The Road to Hana is about the journey and the destination. Henry, Erica, and I had a blast exploring the Hana Highway before Maui opened to visitors. We didn’t miss the crowds but we missed the people. Need more on the Road to Hana? What else needs to be on your Maui itinerary? Download our Maui itinerary, and your dream Hawaii vacation is planned: thehawaiivacationguide.com/maui
LOVE Maui! Usually go there 1/year...missed you in 2020 Maui... I'm amazed by how many people don't do the 'road to Hana' when there. It's a great way to spend the day stopping at all the waterfalls, swimming and short hikes (like the bamboo forest). It's not about the drive- it's all about the stops.
Love your videos. Last time we went to Maui we didn't have kids but now have 2 girls close to your son's age. Its awesome to see all the activities to do there with small children. Also the drone footage was awesome!
Thank you for this very helpful video! We will be visiting Maui Feb1-13 and we used the rental car link you provided, it is SAVING US a great deal of money from the other quotes we had researched! THANK YOU! Cara
Aloha you three! Cannot believe how Henry is growing like the proverbial weed! We have only done the Hana road trip once and that was because we were advised to do it with a tour group, however we were stuck with an ignorant mother and daughter who had no concept of time and therefore we missed some of the stops. This woman was so stupid she even asked our driver if the water went all the way around the island, we thought he was going to choke. Next time we are there we want to do it ourselves so mahalo for the video. Just makes us want to get back ASAP. Stay safe, maybe 2021
Paul! We haven’t heard from you in awhile. We miss Henry’s tight curls. He had a blast on the Road to Hana but didn’t live the camping. Sounds like you need a repeat on the Road to Hana. Some visitors are not prepared for the Hawaii experience.
Thanks so much for this video! You have really helped us, we are doing the Road to Hana in a few days, and your tips are greatly appreciated! I will check your website, too, Mahalo 😊
I recommend Shaka to everyone. Good info and history. Its great for first timers. Next trip, probably going to use it again, but stop at more of the locations.
Thank you for the tips, this was a great start for our 7-day trip...I don't think you added this to your video, but you need a reservation for Black Sand Beach. Some wonderful residents of the area that heard my child crying in the car about not being able to see the Lava tube, told him it wasn't that great of a beach (they probably said that to calm him down lol we will make reservations next time) and recommended us to go to a different black sand beach and to Hamoa Beach, which was the family's favorite beach and after we ate at Huli Huli Chicken at Koki beach, which was a gem of its own. It is run by 7 local families which rotate to run the stand. Their food is delicious, cheaper than other stands ( I think $16 vs. $25 at Nahuki Marketplace) large portions, and amazing customer service. Although the beach is very rocky, my little paleontologist-wannabe spent a lot of time searching through the rocks for "fossils" and all kinds of goodies. We wished we could have spent more time there, but we did hit almost every step on your list in one day and we didn't want to drive home in the dark. A lot of the waterfalls were blocked due to road work, but Pua’a Ka'a State Wayside Park was a great stop, to use the bathroom, and my little ones felt safe to venture into the waterfalls. It is deep, so we stopped on our way back for a second time with floaties and we were all able to get in. Such fun! Thanks again for all the information!
Thanks for sharing DL! We love that family Huli Huli chicken stand too. So glad your kids had an amazing adventure! We mention the reservation for Wai'anapanapa State Park in our later Road to Hana videos as they started the reservation system after we made this video.
Just an FYI on the car rental information - I booked a mid-size thru Expedia for $24/day (selecting Budget Car Rentals); however, I saw the info that you posted about Discount Hawaii Car Rental and thought that I would try to see if I could get a better deal on the car rental (we will be renting a house in Maui for a month and will need a vehicle). Discount Hawaii Car Rental quoted me for the exact same car $44/day. Perhaps the good deals are for rentals for smaller increments of rental time? (Sad that Discount Hawaii Car Rental wasn't cheaper) Thank you so much for these videos! I'll also make sure to watch your future posts as you travel with the updated COVID testing allowances, since we will be doing the same shortly. :-)
Thanks for sharing. DHCR gives great deals but you are right. Always check the other companies to confirm the price. I start with DHCR and then confirm on other websites. I haven't seen that type of price differential but good to know!
Thanks for sharing. DHCR gives great deals but you are right. Always check the other companies to confirm the price. I start with DHCR and then confirm on other websites. I haven't seen that type of price differential but good to know!
Most turnaround when they do it in one day. It is a big day out, start at 7am and home at dark. Erica has tips on how to do it in one day here: thehawaiivacationguide.com/road-to-hana-in-one-day/
How realistic is it to start in the middle of Hana? Like start at Black rock Beach, go down. And on the way back hit the stops we missed at the beginning of Hana? Or is that more time consuming?
We have a trip planned in late November for Maui and I’ve read a few places say to do the road to Hana in reverse. Do you recommend doing that or just go the normal route and then turn around at the end and head back?
Going in reverse is a fun way to do it but the road is rough and would be harder to drive in the morning. The shaka guide app has a guide to do it in reverse. If it is your first time, do the normal way and leave early. Our itinerary gives tips on doing the road to hana and the best stops for a one day trip.
I plan to do it in 2 days do you sugggest we do it by spending a day in hana or just drive back Snd forth. It would be easier reservation wise if we do one Airbnb vs last night in hana do the pipiwai trail Snd then not having a shower later ;)
@@TheHawaiiVacationGuide thanks just have to figure out logistics. With luggage etc in car on the way to Hana while we explore things just thinking about that aspect. Basically staying in hana will save me 2 hours of driving Snd if I had to stay in hana I’d have to stay on my last night there Snd last day just finish pipiwai and head to the airport for the evening flight out. I am also leaning towards the idea of doing half of hana on day 1 and drive back. Then drive all the way to pipiwai so the hike early morning Snd then check out black sand beach etc on the drive back.
Any day is a good day. Normally everything would be open but with the pandemic things have changed. We expect more of the roadside shops and food stops will be opening next year. Have a great trip and thanks for watching!
Hi! Would a regular rental car like a ford fusion be ok for the road to Hana? I've heard it's a dangerous road and want to make sure I have the right car !
Any rental car would do well on the Road to Hana (Hana Highway). The road is in good condition compared to decades ago. It just has a lot of curves and one-lane bridges so a small rental car is good to go. Remember to let locals past and have a great time!
The truth about the back road / dirt road to Hana. The locals DO NOT want to promote the tourist to take the "dirt road" because it's the short cut to the main highway and locals use the road more. Cut your drive time in half. That said, if this beautiful family with a small child feels safe enough to use the backroad. It cannot be that dangerous, right. And it's not! It's actually safer than the "Road to Hana". Why? Less traffic coming in and out the back road, while the main road "the Road to Hana" has so much traffic and not too forget bad drivers.
i personally feel my roadtrip to the big island was better than road to hana, less crowded, views are as good as if not better, and much better road condition.
You guys are the most Perfect Couple and then now you have this Adorable Child so God has Blessed you a lot. How did you guys meet up? You both have such Pleasant Personalities in spite of the Covid Crap which we all hate. Great Videos and I will see you in August!!!
thanks! We met in college and have been enjoying traveling ever since. It is hard not to be positive when one lives on Maui. Thanks for watching our videos! We are having a blast making them.
