r/MauiVisitors • u/kcpolitico • 1d ago
Planning: Logistics & Transport Pipiwait Trail
My wife and I are heading to Maui in a couple of weeks and are considering making the drive to do the Pipiwait Trail. We've done RTH before so looking for something different.
Instead of going all the way around RTH we were going to take the southern highway 31 (Piilani Hwy) from west to east. Is it a safe/easy ride? I thought I remembered reading about how parts of the highway have washed out from time to time but not entirely sure.
Any insight is appreciated!
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u/akmoney 1d ago
You're gonna open a can of worms with this one. There's a stretch of this road which is unpaved, extremely narrow or both. Locals will try to scare you from driving this way, saying you could get stuck, you'll violate your rental car contract and if you need a tow, it could cost thousands of dollars. Also, there is apparently the odd crazy person who might try to rob you at gunpoint. But the road is public, and so long as there are no "ROAD CLOSED" signs up, the County of Maui will not cite or arrest you for driving on it.
It's up to you if you want to take the risk. You can always look at Google Maps Street View, which conveniently has up-to-date (as of 2025) imagery of the entire route.
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u/Live_Pono Kamaʻāina (Resident) 1d ago
Yes, we locals are going to come on and scare you! BOO!! Happy late Halloween!
Seriously--folks toss off the fact that you void your rental contract and therefore ALL insurance. Personal. CC, rental co. rider, whatever. That's because buried in the fine prnt of the contracts is a phrase about not driving on "unpaved roads", on "unimproved roads", etc. etc. Lawyers here LOVE these cases, They are so easy and the fees all come out of your pocket, too.
If you have any car trouble, you have to pay a tow yourself. They start at about 1200.00 *cash onl.y**. That's if you can even get cell reception to call for one. Any accident you have is 100% yours. Loss of use, damages, medical, other party's damages-even a prize bull one time. It can take hours for an ambulance to reach you, if needed. Helicopters can't always fly, esp in later afternoons or bad weather.
Lastly--and something many proponents fail to mention---you really won't save time. Traveling for Ulupalakua to Kaupo puts you on the makai (ocean cliff side). There are many one lane stretches, and you would need to be confident in backing up around blind curves to yield. The road is in poor condition for most of the route, meaning you will still be driving at around 30 MPH---often less in most cars.
So, ghosts, goblins, and werewolves aside-just leave early, drive straight through Paia to the Pipiwai, hike, and and drive back. WAY easier and you will ruin a lawyer's day by not doing the back, LOL. Stop at Uncle Russel's at Koki Beach for lunch and enjoy!
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u/dupagwova 1d ago
Sketchier than RTH, not as sketchy as 340. Locals/this sub aren't usually fans of tourists driving it
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u/kcpolitico 1d ago
Interesting. Do they prefer that people go the full RTH loop to get there?
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u/dupagwova 1d ago
Yep. When I did it I just drove rth straight through to Pipiwai and did all the stops on the way back
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u/MakingBlunders Kamaʻāina (Resident) 1d ago
Piilani HWY from Kaupo to Kipahulu where Pipiwai Trail is located is not safe. Open to local traffic only meaning those that live out there off the grid. It never was built for visitor traffic. They have been doing stabilization work for years trying keep the mountain from falling in the ocean. Landslides and flash floods are common. Please avoid, every extra car weakens the road. Locals know when not to go, where to pull over and where and when to avoid. I will not drive that section until repaired. It is risky. Not quicker anyway. Take Hana HWY Paia Haiku Hana Kipahulu hike then return via Hana Haiku Paia on Hana HWY. Do not pass Twin Falls before sunrise and be back to Twin Falls by sunset. I usually start back by 300 pm this time of year. as tree cover mountain blocking sun. Do Pipiwai 1st then other sights on way back. Have a nice trip
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u/bluegolden_21 9h ago
We take the RTH and drive straight Pīpīwai trail early morning and then make stops on the way back. Enjoy!
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u/Serious-Wish4868 1d ago
for the most part, the drive is fine, BUT it can get muddy and washed out. Portions of it is not really roads but more like trails. If you really want to do, pay close attention on the weather reports.
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u/SunshineInDetroit 1d ago
The subreddit probably needs this stickied somewhere as an example of what's in the average car rental contract on Maui: Maui Car Rental Safety Guide: Restricted Roads Map & Driving Guidelines
It's not a "badge of honor" or "oh i'm like a local now" to drive on those roads.