Consolidated "Road to Hana" thread
Feb 3, 2015, 1:56 pm
#241
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,731
I was in May last year and went to Hanna, it was pouring (while sunny in the other side of the island) and it was impossible to see absolutely anything. I want to go back when it's not raining, I wonder if its that difficult to catch the road in a non-rainy day, or it's always raining? The typical weather apps were not very useful last time.
We left at around 630am out of Kaanapali. The vast majority of stands and attractions were still closed after 10am.
Now, I was far, far more impressed by the volcanic side than the rain forest side.
I have to add, I live in a wet, jungly area and that probably clouded my perception. I don't get all that excited over waterfalls anymore. I suspect most people from the PNW will share my feelings.
Do yourself a favor and make a pit stop at Tedeschi winery, do some wine tasting and walk over the road to the little cafe and have a bite to eat. We had their Kalua pig sandwich and deer burger. Both were magnificant.
If you are a city dweller and never leave a 6 lane highway, it will be a great trip. I can now say I've done it, but I'm not sure I'd like to do it again. I'd rather drive up to the Haleakala summit again.
ETA: about the gravel section, I actually commented that our gravel road to get to our house (also twisty, one lane) was in worse shape. My husband's comment the entire time: "It's like a paved logging road!"
Feb 4, 2015, 12:57 pm
#242
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Seattle
Programs: Hyatt, Marriott, Delta, Alaska
Posts: 636
We just came back from a week in Maui. Honestly, the drive was pretty, but everything else I found to be highly overrated. Every single stream we passed was practically dry. The waterfalls were all meh. The road to Hana was just fine. The road past Hana requires some concentration but was very doable and not white knuckle. Our Mustang rental was comfortable and posed no problems. The short gravel section was in excellent condition and as soon as you hit blacktop again, it was brand new, baby bottom smooth blacktop. We had a few sprinkles, but nothing major.
We left at around 630am out of Kaanapali. The vast majority of stands and attractions were still closed after 10am.
Now, I was far, far more impressed by the volcanic side than the rain forest side.
I have to add, I live in a wet, jungly area and that probably clouded my perception. I don't get all that excited over waterfalls anymore. I suspect most people from the PNW will share my feelings.
Do yourself a favor and make a pit stop at Tedeschi winery, do some wine tasting and walk over the road to the little cafe and have a bite to eat. We had their Kalua pig sandwich and deer burger. Both were magnificant.
If you are a city dweller and never leave a 6 lane highway, it will be a great trip. I can now say I've done it, but I'm not sure I'd like to do it again. I'd rather drive up to the Haleakala summit again.
ETA: about the gravel section, I actually commented that our gravel road to get to our house (also twisty, one lane) was in worse shape. My husband's comment the entire time: "It's like a paved logging road!"
We left at around 630am out of Kaanapali. The vast majority of stands and attractions were still closed after 10am.
Now, I was far, far more impressed by the volcanic side than the rain forest side.
I have to add, I live in a wet, jungly area and that probably clouded my perception. I don't get all that excited over waterfalls anymore. I suspect most people from the PNW will share my feelings.
Do yourself a favor and make a pit stop at Tedeschi winery, do some wine tasting and walk over the road to the little cafe and have a bite to eat. We had their Kalua pig sandwich and deer burger. Both were magnificant.
If you are a city dweller and never leave a 6 lane highway, it will be a great trip. I can now say I've done it, but I'm not sure I'd like to do it again. I'd rather drive up to the Haleakala summit again.
ETA: about the gravel section, I actually commented that our gravel road to get to our house (also twisty, one lane) was in worse shape. My husband's comment the entire time: "It's like a paved logging road!"
Feb 4, 2015, 2:00 pm
#243
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,731
Feb 7, 2015, 9:43 pm
#246
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Seattle
Programs: Hyatt, Marriott, Delta, Alaska
Posts: 636
Not to be snarky, but you might consult a map. The short answer is that there is an entire volcano between Wailea and Hana, and it's even farther away from Ka'anapali. Hana is, at very least, an entire day trip.
Feb 10, 2015, 1:53 pm
#247
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,731
It would be a shame to miss everything beyond Hana because of a few turns.
Feb 10, 2015, 2:07 pm
#248
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,731
It's going to be a lot faster to get to Hana from Wailea than from Kaanapali.
Or perhaps the poster meant from the Wailea area to the "start" of the RTH? In which case the answer is significantly closer than Ka'napali.
Like I said earlier, we left Ka'anapali at 630am. We made short stops at places that interested us, stopped for some wine tasting and lunch at Tedeschi and still made it back to our hotel before the sun was down. If we had started in the Wailea area, our trip would have been much shorter.
Feb 10, 2015, 5:55 pm
#249
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,872
Not to be snarky, but it's a valid question.
It's going to be a lot faster to get to Hana from Wailea than from Kaanapali.
Or perhaps the poster meant from the Wailea area to the "start" of the RTH? In which case the answer is significantly closer than Ka'napali.
Like I said earlier, we left Ka'anapali at 630am. We made short stops at places that interested us, stopped for some wine tasting and lunch at Tedeschi and still made it back to our hotel before the sun was down. If we had started in the Wailea area, our trip would have been much shorter.
It's going to be a lot faster to get to Hana from Wailea than from Kaanapali.
Or perhaps the poster meant from the Wailea area to the "start" of the RTH? In which case the answer is significantly closer than Ka'napali.
Like I said earlier, we left Ka'anapali at 630am. We made short stops at places that interested us, stopped for some wine tasting and lunch at Tedeschi and still made it back to our hotel before the sun was down. If we had started in the Wailea area, our trip would have been much shorter.
Nov 6, 2017, 1:44 pm
#252
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Southern California
Programs: DL: 3.8 MM, Marriott: Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 24,575
Valley Isle Excursions: https://www.tourmaui.com/
12 passenger vans, Captain's Chairs rather than bench seating and a hot lunch midway.
Oct 2, 2018, 1:40 pm
#253
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 329
If you are going to Hawaii R2H (Road to hana is a must) it was one of the most fun thing we did when in Hawaii, it has been over a year but we still talk about road to hana! We have written a review of our trip to Hawaii (Stayed at Andaz Maui) and Road to hana overview to help others out, check out the blog by hitting signature link!
If there are any questions in particular feel free to post here or pm me!!
If there are any questions in particular feel free to post here or pm me!!
Jul 8, 2021, 5:27 pm
#254
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: JFK / LGA.. EWR is not part of NYC!
Programs: Brand loyalty is for suckers
Posts: 1,046
We have 48 hours in Maui and are trying to plan our trip. We will tentatively land around 1:30pm and are planning to do the reverse/back way to Hana, overnighting there, then finishing the rest of the drive the next morning before staying in Wailea the second night.
My question: is landing at 1:30 then driving the back way/volcanic side to Hana doable? Will we be doing the treacherous parts of the drive in the dark? Is it too exhausting to do after a 10 hour flight?
My question: is landing at 1:30 then driving the back way/volcanic side to Hana doable? Will we be doing the treacherous parts of the drive in the dark? Is it too exhausting to do after a 10 hour flight?
Jul 8, 2021, 7:31 pm
#255
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Kamuela, HI
Programs: AA-Plat
Posts: 462
We have 48 hours in Maui and are trying to plan our trip. We will tentatively land around 1:30pm and are planning to do the reverse/back way to Hana, overnighting there, then finishing the rest of the drive the next morning before staying in Wailea the second night.
My question: is landing at 1:30 then driving the back way/volcanic side to Hana doable? Will we be doing the treacherous parts of the drive in the dark? Is it too exhausting to do after a 10 hour flight?
My question: is landing at 1:30 then driving the back way/volcanic side to Hana doable? Will we be doing the treacherous parts of the drive in the dark? Is it too exhausting to do after a 10 hour flight?
Last edited by hawaii-bound; Jul 8, 2021 at 8:35 pm
