One of the must-do experiences on Maui is the scenic drive known as the Road to Hana. It begins on the outskirts of Paia and winds its way to the town of Hana on the eastern side of the island. Although we’ve visited Maui many times, I believe we’ve completed the entire drive only a couple of times. With over 600 curves and 59 one-lane bridges, this drive truly isn’t about the destination—it’s about the journey.
We got an early start and made sure to pack plenty of food, including sandwiches and snacks. This is a lesson we’ve learned from past trips, since there aren’t many places to stop for food along the way. When we reached Kahului, we also made sure to fill up the gas tank at Safeway—another important learning, as there are no gas stations on the drive to Hana.
While researching for this trip, we discovered Kaulahao Beach, just outside of Paia. It’s known as a great spot to see sea turtles, and sure enough, we spotted a couple. Nana was especially excited because she got to see them in daylight. The beach itself was also beautiful, and it’s definitely a place we plan to return to in the future.
We made a few planned stops along the way, including Kaumahina State Wayside Park and the Ke’anae Arboretum. The arboretum was a favorite for everyone. The paved walking path made it easy to explore, and we loved seeing the variety of tropical plants, including the colorful Rainbow Eucalyptus and numerous types of palm trees.
Since we were making great time, we continued on to the Ke’anae Peninsula, just off the Hana Highway. This is always one of our favorite stops because of the incredible scenery. The shoreline, formed from ancient lava flows and framed by crashing waves, makes for a perfect lunch spot. Another big reason we stop here is for Aunt Sandy’s Banana Bread. Pro tip: Aunt Sandy’s is not open on Sundays.
Originally, we planned to head back to the condo from there. However, since it was still early afternoon, we decided to continue on to the Nahiku Marketplace, about six miles from Hana. We used this stop to switch drivers and do a bit of shopping.
On the way back, we stopped at Ho‘okipa Beach Park for two reasons:
Reason #1: It’s a fantastic place to watch surfers.
Reason #2: Below the lookout point is a beach area where sea turtles are often found. Nana was thrilled—she counted 31 turtles in total.
After leaving Ho‘okipa Beach Park, we realized it was time for dinner. We stopped at the Flatbread Company in Paia and enjoyed some delicious wood-fired pizza. One final stop followed at Ross Dress for Less in Kahului for a little more shopping before we arrived back at the condo just after 7:00 p.m.
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