lahaina, the lure of the Iou Needle and the resorts of Kaanapali.
Kauai has an abundance of natural wonders and great resorts. The Big Island has its volcanic action, enormous variety and even greater resorts. Molokai and Lanai have their intimacy and peace.
They’re all terrific. But never shortchange Oahu. Oahu is a big island, too, stretching ‘way beyond Waikiki and Honolulu. And Waikiki and Honolulu embody most of the things you envision when you first consider Hawaii for a vacation.
Waikiki is where the action is. The entertainment is first-class. A lot of the acts have been at it for a quarter of a century; newer ones are laced with high tech and imagination. World-class performers appear in Waikiki or Honolulu regularly. The beaches in Waikiki are everything you’ve seen and read about. The shopping is top-drawer.
Honolulu is almost as historical as (and perhaps more interesting than) Boston or Philadelphia. Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial should not be missed if you’re going to come to Hawaii.
The outer areas — the North Shore, Windward Oahu, East Oahu and the emerging West Coast with its “Second City” of Kapolei are all worth your time.
Seasoned visitors to Hawaii would offer you a suggestion like this:
On your first visit, do Oahu. If you have time, then take in a neighbor island or two. On your next visit, do a day or two in Waikiki to see what’s new, then do the neighbor islands.
When you consider the entire picture, spending your entire vacation on a neighbor island can be restricting. Think of a smorgasbord and spending the entire evening at the salad bar. However much you might love salads, there’s a whole lot more for your table.
Posted by Jim Winpenny
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Your Most Important Vacation Decision
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February 2nd, 2009
The island of Maui is loaded with magnificent resorts (Kaanapali, Kapalua) and quaint areas (Lahaina, Hana) where it’s easy to settle in, hang out, and never get abroad to see the rest of the island.
But if you’re inclined to explore and sight-see, you’ll want to drive to Iao Valley in Central Maui.
That’s where you’ll find the Iao Needle, a natural rock pinnacle that rises above Iao stream. All around are the walls of the Pu’u Kukui Crater. It’s a beautiful place. The Needle is a 2,250-foot stone pillar that’s covered in green. Its basaltic core has survived eons of swirling water.
The Valley itself is a peaceful, luxuriant area. It’s easy to hike, surrounded by exotic tropical plants and clear, natural pools. Once you reach the top of the ridge, you encounter a great view of the valley and Kahului Harbor. Other trails in the state park run alongside Iao Stream and through the forest, making it a nice place for a short hike, if you don’t mind the chance of getting wet. (Only Mount Waialeale on Kauai, the wettest spot on earth, gets more rain in Hawaii.)
One of the most famous battles in Hawaii’s history was waged here in 1790 when King Kamehameha I destroyed the Maui army in an effort to unite the Hawaiian Islands. The battle was said to be so bloody that dead bodies blocked Iao Stream, and the battle site was named Kepaniwai ("damming of the waters").
Legend says that the Valley harbors the spirit of the Hawaiian god Kane, who is the procreator and the provider of life. He is associated with fresh water and clouds, rain, streams and springs. Kanaloa, the Hawaiian god of the underworld, is represented by the phallic stone of the Iao Needle.
During the late 15th century, Iao Valley was designated as an aliʻi burial area. The remains of chiefs were buried secretly in hiding places in the valley (but there’s no need to watch your step as you trek).
There is an abundance of escorted tours that will take you into Iao Valley. Some of the tours encompass Haleakala, Upcountry Maui and beyond, as well. And you can view just about everything during a helicopter tour.
Pick an agent from the Hawaii-Aloha Web site, or call 1-800-843-8771. Let’s discuss your Maui plans and work out the best way for you to fit everything in.
Posted by Jim Winpenny
Related blog posts:
Inside Haleakala National Park
You Won’t Find That in Hawaii
The Seven Natural Wonders of the World? Hawaii has Eight!
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January 30th, 2009
Narrowing down your Hawaii vacation destination is even more difficult than it may seem to be at first. Most people try to decide which island – or islands – they think would appeal to them most.
The problem is that, except for little Molokai and Lanai, each of the islands actually has three or more distinctly different areas within their beaches.
On Oahu, Waikiki – on the south shore – is where the action is, and it’s close to most of the island’s other attractions. On the north shore, Turtle Bay is a full-blown resort near “Old Hawaii,” those humongous winter waves and the quaint little town of Haleiwa. Ko Olina is a newer, sprawling, self-contained resort area well west of Honolulu in leeward Oahu.
On the north shore of Kauai, the beautiful Hanalei and Princeville area is quiet and scenic with nice resorts. The south shore has Poipu and a whole bunch of ritzy resorts with all kinds of things to do. On the east shore, the town of Lihue is the island’s business and population center, with good accommodations that are convenient to most of Kauai’s spectacular attractions.
Maui is said to be two islands. West Maui has Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kapalua and those spectacular resorts. The island’s larger portion contains the rustic Upcountry, the mammoth Haleakala crater and the Waimea resort area. Way to the east, the fantastic Hana area is an isolated destination unto itself.
The Big Island is generally divided into the Hilo side – the east – and the Kona side – the west. But it’s far more than that. On the Kona side, the coast is lined with one spectacular resort after another, and farther inland is ranch country in the rural areas of Waimea and Kamuela, the majestic Mauna Kea and the world’s most powerful telescopes. The Hilo side is far less touristy, but that’s where you’ll find Volcanoes National Park and the amazing lava flows.
As you can see, there’s a lot to consider beyond a choice of islands. The best thing to do is pick an agent from our website and begin a relationship (No obligation, of course). Our agents all are experts in Hawaii – have lived here and can guide you with passion and professionalism. Or, if you prefer, call 1-800-843-8771.
Posted by Jim Winpenny
November 26th, 2008
