Maui’s “The Road to Hana” during Covid-19

The Road to Hana is MUST during a trip to Maui, and for good reason! The trip is filled with the most natural splendor and will satisfy any adventurer. The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t stopped the visitors and locals alike who drive through the 64 miles of the eastern Maui coast to hike, chase waterfalls, and swim. We didn’t stop at every stop along the way, but this blog post will share some general information to plan for your trip, as well as a review of the stops we personally made. Read on for more!

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IMPORTANT

Wai’anapanapa State Park & Honokalani Black Sand Beach now require reservations (which was not the case before). CLICK HERE to make your reservation. Reservations can be made up to a day before the trip (but NOT the day of). Parking is $10 USD per vehicle, and there’s an additional $5 USD fee per individual.

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What is the Road to Hana?

The Road to Hana is a 64 mile-long road (also referred to as the “Hana Highway”) on the island of Maui that stretches from the town of Paia (on the north coast) past the town of Hana (on the East coast). The reason why the road is so popular is because it’s filled with some of the most beautiful natural formations, such as waterfalls, beaches, bays, valleys, and gardens. The road is lined with “stops” where tourists and locals alike get out to enjoy all of the beauty this island has to offer. And trust me — it is stunning. The experience is nothing short of natural, lush wonder. The road trip can be done in one day (and usually is), but I highly recommend against this. If you can, spend one night in Hana and divide the trip into two days. That way, you can start the day later and spend more time in each stop instead of rushing. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s still so much to do and see!

What to Know Before You Go

• Turn this drive into a 2-day trip, if you can. I can’t reiterate this enough!

  • Hana has limited accommodation, but there are still a number of small hotels and B&Bs available. Check out my blog post, "All of our Hawaii Accommodations” to see where we booked for our overnight stay (it was super cool).

  • If you do decide to do it in one day, start early! Parking spots at the stops get taken quickly. I recommend starting at Paia around 7 am. There were still tons of tourists out during the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Fill up your tank in the town of Paia. There’s no gas between Paia and Hana town. The trip shouldn’t deplete your entire tank, but it’s good to be prepared, nonetheless (and the sole gas station in Hana town is expensive).

• Eat before you start the drive (or pack some meals in the car). There’s limited dining options from Paia to Hana. There are some stops for snacks on the way, but not many.

• None of the stops require reservations with the exception of Wai’anapanapa State Park. Book your visit as soon as you can!

• Download the Shaka Guide app on your phone and purchase the “Road to Hana” tour. This tour — which is downloadable — is basically a private tour guide in your car. The app has a narrator that navigates you through the trip (even including where to park for the stops) and provides historical/cultural context on a number of stops. The app even includes an interactive map and thematic music (yay for Hawaiian folk music!). I love learning about the history and culture of the places I visit, so this app was provided exceptional value. It was one of the best purchases I made for this trip. Thank me later!

• Even during Covid-19, some of the stops were pretty crowded. Keep this in mind as you plan out your drive.

• Pack the following:

  • Swimsuit

  • Towels

  • Slip-resistant shoes (think hiking sandals or swimming shoes. We wore our Teva sandals the entire trip and loved them).

  • Bug spray

  • Sunscreen

  • Hat and sunglasses

  • Car phone charger

  • Water-resistant camera or phone cases

  • Water and snacks

  • Cash for small vendors along the way

Where We Stopped

Stop 1: Ho’okipa Lookout Point

This is the first popular stop on the Road to Hana. Ho’okipa Lookout Point overlooks a popular beach for surfing. On most days (given the weather and how swelled the waves are), you’ll see a number of surfers out. The view from the lookout is beautiful because the water has multiple shades of blue and there’s mountains in the background. It’s amusing to watch the surfers do their thing. This was one of my favorite stops due to its natural splendor and the photo opps.

Stop 2: Garden of Eden Arboretum

Further down the road is a private, family-owned botanical garden and arboretum called the Garden of Eden. You’re able to drive through the garden if you don’t want to get out of the car, or you can park in one of the lots and walk around (which is what I recommend). I have mixed feelings about this stop. On the one hand, the property is gorgeous. I enjoyed seeing the variety of plants and trees, and there’s multiple lookout points onto the water. On the other hand, I think entry is over-priced at $20 USD per adult in the vehicle. If you have room in your budget, go for it. If you don’t, I would skip it. There’s another free arboretum later in the trip (which also has the colorful eucalyptus trees).

Stop 3: Halfway to Hana Snack Stand

This stop is a cute, locally-owned snack stand that sells light food, drinks, and souvenirs. This stand is famous for its homemade banana bread, which was delicious and worth the hype. The items are pricy (Abraha, paid $8 USD for a small tuna sandwich), but if you don’t get anything else, get the banana bread. There’s also a cute sign that says “Halfway to Hana.” Fun fact: the actual half-way point is a few yards before this stand.

Stop 4: Lava Cave

This was a cool stop. Nothing too spectacular. We spent about 5 minutes walking through the cave. The entrance is tiny, but it opens up into a rather large cave (to my claustrophobes: have no fear).

Stop 5: Wai’anapanapa State Park & Honokalani Black Sand Beach

This was another one of my favorite stops. One would be remiss if they visited Hawaii and didn’t go to a black-sand beach. This is a popular one, for sure. The area of the beach was smaller than I expected, but the sand and surrounding cliffs were so black that you just know the volcanic sediment is fresh. Bring beach chairs and towels. Water shoes would also be nice because the rocks are quite big and it gets painful to walk on them. Reservations are required! Each reservation is a timed-entry for a 3-hour block. You can arrive after your block starts, but you can’t stay after it ends. There are fees to enter. There’s a charge per vehicle and per adult. The confirmation email will include a QR ode for each ticketed person and you’ll have to show this at the entry gate. There’s also a sacred burial site where generations of a family have been buried. You’ll walk by it on your way to the beach. This should go without saying, but be sure not take any of the rocks, plants, or anything else back home with you. The land is sacred.

Stop 6: Haleakala National Park: Pipiwai Trail Hike & Seven Sacred Pools

This was another one of my favorite stops. We did this hike on our second day in Hana, so we were able to take our time heading out in the morning, during the hike, and then during the drive back to our Airbnb in Paia. Pipiwai Trail and the Seven Sacred Pools are located in Haleakala National Park. If you entered the park before to see the sunrise/sunset at the summit (click here to see what was on our Maui itinerary), then your entry receipt is valid for 3 days. We watched the sunset two days before, so we were able to get two visits for our money’s worth. This trail is at the other end of the park (which is huge, I might add), so this park entrance is in Hana. The entrance for the summit is more towards the center of the island. The Pipiwai Trail is 4 miles round trip. You go uphill along a river through groves of bamboo until you reach a waterfall. The hike is absolutely lovely. We saw a lot of kids and elders doing it, too. The Seven Sacred Pools is a much shorter and lighter loop that gives you an overlooking of cascading waterfalls and pools. Out of the two, I found the Pipiwai Trail to be more impressive, but you should still do both.

Questions or comments? Please leave them below!