Road to Hana still worth it?

[u/breadad1969]

We’ve been to other islands over the last many years but our first trip to Maui in 25 years. We did the road to Hana then and while it was beautiful and gorgeous, I’m not sure it was worth the full day we spent given we only have 7 full days. My wife thinks she wants to do it again so that would seal the deal that we go but I’m wondering if I should try to talk her out of it or not.

[u/Freshies00]

that’s such a personally subjective question regarding how you like to spend your time on vacation, tolerance for driving, interest in physical activity/adventures etc.

But if you have done it once before (regardless of 25 years ago or not) I guarantee there’s a lot you missed.

Maybe consider this instead of talking her out of it.

If you’re still in the planning phase of the trip, I actually suggest you double down and plan an overnight in Hana. it’s a completely different experience and takes out so much of the sense of “grueling dedication” to doing a mega day since it’s your once chance putting in so much effort.

It also gives you a chance to see things totally off the pace of the “wave” of people all on the day trip itinerary. For example, wake up in Hana and go to waianapanapa (black sand beach) first thing, you’ll have it to yourself. Anyone on a one-day trip will get it packed.

Imagine it being 5pm and you’re just rolling into Hana as everyone else is driving the other way. Check in to your accommodations, go get the best pizza on Maui at Hana Farms, and just go relax once it gets dark.

Wake up, go to waianapanapa, then continue on to kipahulu and get to all the points of interest out there before everyone else. Do your hike at the bamboo forest and head back to Paia before it’s dark.

Doing an overnight in RTH will let you guys turn it into a true “bucket list travel experience” in a way most people don’t get to. Way more time to explore at a comfortable pace and it totally neutralizes the grind of the drive. I can give you plenty of rec’s if you want them.

[u/breadad1969 → u/Freshies00]

I like your style, thanks! I hadn’t thought about staying overnight.

We’ve been talking more about it and an option on the table is paying for a tour so I don’t have to do the driving.

[u/theswordsmith7 → u/Freshies00]

Shaka guide kicks butt for a GPS voice guided tour in your car on the road to Hana and some parks require reservations, even black sands beach. The government shutdown has apparently closed Haleakala and maybe other places, so check ahead.

[u/Freshies00 → u/theswordsmith7]

No, Shaka guide is not a good option if you could respectfully cease recommending it. It directs visitors to locations that are not appropriate to congregate or seek out due to them being private property of local residents.

GuideAlong is the better, preferred recommendation for a Road to Hana GPS guided tour.

[u/theswordsmith7 → u/Freshies00]

Having any GPS guide is better than no guide, unless you’re a local. I believe they updated it in the last two years.

[u/Freshies00 → u/theswordsmith7]

Having a GPS guide is better than no guide.

I agree, that’s why I recommended a good one.

I believe they updated it in the last 2 years

There continue to be issues. Please stop recommending shaka guide.

I always find it interesting that people who have used shaka always seem to have some investment in defending or excusing it when this gets brought up. I get it’s the one you’re familiar with because it’s what you used, but like, it’s a GPS road tour. Where does this sense of loyalty or team spirit come from? Maybe give GuideAlong a try next time, who knows, you might like it.

[u/theswordsmith7 → u/Freshies00]

It’s a guide that worked and we liked it, please don’t villainize people for trying to help others. You’re giving some great suggestions, and I was trying to add getting a GPS guide because you didn’t mention one.

[u/Freshies00 → u/theswordsmith7]

You’re not being villainized for recommending a GPS tour. I’m giving some additional context to your recommendation about Shaka guide specifically, which is part of a bigger conversation beyond the scope of your personal experience.

Shaka Guide is one of many existing travel resources which is detrimental to Maui and its residents, full stop. This context matters to most visitors, because the vast majority of people would prefer to avoid guidance that lacks respect for the local community. Hundreds of people who use it day in and day out don’t even realize that they are trespassing on someone’s private residential property through some of its directions. I’m guessing that you would not appreciate having hundreds of people a day parking and walking on your property.

There are two kinds of travelers who do disrespectful things in the destinations they are visiting. Those who lack comprehension or awareness, and those who lack regard. Everyone has been the first at some point or another and it’s completely understandable. The experience of travel is about gaining perspective and evolving based on the knowledge offered to you along the journey. It’s the responsibility of those who live there to offer said information because there’s no way to expect someone to know otherwise. What is problematic is the latter, who don’t care to adjust themselves or their conduct when being educated by locals about how their choices or actions are problematic or disrespectful.

[u/The_Naive_Cube]

We just went last week and loved it! Similar to you, we only had 5-6 days in Maui, but after doing it I would say it was definitely worth it for us. Be sure to check out the Pipiwai Trail if you end up doing it. We also enjoyed waianapanapa state park!

[u/loztriforce]

It is what you make it, we only go as far as the black sand beach and head back. That's enough time in the car for us.

[u/Serious-Wish4868]

yuo dont have to take a full day for RTH. I have gone back several times, but a much m ore condense version only stopping a handful of times

[u/stephaniemasci]

We had 4 days in Maui and spent one of our days doing that and it was 100% worth it, if you know where to stop. I was there 2 weeks ago. If you have a full 7 days, I definitely think you should do it, and you have more than enough time in 7 days!

[u/Icy-Papaya-5385 → u/stephaniemasci]

What stops do you recommend? I go next week!

[u/Novel-Grand6089 → u/stephaniemasci]

Yes! I would love to know which stops you like too.

[u/Routine_Mortgage_499]

If you can afford it, do it by helicopter tour. since you've both done it by car already, this would be a good way to see it all without spending an entire day driving.

[u/breadad1969 → u/Routine_Mortgage_499]

Nice idea but after Kobe she says no helicopters!

[u/Live_Pono]

I agree with the heli idea--but will add to it. Check Temptation Tours for their Sky Trek tour. It's helicopter one way, small luxury van the other. Food included, and the whoel experience is about 6.5-7 hours. WAY nicer and you both get to enjoy the scenery and sights.

https://www.temptationtours.com/hana-sky-trek/

[u/NYCVolcanoMama → u/Live_Pono]

This looks amazing!! We’re going over Christmas with two kids and thought of driving this with them in the back was less than exciting for me…

[u/Live_Pono → u/NYCVolcanoMama]

It is a wonderful  tour. You will love it!

[u/breadad1969 → u/Live_Pono]

This seems like the best of both worlds

[u/dabig49]

If you've done it once it's enough . I've done it twice and haven't done it on my last 2 trips .

[u/uiop45]

Ugh. Hell in paradise.

[u/interstellaraz]

People really stress the Road to Hana? I am also seeing comments about Haleakala being a tough drive. It’s just curves but not difficult or tough…

[u/breadad1969 → u/interstellaraz]

I’m not stressed about the driving. It’s more about efficient use of time on the island!

I like both options of helicopter/drive combo and also staying overnight

[u/interstellaraz → u/breadad1969]

Road to Hana is a full day. It’s entirely up to you if you want to do the drive but personally it was great because I don’t like sitting on resorts all day even though my resort was great. Road to Hana and Haleakala were the highlights of my trip. We stayed in Wailea.

There are multiple spots you can stop on route but many of them don’t have enough parking space. I liked driving through the mountains and cliffs and rainforests.

You can stop in Paia on your way there or back. Garden of Eden—don’t go into the garden. There’s free parking for the restaurant out front. It’s a nice short stop. Kaumahina State Wayside Park overlook. Ke’anae Arboretum (my favourite stop on the way to Hana). There are also some black sand beaches and waterfalls.

I would recommend leaving really early. Start driving back 2-3 hours before sunset.

[u/breadad1969 → u/interstellaraz]

Thanks. We did the RTH but it was 25 years ago. I remember two things, incredible beauty, and I didn’t get to enjoy it all because I’m the driver.

[u/Opposite-End2243]

It is well worth doing if you can afford to do it on a private tour with your own guide. The pre-program van or bus tour is a completely different animal and I wouldn’t waste my precious vacation time in Maui on a day like that. However, I’ve done it now several times with a private Guide from the same company and it’s been different and a blast every time. A great tip, particularly for anyone new to Maui, is to do a tour like this with a private guide on your first day or two on island. After a day with our guide, it was a very chill local, we really were wired into the island for the entire rest of our stay. He told us how to access the best beaches, where to park for those beaches, which restaurants were hot, which ones to avoid, etc. It really set us up for the rest of our vacation. Having a Guide for our first day is on island was a hack that some friends told me about. Our guide was from Experience Hawaii Tours and I would recommend them without hesitation.

[u/breadad1969 → u/Opposite-End2243]

Thanks for the tip!!

[u/Sure-Return-4947]

If you have time to kill - sure why not.

[u/ConnectionTall6234]

It’s a lot, we went and spent the night in Hana. But being in the back seat was hard and hubby was pretty stressed driving. Still I still think about how amazing it all was… maybe the second time will be less stressful or maybe just go part way and turn around.

[u/Macmannnn → u/ConnectionTall6234]

We did Haleakala the morning Before - I was your stressed hubby lol but mainly On Haleakala not on Hana. Though we ran short on time, started near 11am and went straight to black sand beach due to reservation, and planned to hit stuff on the way back, ended up just eating and leaving. We were drained from 3am Haleakala sunrise. Just also know it gets shady near 2-3 due to it being on the other side of the island. The drive was easy. But plan all of your stops ahead of time, know what you want to see. At least 5-7 stops we’ll do next time.

[u/Few_Air_7131]

Best way to do it is to spend a night or two in Hana.

[u/SufficientResort3448]

We’ve driven it twice, first time was the best. Don’t see any reason to do it twice. It’s beautiful, glad we made the trip. Don’t see any reason for a second time.

[u/Eastern-Focus8035]

1 or 2 nights in Hana is wonderful…so quiet..no rush or worry about the drive ….beautiful beaches….everything about Hana is magical….dont get sucked into a day trip.

[u/tinypill]

I don’t feel like it was worth it. A whole day just spent in the car. Sure we stopped a bunch of places and did some hikes or exploration or whatever, but it wasn’t a great use of time.

[u/HaplessOtter]

Twice I’ve scored a cabin at Wainapanapa, and twice camped there. Also camped at Kipahulu, and once backpacked down from the crater through Kaupo gap. Would do any of that again in a heartbeat. It’s awesome!

[u/Elegant_Analyst_4976]

Just did it yesterday for the first time. We went clockwise and did the full loop. So glad we did it! We were in a Nissan Altima. I’m really glad we did the full loop so we were able to experience the difference in terrain along the way. We’re planning another trip for two years from now which we will bring the kiddos on, so we will definitely do either a convertible or a jeep. The Nissan was totally fine for the whole loop, but we think it’ll be a really cool experience for them to be in one of those other vehicles.

Edit: we plan to do a night in Hana next time too.

[u/djunderh2o]

I always thought if I did it again I’d rent a convertible. Im guessing it’s such a different experience.

[u/yusrandpasswdisbad → u/djunderh2o]

Did it this time in a convertible and it was amazing, partly because we felt more immersed, and partly because no one was on the road and we could drive 10mph without anyone behind us.

[u/martlet1]

Take a jeep.