DRIVING THE ROAD TO HANA WITH KIDS

The road to Hana is one of that once-in-your lifetime bucket list drives. It is not quick, and it is not “easy driving,” but the incredible views and the sights around every curve make it worth your time. Of course, tackling the road to Hana with kids can add another level of stress, but with thoughtful planning and openness to where the adventure takes you, it can also lead to one of your most memorable Maui experiences!

At the beginning of my research, the journey seemed daunting. My husband googled, “Does the road to Hana suck?” and the answer was “yes.” Ha! He also read an article that called the Hana Highway the “divorce highway.” However, our experience was very different, and I hope yours will be too! Read ahead for some background information, our tips on how to do the road to Hana, our itinerary, and our recommended stops!

Table of Contents

Toggle

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN DRIVING THE ROAD TO HANA WITH KIDS

ROAD TO HANA BASICS & PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS – YOU ARE HERE

OUR FAVORITE STOPS ON THE ROAD TO HANA

HIKE THE PIPIWAI TRAIL IN HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK

RELAX ON THE BLACK SAND BEACH OF WAI’ANAPANAPA STATE PARK

ROAD TO HANA BASICS – SAFETY & ETIQUETTE

From Kahului, the Hana Highway is 64 miles long. As you enjoy the scenery, the road will be winding through vibrant greenery and tropics. The road has 620 hairpin turns and 59 one-lane bridges. In addition, the narrow highway is carved into the side of the island with cliffside drops ranging from 100-300 feet. These features create the stunning views and scenery that is the road to Hana, but they also require special attention to safety and driving etiquette. Here are some considerations when planning how to do the road to Hana.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

First and foremost, safety considerations are essential when driving the road to Hana. I cannot stress this enough. Reading about a tourist’s days gone wrong on this beautiful highway breaks my heart. However, when you are out on the road, you will see people making choices that have you wide-eyed and cringing. You may see people parking in unsafe areas, climbing over barriers to get the perfect photo, or scaling slippery rocks towards waterfalls. Again, usually for a photo. The more you see, you begin to understand how these tragedies occur. Please consider the following safety factors before taking on the road to Hana, especially with kids.

WHAT ARE YOU DRIVING?

When exploring the road to Hana on your own, make sure you feel comfortable in what you are driving. You need to know how to operate your windshield wipers. You will see a lot of rental jeeps and convertibles cruising this picturesque highway. When traveling the road to Hana with kids, I highly recommend an SUV rental car!

We love Hertz due to its reliability, cleanliness, and discounts! During this spring break COVID-era visit, SUV rental cars were in high demand, and many families were left stranded with no car. We were out of the airport and on our way within 30 minutes despite massive lines at the rental car building. We were stranded with no vehicle available despite our rental with a different company in Oahu, so reliability is critical to us.

The larger space of an SUV will allow everyone to be comfortable in the backseat. In addition, the space in the back will accommodate all you want to have with you on your adventures. We crammed in a midsize SUV which made parking along the Hana Highway easier versus those driving large Suburbans. However, please be aware that break-ins are common along the Hana Highway. By driving a rental car, you are already somewhat of a target. Never leave things of value inside your vehicle and keep what you do leave covered and out of sight to avoid being THE target.

Some who are not comfortable driving opt for a driver or guided van tour. The benefit of this is spending your time looking at the sights versus the road. You will also have a driver that is familiar with the highway and stops. However, a larger guided tour will take away your ability to be flexible and stop when you want. A private tour will give you more flexibility with your stops. I love Shaka Guides because they incorporate the guided tour feel into your vehicle.

ROAD CONDITIONS

Knowing the current road conditions is essential when driving the road to Hana. Over the years, flash flooding and earthquakes have damaged the road and closed portions to visitors. Therefore, always check road conditions to know what you are heading into. The last thing you want is to drive for hours into a closed or unsafe road.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

The road to Hana covers the wettest side of the island. It rains at some point every day and accumulates over 100 inches per year. You are almost always going to drive through some rain; the question is just how much. This rain creates the jaw-dropping greenery and waterfalls the road to Hana is known for. However, it can also create unsafe conditions like flash floods, low visibility, and slippery roads.

We drove on a beautiful day and encountered a few light showers. The beauty of these showers is they pass over quickly and can leave stunning rainbows behind. However, during the winter months, these rain showers can linger for days at a time. I would not recommend taking on the road to Hana in unsavory weather conditions. The Hana Highway is already incredibly narrow and windy, so you don’t need visibility or flooding to be an issue as well. Check current weather conditions to plan the best day for your adventure.

USE COMMON SENSE

As you stop along the road to Hana, the sights are spectacular. At times, you may want to see just a bit more of the waterfall or ocean view. This is where a healthy fear and respect for the island comes in. DO NOT cross that guard rail, fence, or try to head into the greenery just a bit more. The ground is almost always wet, which means slippery. Do not climb the muddy (and slippery rocks) to get closer to the waterfall. All it takes is a tiny pebble to wash over the edge from that high above and hit you in the head.

Conditions change quickly on the road to Hana, and the beautiful light waterfall in front of you can turn into a flash flood of water coming over the edge without notice. Every year, visitors are injured or killed by ignoring warning signs to get closer or reach a remote destination that is not safe. These are the warnings you will read all about. Respect them and make sure your children will too.

ROAD TO HANA ETIQUETTE FOR VISITORS

Although the road to Hana is a destination for travelers from all over the world, it is also the main road to town for the people of Hana and that part of the island. For some, this road is their daily commute. These locals know the turns and what to expect around each corner and travel at a much faster pace. When you notice a driver coming up behind you, be mindful and pull over (when safe) to let them pass.

The Hana highway is spectacular, and it is our job as visitors to help keep it that way. Make a point to plan out restroom stops. Check here for our favorite Road to Hana stops with restrooms. Also, if you are planning to picnic, diaper change, etc., make a point to have a trash bag in your car to keep things cleaned up. We noticed the trash by the bathrooms at one of our first stops on the way out was more than overflowing when we stopped on the way back. And finally, respect the land. The Hana highway is home to many private properties, which mean just that- private!

PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

A successful trip on the road to Hana requires planning, especially when you are taking kids! Of course, some may hop in their car and go, but when you have young children, I can almost guarantee a little knowledge of what you are doing will improve your experience. So here is my advice on how to plan the best road to Hana adventure!

MAUI REVEALED

I do a lot of research before trips, and I always start with Maui Revealed by Andrew Doughty for a Maui visit. This guidebook is EXCELLENT for the entire island, but I loved their mile-by-mile guide to help me plan on this particular adventure. I highly recommend ordering this book on Amazon before your Maui trip. I also have the Oahu and Kauai books, and it is the only guidebook you need for any Hawaiian island visit.

SHAKA GUIDES

During the road to Hana planning, I also discovered Shaka Guides and found them to be an excellent resource for Hawaiian island visits! Instead of an actual guidebook, Shaka Guides provides self-guided audio tours through an app for specific adventures in Hawaii. The audio tours are an excellent option for families looking to explore on their own but also want the benefit of a guide teaching them about what is coming up next. They are an excellent value at $14.99/tour or $29.99 for all 6 Maui tours!

The Shaka Guide audio tours give you a wealth of information through engaging storytelling, history, and music. The app works offline and gives you turn-by-turn directions and audio based on your location. In our new COVID world, they bring the benefit of a guided tour into your vehicle. I also printed the Shaka Guide Road to Hana itinerary to have in the car with us. I also used Shaka Guides for our sunrise at Haleakala and Kapalua adventures.

ROAD TO HANA TIMING

If you wonder how to do the road to Hana, starting early is your first answer! We took on this drive very early and I highly recommend doing the same. Traffic builds on the journey mid-morning, so getting ahead of it was key, especially when driving the road to Hana with kids. If you plan to go out to Hana and back, many guides will recommend at least 10-12 hours to give you adequate time for stops. Timing on GPS and other map sites will estimate about 3 hours each way, but that is not accurate due to traffic and your desire to stop and enjoy the route. It took us about 4 1/2 hours from Paia Town to Haleakala’s Pipiwai Trail parking lot with minimal stops on the way out.

The truth is you will enjoy your sights, and at times it will be hard to rush to the next. You will want to take it all in, but you also need to manage your time. Listen to advice about what is coming up next, so you do not waste too much time enjoying stops in the beginning that, although beautiful, do not measure up to what is coming down the highway. The road to Hana is an all-day adventure. Do not plan on anything else for that day of your Maui trip. Not only will you be tired after your day, but you do not want to have the pressure of a reservation to clean up for in the evening.

LEAVE EARLY

We knew we did not want to be driving the Hana Highway at night, so we planned to get going early (as most visitors plan to do). I also wanted to arrive at the Pipiwai Trail in Haleakala National Park (opposite end of the Hana Highway) before the crowds. These are the goals that led us to get going so early! This decision was one of the best we made. I cannot stress how vital beating the crowds out was to our day. Judging by what we saw heading back, I think leaving late and being stuck in the masses would have changed my entire opinion of this drive. It certainly would have changed my husband, as the driver’s, enjoyment of the day.

We stayed in Kapalua and had an extra journey to get across the island to the Hana Highway. We left our condo shortly after 5 am and again, it was a great decision. I have to add that we are not morning people at all. However, when we commit to waking up early to take on adventures like these, the early departure always pays off. This was also great because the kids slept in the car for a bit. It is a lot of car time for kids, so sleeping through the first hour was an easy way to start the drive.

BEAT THE CROWDS

Our early departure also ensured we started before the crowds, which paid off for quickly pulling over and parking. We could also enjoy the drive towards Hana without too many cars around us. This let my husband take in the scenery on his drive versus only focusing on the vehicle in front of or behind us.

Our early start did lead to us passing many locals heading in the opposite direction towards Kahului. At times this was intimidating as locals tend to be more comfortable on the road. This gas tanker was tearing downhill towards us over the one-way bridge shortly after our drive started. It was a great reminder to drive slowly and cautiously to enjoy the drive.

ROAD TO HANA ROUTE OPTIONS

There are three ways to take on the road to Hana. You can read more about each route below to decide how you want to take on the road to Hana. The info descriptions below will help you determine the best route for you and your family.

CLASSIC ROUTE – KAHULUI, PAIA HANA, HALEAKALA AND BACK
FULL LOOP – PAIA TO KULA (UPCOUNTRY MAUI)
HALEAKALA BACKROAD – THROUGH HANA TO PAIA TOWN

CLASSIC ROUTE – KAHULUI, PAIA HANA, HALEAKALA AND BACK

We opted for this classic route after reading about the backroad of Haleakala. Although this route can be the most crowded, leaving early ensured we beat the crowds, and it was worth it. You can read about our favorite stops along the highway here. Shaka guide has an excellent “Classic Road to Hana” audio tour you can download in the Shaka Guide app as well.

Although we wished we could loop and now take the same road back, we found it beautiful from a different viewpoint. There is so much to see, so we never felt like we were doing the same thing again. This route also allows you to stop places you skipped on the way out. I highly recommend this route.

FULL LOOP – PAIA TO KULA (UPCOUNTRY MAUI)

This loop takes you out of Hana by the backroad of Haleakala into upcountry Maui. Shaka Guides has an audio tour that will guide you through your entire excursion if you choose this route. I was very intrigued by this route and wanted to make this loop happen. However, the mixed reports on road conditions of the backroad and warnings about rental car contract violations (and traveling with our young kids) turned me off of it.

It sounds like many people are successful, but I read that tow trucks charge about $800 cash to help you out on the backroad (they know how desperate you are). I love the idea of a loop versus the out and back drive, but I also knew this route would add anxiety to the trip that I wanted to avoid. Maybe next time! We did spend another afternoon enjoying Upcountry Maui after our Haleakala Sunrise, and it is a beautiful area to explore.

HALEAKALA BACKROAD – THROUGH HANA TO PAIA TOWN

If you are comfortable with the Haleakala backroad, this is an excellent route for looping the road to Hana and getting to the Pipiwai Trail first thing in the morning. You get to see so many beautiful places on the island. We had friends that went this way from Kaanapali and loved it. The backroad is bumpy, but they felt ok in their high-clearance SUV. Shaka Guides will be there to guide you if you choose this route.

One downside of this route is that you will be driving on the cliffside of the highway for your entire Hana Highway drive. The majority of traffic will be moving into you, and it may begin to feel exhausting on the narrow roads.

*The road to Hana is beautiful no matter the route you choose for your adventure.*

ROAD TO HANA SUGGESTED SUPPLIES

For actual Hana Highway adventures, basic Maui supplies like sunscreen, sunglasses, sandals, swimsuits, towels, hiking shoes, bug spray, and water are essential! In addition, you will want a camera and charger for your cell phone. Cellular service is limited on the road to Hana, so hard copies of whatever information or directions you want access to during your drive is a great idea. Again, I highly recommend Maui Revealed and Shaka Guides. In addition to an entertaining Shaka Guide (the app works offline), the radio can keep you entertained. We enjoyed 103.9 (reggae) throughout our drive. Other favorites for families are 94.3 (pop), 95.1 (classic rock), and 107.5 (mixed).

SNACKS & MEALS

Dining options are limited on the road to Hana (almost non-existent until closer to Hana). Knowing we were starting our adventure early, we packed a cooler of snacks, beverages, breakfast, and a great picnic lunch. If you are staying in a resort, I highly recommend picking up some snacks and breakfast options before heading out, as there are almost no options between Paia Town and Hana. When adventuring down the Hana Highway with kids, you want many snacks to avoid the “I’m hungry” whining with no food in sight!

GAS & CASH

Always make sure you have a full tank of gas before setting out on your adventure. We filled in Paia town, and I recommend you do the same. The next gas station is four hours down the road in Hana, next to the Hasegawa General Store. Along the Hana Highway, you will run into the occasional local fruit and flower stands, so it is nice to have the cash to support these local ventures.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR KIDS

Due to the lack of stores and facilities on the Hana Highway, you may want to pack a travel potty if you are traveling with a toddler. Some of our favorite road trip gear is listed here, but chances are you are traveling light for this trip. I also recommend barf bags and kids Dramamine if your kids tend to get carsick. Our son normally does but did fine on the Hana Highway. However, if your child is prone to carsickness, they are small things to carry to avoid a giant mess! We also let our son bring his iPad. Although there was no service, he could play some of his favorite games. However, we made a point to hide the iPad or take it in our hiking pack depending on where we stopped to avoid break-ins.

If you want some entertainment for the kids, you can get creative with some of the basics you may have from the plane or place a Target pickup order with some road trip-friendly surprises. The Target in Kahului is right by the airport, so I placed a large order (groceries, road trip fun, diapers, sand toys, Easter decor, etc.) the day before we left for Maui. This way, I could see exactly what was secured for me and what was out of stock. This is an excellent option for so many reasons! But also great for a Hana Highway adventure if your kids are young, and $1 bin surprises will help keep them happy!