Note the spots you definitely want to hit, and prioritize those over the temptation to pull over at yet another waterfall if you’re short on time.Īlso, when exploring, you’ll quickly realize Mother Nature didn’t design any of this with our entertainment or safety in mind. Review the guidebook chapters or listen to your guides in advance. While you want to leave room for exploration, serendipity and stumbles, there are highlights you won’t want to miss. But if you still think of an “app” as something you eat before the main course, perhaps the Experiencing the Road to Hana audio CD guide is a better fit for you. Shaka Guide GPS audio tours come highly recommended and can be downloaded as an app. Without a guidebook, you’d probably drive right by these rainbow eucalyptus trees.Īudio guides are also available, and can keep you from needing to consult a book - a much safer option if you’re driving solo.
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And the Road to Hana is full of hidden secrets. To the chagrin of many locals, these guidebooks have exposed Hawaii’s hidden secrets to the outside world. I’m a huge fan of “ Maui Revealed,” part of the entertaining Hawaii Revealed guidebook and app series. It’s easy to get caught up in the flow of traffic, catch a glimpse of a few waterfalls in passing and park in Hana saying, “That was it?”įor this journey, you really want a guide. Explore Hana’s Red Sand Beach in the morning when the sun is shining and there’s less of a crowd. You’ll have the next day to explore the area. Take your time getting to Hana and arrive by sunset. Or, if you’re planning to spend some nights in the Hana area, you can give the crowd a head start and leave after 10am. If you like to linger along the way as I do, it will probably be far enough along the highway that the crowd will be spread out as it catches up to you. A one hour difference on your departure can turn a leisurely scenic drive into a stop-and-go gridlock. To beat the crowds, you’ll want to pass Paia before 8am. After, take a leisurely journey home, doing justice to the other side of the drive as well. You can also visit Waianapanapa’s black sand beach or Hana’s red sand beach before the crowds arrive, perhaps even for sunrise.
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Kipahulu campground is on the ocean, has amazing sunrises and is free with a National Park Pass
Just south of Hana, Kipahulu campground is part of Haleakalā National Park and has free camping with a park entry fee. Waianapanapa State Park rents rustic cabins (linens not included) and has cheap campsites. Hana doesn’t have large hotels or points properties, but there are a handful of guesthouses, independent hotels and Airbnbs you can book instead. With a night or more in Hana, you can linger at a waterfall or venture off on a side hike without checking your watch. You’ll battle the traffic with other day trippers, missing some of the drive’s highlights due to time constraints and eventually running out of daylight.ĭespite being the most common approach, there’s no reason to rush this trip. The biggest mistake most people make when visiting Hana is trying to do it all in one day. Just three of the many many reasons to love the Road to Hana. Try these seven tips to experience the Road to Hana like one of its biggest fans. My initial plans for the drive never pan out, but I always end up with a new appreciation - and reinforced love - for Maui’s eastern side. A perfect waterfall for bathing could have dried up or become a dangerous rapid. Each time, I discover new trails and can’t find old ones. Done wrong, it’s a windy, nauseating, crowded highway to an uninspiring town, capable of ending a marriage before the honeymoon is over.įor me, the journey to Hana is my favorite activity in Hawaii. The most famous road in all of Hawaii may also be the Aloha State’s most contested attraction.ĭone right, the Road to Hana encapsulates all that makes Hawaii magical: Wading in pools under gorgeous waterfalls and hiking to tucked away beaches with sands in impossible colors.
Read his story here and his high-level approach here. He’ll also explore all things backpacking-related.
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TPG Contributor Brian Biros, who has backpacked the globe for the past 15 years, discusses how to fund this adventurous, budgeted and increasingly popular form of travel with points and miles. The Points & Miles Backpacker is a weekly column appearing every Monday.