Road to Hana Full East Loop Print Out Guide
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Aloha and welcome to Trek Maui’s quick guide to the Road to Hana!
We don’t intend on spoiling the trip for you by showing everything in great detail, but we’ll be sure to cover the basics to make sure you don’t miss the best spots or spend too much time at the “not as great” spots.
If you plan on doing the full loop you’re going to want to be starting the Road to Hana as early as possible, 6am if you’re up to it to make sure you have time to enjoy everything.
Please enjoy all sights and sounds gone over at your own risk.
Paia Town
Paia Town is the first place you’ll be driving through on the Road to Hana if you are starting from the North side. This early everything will be closed except the gas station so plan on experiencing Paia Town another day. Last chance to get gas.
Ho’okipa Beach Park
You may see surfers at Ho’okipa this early and be able to grab some cool photos of them and the beautiful beach. If you park and walk down to the sand head to the north end of the beach and you can usually catch a lot of turtles catching some sleep. Give them their space, DLNR recommends at least 10’.
Peah’i (Jaws) and Jaws Store
You don’t have time to drive down the muddy roads to Jaws surf break, but thought it would be worth mentioning that you are passing it when you see Hahana Road on your left. You’ll also soon pass the Jaws Country Store where you can grab some breakfast and souvenirs.
Twin Falls
Mile Marker #2. A very popular first stop for many as they see everyone parked there and head in. If you are doing the full loop we don’t recommend going in. Twin falls has short, easy, maintained jungle hikes to small 10-15’ waterfalls and a food truck outside. The waterfalls do not compare to the one’s you’re about to see.
Bamboo Forest (Na’ili’ili Haele)
Mile marker #6.5. The first thing we have to tell you is that this hike is on property owned by EMI (East Maui Irrigation) and you are supposed to get a permit to hike on this land. So assuming you got a permit. You can enter this hike through any of the openings in the bamboo you see along the road as they all lead downhill to a stream you must cross to get to one of the 4 waterfalls inside the hike. Be prepared for slippery conditions and definitely do not go in if it is raining or has been raining as people have been trapped due to flash floods.
Eucalyptus Forest
Just around the corner from the Bamboo Forest you’ll see a Eucalyptus Forest on your left with many beautiful colorful trees. There isn’t a safe place to stop for them so we recommend viewing them from your car.
Waikamoi Nature Trail
Shortly past Mile Marker #9 you’ll see the Waikamoi Nature Trail. A good place to rest your legs and appreciate the jungle trees. The maintained 0.8 mile hike leads to a few lookout points, lookouts you’ll see driving on the road later, so, not much to see on this hike and not worth spending much time at.
Waikamoi Falls
Mile Marker #10. A lot of people stop here to get in the water at the first waterfall about 30 feet into the forest after parking. You can also do about a 10 minute hike past the first waterfall to see a larger more stunning waterfall.
Garden of Eden
Mile Marker 10.5. A pretty and well maintained park with a high $15 per person entrance fee. There’s food trucks, fruit trees, an art gallery and a few small waterfalls within. Ultimately skippable, you’ve got a long day.
Kaumahina State Wayside
Just past Mile marker #12. Ultimately a bathroom stop for those of you needing a real plumbed bathroom. There are also picnic tables and at the north end of the park is a pretty overlook, but you’ll see the same view on the road, so if you don’t have to go to the bathroom, skip this spot.
Hanamanu Bay
Mile Marker #14. You’ll first see the Bay on your left between mile marker 12-13. Further down there is a dirt road you can drive or hike down to the bay. Worth a stop to see the beautiful view of the ocean and river within the gulch. If there’s a swell you’ll see local surfers in the water, but the average visitor should avoid getting in the rocky murky ocean here.
Ke’anae Arboretum
Mile Marker #16. A short maintained hike with a huge variety of jungle trees and a grove of Eucalyptus trees. If you aren’t extraordinarily versed in Botany there’s not much to see in here that doesn’t look different from the rest of the drive and is ultimately skippable.
Ke’anae Peninsula
Mile Marker #16. Take the left into Ke’anae Road down to the park area. Once a Taro producing village is now just a field and the historic Ke’anae Congregational Church. However the views of the cliff sides down here are spectacular and worth a stop.
Ching’s Pong
Just before Mile Marker #17. A beautiful clear water pool with a small slide looking waterfall leading into it. A local hangout spot so we don’t recommend you stop here unless it is empty. In which case, if you like cold water, it’s a great place for a dip.
Wailua Valley State Wayside
Mile Marker #18. You’ll see a small parking lot on your right and we think it’s worth a stop and walk up the stairs to the lookout point. You see a stunning view of Wailua Valley and a waterfall towards the mountains and a view of the taro farms on the ocean side of the lookout.
Upper Waikani Falls (3 Bears)
Mile Marker #19. Worth a stop, but don’t stop in your car. Many car accidents happen here, and it is also illegal to park here. Park about a 1/10th mile past it and walk down safely along the road to snap some pictures. And if you’re skilled enough, do the hike on the north end of the bridge that leads down to the base of the waterfalls. When the flow is just right, these 3 beautiful waterfalls are a wondrous and iconic sight to behold and get some great pictures of.
Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside
Mile Marker #22. You’ll see a small waterfall and pool on your right proceeded by covered picnic tables on this hill above it and then bathrooms on the left side of the road. There isn’t anything spectacular to stop and see here unless you have to go to the bathroom.
Lava Tube
Mile Marker #23. Just past mile marker 23 if you look closely on your right you’ll see about a 4 foot by 3 foot hole with roots growing in it. If you have a flashlight and want to check it out we recommend going in. Its not a very long cave but it has more formations than you’d expect in a lava tube, a neat little quick stop.
Nahiku
Mile Marker #25. You’ll see a road on your left that goes down to Nihiku. You’ll drive down until you see a road closed sign. Park across from the church and walk past the road closed signs. This is about an eighth mile hike to a pretty pool and waterfall, a view of cliff sides, and a waterfall pouring into the ocean. It is a bit of a time consuming drive down so we recommend skipping it.
Nahiku Marketplace
Past Mile Marker #28 you’ll see the Nahiku Marketplace. There are about 6-7 restaurants in here and a couple gift shops. You can find Seafood, Hawaiian BBQ, Thai food, and Mexican food in here. A good place to stop and eat if you have a group with multiple appetites since the restaurants in Hana are spread out.
Wai’ anapanapa State Park (Black Sands Beach)
Mile Marker #32. Take the left onto Wai’anapanapa Road and Drive all the way down. This park is one of the most diverse on the island. See the famous black sand beach, climb through a sea cave that starts in the sand and leads out to the ocean, see an amazing volcanic sea arch, experience a blow hole when the swell is up, swim in the bay if the swell is down, camp with a permit, and hike along the beautiful volcanic cliff sides.
Hana Bay
After leaving Wai’anapanapa, taking a left out, it may be worth your while to stop by Hana Bay on your left down Keawa Place. This is the local hangout area so not necessarily and place for you to stop and hang out but you can grab some pictures of the blackish sand beach and if you want there’s a short hike on the north end that leads to a tiny red sand beach.
Red Sand Beach (Kaihalulu Beach)
Once a secret beach, it appears this place is fair game to inform you about now based on how much coverage it gets on all the guidebooks. Drive down to the end of Uakea Road, you’ll see a school and community center, and find legal parking along the road. You’ll see a field at the end of the road, walk across the field and you’ll see the path to Red Sands. A fair warning, you should be a pretty good hiker as this trail is very narrow and has slippery ash cinders along the whole way, it is also on private property so enter at your own risk. Definitely worth the hike down if you’re agile enough to make it down. You’ll see the red sand beach positioned in a beautiful cove with a protected area to swim in.
Koki Beach
Drive down Haneo’o Road and the first beach you’ll see on your left will be the beautiful Hamoa Beach. About a 400 foot white sand stretch with a beautiful cliff lining the south end and a beautiful view of Alau Island off in the distance. Visitors are not advised to go swimming in this beach due to the current but it’s definitely worth a look.
Hamoa Beach
Further down Haneo’o Road you’ll see Hamoa Beach on your left. A beautiful white sand crescent beach wedged between two cliff sides. This beach is a good place to get in the water to swim, surf, and boogie board. Worth a gander at the least.
Haleakala National Park (Kipahulu)
About seven miles down the road from Hamoa Beach you’ll see the National Park on your left. Here you’ll be able to see the famous Seven Sacred Pools (Pools of O’heo), and if you have enough time until sunset you can do the Pipiwai trail through the bamboo forest to the 400 foot Waimoku Falls. We recommended not doing the other waterfall hikes to save time for this one because this one is definitely worth your time. If you want there is first come first serve camping here as well. Be prepared for the $25 entrance fee.
At this time of day the sun will be going down, the stops will speak for themselves as you pass the beautiful cliff sides and rolling hills against Haleakala on the remaining south portion of the Hana Loop.
You also pass Palapala Ho’omau Church on your left where Charles Lindbergh’s grave is and Huialoha Church that has a great view of a beautiful cove on the hillside.
If you really made good time you’ll have enough time to stop by Maui Wine towards the end of the south loop at mile marker #15.
That wraps up the Hana Loop stops, enjoy the Upcountry views on your drive back to your Hotel.