Maui: Famous Road to Hana Waterfalls and Lunch by Mercedes Van

The Hana Highway is a 64.4-mile-long (103.6 km) , longest, coastal scenic route in the world. To the east of Kalepa Bridge, the highway continues to Kipahulu as Hawaii Route 31 (the Piilani Highway). This tour covers 59 single lane bridges, over 640 turns and curves, through lush, tropical rainforest. Most of the concrete and steel bridges date back to 1910 (420 mins)

Just four miles into your drive to Hāna from Kahului, you'll discover the historic town of Pāʻia on Maui's north coast. Divided into Lower Pāʻia and Pāʻia, this hospitable community was once a booming plantation town during the heyday of Maui's sugar cane industry. Today Pāʻia is a town of colorful, rustic storefronts filled with local art galleries, one-of-a-kind shopping boutiques and restaurants.

Ho'okipa Beach is considered the windsurfing capital of the world, you can enjoy watching wind surfers, kite boarders and surfers challenge the oceans waves and shoreline winds. This is also the Threatened Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle capital of Maui, with 200-pound turtles feeding along the shoreline and basking on the beach all day long. (15 mins)

Twin Falls is the first easily accessible string of waterfalls and pools on the Road to Hana

Haipua'ena Falls is a small waterfall and pool along Maui's popular Road to Hana. Thanks to the unsigned trail and short hike over an often muddy path, the pool receives far less visitor traffic than the well-signed falls along the route.

Small Hawaiian villages doing their best to live like the Hawaiians of old. Hunting pigs and growing taro, bread fruit, and Bananas are all big parts of everyday life in this small community. It’s also the site of the famous Half Way to Hana Snack stand; shave ice, fresh coconut, cold drinks and of course the Original Fresh Baked Banana Bread. The Keanae overlook and peninsula offer views of one of the largest taro farms in Hawaii. (20 mins)

In 1983, Aunty Sandy Hueu began to bake her famous banana bread in Keʻanae, Maui. In 2003, her daughter Tammy joined the business to create an authentic family owned and operated food stand on the Keʻanae peninsula. Since then, Aunty Sandy's has become a must stop destination for hot, fresh baked banana bread. (15 mins)

Very photogenic spot to get photographed doing something life threatening.

Upper Waikani Falls is often referred to as Three Bears, thanks to the three separate but parallel falls of differing lengths—with the third and smallest being the “baby bear” falls on the right.

Wailua Falls is a picturesque, yet very easily accessible waterfall visible from The Hana Highway. You don't even need to get out of your car to see it!

Lava tubes are formed when massive flows cool on the surface forming an insulating conduit for the lava flowing underneath. During the creation of Maui’s volcanic landscape these served like the veins of the volcano, channeling lava for many miles underground before being deposited as new landmass (in this case, into the ocean.) After a volcano has been dormant for some time, these tubes usually begin to cave in and disappear under the forces of nature. Since much of the surface of Maui formed long ago, we have few lava tubes of significant size remaining; Ka’eleku Cave is the largest known accessible lava tube on Maui.

ocated within Hana Bay is Hana Beach Park, which has a long black-sand beach and is the safest swimming beach along the East Maui coast. The bay is protected by a coral reef and harbored from big swells by its curved shape.

Wainapanapa is Maui’s famous Black Sand Beach. Cobalt blue Ocean surrounded by black sand and black lava rocks from a recent flow only 10,000 years ago. Go for a walk along the edge of the bay and check out the blue water or just sit under a nice shade tree. This location is a great place to spend an hour relaxing, taking in one of the islands most beautiful locales. Simply stated, Wai’anapanapa State Park is among the very best of the Road to Hana sites. It offers outstanding nearly 360-degree sweeping panoramic views. On land, the hills and valleys of green jungle give way to rugged and dramatic black basalt lava coastline. Out to sea, the deep blue ocean and white cresting waves are dramatically blasted into spray and mist as they pound against the jagged cliffs. (60 mins)

It is fairly easy to access the waterfall from here. Some people like to take a dip in the chilly waters by the waterfall and on a hot day. Wear swim suit layered and bring change of clothes. Don't forget the towels. (40 mins)

Located just beyond Mile Marker 19 on the mauka—or mountain side—of Hana Highway, Upper Waikani Falls is often referred to as Three Bears, thanks to the three separate but parallel falls of differing lengths—with the third and smallest being the “baby bear” falls on the right.

Wailua Valley is an ahupuaʼa that sits just after the Keanae peninsula on the road to Hana. The area, though small, is rich in Hawaiian culture. It is here that an abundance of rare culturally significant fish and plant life can still be found. The area holds many ancient taro, or kalo, patches; a number of which are still in operation. In Hawaiian legend, taro is literally the older brother of all Hawaiians. And, so “Mahiʼaiʼana”, or cultivation of the land, is an ingrained principle that has endured for the people of Wailuanui. (10 mins)

The beautiful view from this lookout point really gives you a sense of what ancient Hawaii must have looked and felt like. It’s truly as though you received a glimpse back in time at untouched Maui.

Right beyond Kaumahina State Wayside Park you'll find a pullout that gives a good view of Honomanu Bay. From this vantage point you can get another good look at the Ke'anae Peninsula. The views from Kaumahina Wayside park are superior to this pullout, so if you can, be sure to stop at the Wayside Park instead. (5 mins)

Kaumahina State Wayside Park or Kaumahina State Park, is located in Maui County, Hawaii, 28.3 miles East of Kahului and 22.4 miles West of Hana along the Hana Highway. The park consists of 7.8 acres of forest and exotic plants

The unique rainbow tree reveals bright shades of green, blue, purple, orange and maroon, as patches of its bark shed throughout the year. Hawaii hosts many of these beautiful shrubs that can grow to an over-elming height of 200 feet! Many consider the rainbow eucalyptus the most beautiful tree on earth. (5 mins)