most dangerous part of road to hana
most dangerous part of road to hana
Take your valuables with you or at the very least keep them out of sight. Glad you braved it! as Upcountry. Ive written a lot here about this and I dont want it to sound scary, but I also want you to know EXACTLY what youre signing up for. What makes it so dangerousIts a road! It only costs a donation and just remember you are off-the-beaten path Maui so dont expect much. So drive with caution and be very aware. Get your car inspected . So you are trying to figure out whether you should do a Road to Hana tour or if you should do the Road to Hana on your own! And if you just want more details (more! This is great to know thanks. It is just not inside their comfort zone. What is scary to some is nothing to others. For full transparency,I have sprinkled some affiliate links in this post. What makes it so dangerousIt's a road! The Jungle Canopy envelopes the road leading to mild claustrophobia and an uncomfortable sense of being consumed. Sounds fun? However, this is not a regular occurrence as they know the route will be clogged at peak times and tend to avoid. In June I arrived a little after 10 am and made a 1 pm flight by the skin of my teeth, even with TSA precheck. It was ok, not really our thing. As we made our way along the southern coast of Maui, we found the scenery to be beautiful and varied. BADLANDS SD You need to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight and it's a 3 hour drive from Wainapanapa IF you aren't behind a slow train(qnd the traffic will be very heavy during that time you are headed to the airport) also if weather caused a downed tree or landslide you are just stuck. Nahiku Marketplace. Period. Expect scenic views, volcanic structures and the sweet taste of freedom. The average visitor is not going to think twice about the number of people they encounter along this road unless they were truly thinking they would be the ONLY ones driving to Hana. People that make it all the way to Kipahulu are usually the ones that ask about turning back and retracing their path back through Hana and on to Paia or driving through (continuing clockwise around the island) the backside of the Road to Hana. Just three of the many many reasons to love the Road to Hana. 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 . About 40 minutes into your drive youll spot the Kihikinui wind turbines. It is then easy to imagine that people from Urban Los Angeles, used to colossal Freeways (which put the fear of God into us!) This view may be one of my favorite views on Maui. Kipahulu is home to some of the Road to Hana's most famous stops from the Pools at O'heo (Seven Sacred Pools), Pipiwai Trail, and Waimoku Falls. Should I be confident in my ability to do this drive with precious cargo (my girlfriend's and my own life)? The Shaka guide tours are great for independent explorers who want the freedom to explore on their own terms, but like to learn about the spots theyre visiting. The tarmac is smooth and well maintained. It is also known for having a lot of one-lane bridges that only allow cars to drive through in one direction at a time. Shortly after the ranch store is Mauis only winery. I have regretted not trying since we arrived home. There's a great souvenir shop here, and also a wide selection of food varying from island style tacos to kalua pork to classic hotdogs or mac 'n cheese! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The popular way is to start the Road to Hana is by passing through the town of Paia. The biggest mistake most people make when visiting Hana is trying to do it all in one day. at stops along the Road to Hana and they wonder if they start in Kula and do a reverse loop around the island if theyll run into fewer crowds and get a head start on their must see list. ***Want to get FREE flights to Hawaii? I would def want to get there before dark the first day, though. More! We are aware for some the road is a terrifying prospect and we are not trying to diminish that. The road is endlessly winding and many corners are seriously blind. The first of the road to Hana stops you'll come to is Paia town. Other parts get windy and are on a side of a cliff. for the most part, it is wide enough for two small buses to pass each other with no issue. I will say, the paved road is still pretty narrow and even though theres no drop off on either side, if you see a local (anyone really) coming to meet you, pull over as far as you can and stop where theres a good place because they will come BLAZING through. more! The southern part of the highway connects Miami with the Florida Keys by miles of bridges. The water that cascades down creates a small pool at the bottom of the falls that you can swim in. Does the inside lane/outside lane play more into the safety of it than the road conditions themselves? (I think the back road may be closed to traffic anyway) That part of the road (going on from Hana towards Kula) is the part that is prone to washouts, etc. The tours use GPS to offer turn-by-turn directions and audio narration with stories and music. Standing up and talking in front of others caused untold anxiety and could only be faced with a LARGE amount of dutch courage. If you need road assistance it's cash costing $800-1200 if and when a tow truck comes. However, the Road to Hana is not dangerous in and of itself, and for seasoned drivers, the trip should be a breeze. As you can see, the. SLEEPING BEAR DUNES MI 1-2 Week Maui Itinerary, Best Time to Visit: Best Time to Visit Maui. Maybe at one point that was true, but I dont really think it is anymore. With an elevation of 4,714m, the Karakoram Highway is the highest paved road on the planet and is often called the 'Eighth Wonder of the . It is not a place for nervous drivers, and if even attempting the Hana Highway is questionable for you, do not even consider the back route. Does this add a lot to the drive, having the top down? The sheer remoteness of the area also plays on the mind. Im just going to describe it as accurately as possible and relay my personal experiences so that you can make a decision that youre comfortable with. The Road to Hana is one of the best things to do in Maui! Alelele Falls is a short hike that takes 15-20 minutes to reach. The Road to Hana is more than just a great drive through a beautiful area of Maui. The back road to Hana is not like this the whole way, or even most of the way, but it is there! Need a specific number of bedrooms and bathrooms? We would love to hear from those who braved the road though. Also known as State Highway 340, it also happens to be one of the most dangerous roads in Maui. Need to stay under a fixed budget? You land in the morningcoming from mainland or another island? Also, if you want to follow along on my travel adventures in real time, you can follow me on Instagram (@caitylincoln). While most of the road has been repaved in the last twenty years, Hawaii Route 200 still has a dangerous reputation. There are literally signs posted telling you to honk as you go around the blind corners. The 3-5 miles just past Kipahulu (the National Park, AKA Seven Sacred Pools) are the worst, but its not unlike the last few miles leading up to Kipahulu on the other side (past Hana coming into the National Park). And some of those narrow and windy parts of the road are without a guard rail. Besides that, I just dont think youre going to make that much of a difference on the crowd levels at each stop by doing it in reverse. Along Maui's rugged eastern coastline is the peaceful town of Hna, considered one of the last unspoiled Hawaiian frontiers. My go-to airline is Southwest (seriously, I ONLY fly Southwest) so I use this Southwest Rapid Rewards card to rack up points every time I fly. paia town. The drive to Hana is known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world with waterfalls, beaches, history, and views (you can even see the Big Island in some parts). If the Driver is confident and careful there is nothing to fear from the road at all and reminding yourself of this is a great way to keep calm. If driving the reverse loop all the way around back to Kahului make a reservation in advance for Waianapanapa State Park. What makes this drive so special? If you continue on in the loop, youll eventually come through Ulupalakua (where Maui Wine is) and Kula in upcountry Maui and can take the highway back down towards Paia and Kahului. Minuses: The road becomes rough for portions and rental car companies say "you're on your . The road to Hana is composed of three different roads highways 36, 360 and 31. Before I go onif you want to read my other Road to Hana posts, you can find them here: MY favorite Road to Hana itinerary, tips for driving the Road to Hana, and where to stay in Hana (in case you decide you want to spend the night). It is not hard to see why either, this stunning highway runs through pristine rainforest, past numerous world-class waterfalls, and has more jaw-dropping vistas per mile than any other piece of tarmac in the world. We find the best solution (like most things in life) is good communication. It really is a unique experience, its totally different in the rain too, hopefully the waterfalls were in full flow they can dry up a little in the summer. I guess the Internet has opened up so much more information and opinions (hello blog!) Travel to or from the region of Hana to any other major population center takes several hours by car. The backside of Hana has some one lane graded dirt roads and rusty guardrails so the drive requires extra caution. ARIZONA 10 Best USA Road Trips Drive These Before you DIE. If you havent already, you will soon understand why thisis a perfect spot for them. Period. I thank you in advance. Running from Kahului (or "where the airport is," as you might otherwise know it) to Hana on the east of Maui, the Hana Highway is a clifftop and a coastal road. 10) Lastly, is it wiser to hire a local driver to pick us up and drop us off at each location? In ancient times most of the Hawaiians lived in this area opposed to current day West Maui or South Maui. 13 years ago Save IMHO, it's neither dangerous nor scary. It was the perfect solution. If you ask them directly, theyll hem and haw (they give you the strong impression that its forbidden) but basically what it comes down to is they wont come and get you if you have a problem.. Back on the Hana Highway, as you leave Maliko Gulch, around mile marker 11, you'll pass through the rural area of Haiku, where you'll see banana patches, cane grass blowing in the wind, and forests of guava trees, avocados, kukui trees, palms, and Christmas berry. If you take the road past Oheo Gulch (Seven Pools) and past Lindbergh's grave and continue around the south side of Maui to go all the way around, you will have to drive on about 5 miles of unpaved dirt and gravel road. And this is the part of the Road to Hana that I DO think is scary! To compare this road to other highways of death such as the North Yungas Road in Bolivia or the Brazils Road of death is ridiculous. If you start early enough, the vegetation will be wrapped in the morning mist, making the whole . It is a paved road so you do not need a 4WD. If I could sign up twice, I would ; ). If your other half wants to drive the road then a tour is not a good compromise. It takes anywhere from 2 to 4 hours to complete depending how long you stop and take it in. So just drive the route thats going to give you the best overall experience and dont be worried about trying to be too strategic. Maybe explore the south? If you are enjoying the sights and driving at a leisurely pace, be mindful enough to pull over and let local drivers pass. Copyright 2023 Lincoln Travel Co ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, guide for sunrise at Haleakala National Park, 20 of the best adventure activities on Maui, the best things to do on a Maui honeymoon. Finally Know your limits. Fun fact: there are more than seven of them! Remember if you push on you have to come back this way (or the scarier, riskier back route! Yes, if you drive straight from Paia to Hana, you might see less people at the spots near Hana, but by the time you start working your way back to Paia those spots are still going to crowded. So many people dont really plan their trip to Hana and end up starting out late in the day and just stopping wherever they see cars so those stops along the north shore are still going to have visitors all day long. Your support really helps me keep this blog running! This road is also part of the daily commute for Maui's residents, so drive with aloha to avoid any frustration. This fear means many skip the highway and spend their time enjoying more sedate activities, like sitting by the pool. Hearing the driver explain they understand this bend is tight and blind so they are taking it slow and wide helps you understand they are not recklessly hooning around the blind bend! So when you see a car coming, yield and pull over even if theyre a ways away. Check out this view of a beautiful overlook of a gulch. Quite a few people continue on past Hana to the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park where youll find the Oheo Gulch (aka Seven Sacred Pools) and the Pipiwai Trailhead. NORTH DAKOTA But you can completely avoid this dangerous and scary part of the Road to Hana by making it an out-and-back drive on the Hana Highway. Ahhh, the backwards Road to Hana. The Road to Hana travels along the edge of many sheer cliffs. 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