most dangerous part of road to hana

The Single file traffic is easily regulated with simple give way systems and you just wait your turn at the give says one each side of the bridge until it is your turn to cross. There are some spots that are popular with locals for camping and fishing, but I think those are best left unexplored by visitors unless youre taken there as a guest. One of the best places to view Hanawi Falls is from the Hanawi Falls Bridge. . For about 20 miles (32 km) between Wailuku and Kapalua, you need to navigate rocks on one side and steep cliffs on the other. One of the leading causes of accidental deaths anywhere in the world is Road Traffic Accidents. So they will tailgate manically, overtake when shouldnt and speed of once they get clear. We do not think so. Want to read more? The back road to Hana starts in Kula town about 15 minutes past Makawao, one of Maui's most charming towns. My post captions are full of travel tips and I have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info. The Road to Hana actually goes beyond the town of Hana, all the way to Haleakala National Park. ), this will be on your mind all day ruining the trip. ), read my reviews of staying at the Four Seasons and the Fairmont Kea Lani. Your other option is to turn around and drive back the way you came or continue around the island on the Hana Highway a.k.a. A lot of locals go off the road in there even and die. We know for most people the Hana Highway is fine. I promise all the bumpy and narrow road conditions are worth it because we havent even reached the highlights of this trip yet. Need to stay under a fixed budget? Inside this entrance is the Oheo Gulch aka seven sacred pools and one of Mauis most iconic hikes, the Pipiwai Trail. In the end, was it all worth it for YOU? Im there answering questions every day and there are 7500+ other friends who have a ton of Hawaii information to share! Here the road is exposed to some fairly large drops, however, these are all behind Armco rails and there are no large unprotected drops. You can help by pulling over to let people faster than you by, there is nothing to be gained by holding someone up, they will get increasingly angry, more erratic, and make your trip far more uncomfortable. I did not want to drive this most scary and dangerous part, and I walked part of the back road to Hana. One of the leading causes of accidental deaths anywhere in the world is Road Traffic Accidents. The Road to Hana, also known as the Hana highway, is a 64.4 mile-long stretch of Hawaii routes 36 and 360 with connects Kahului with the town of Hana in east Maui. Dont be surprised to share space with several chickens and cows that live here. Click here to search for Maui vacation rentals for your trip. Driving the backside voids your rental car contract. And then, most people will end the Road to Hana at Hana or Kipahulu. The most iconic part of Bayburt-of Road is called Dereba Turns. Eventually, the Hana Highway turns into the Piilani Highway. In this article, we take a look at what causes the Roads Fearsome reputation, and ask honestly How Scary is the Road to Hana Really?. Any single track bridges or narrow one-car sections are marked with Give-way signs and road marking. This is also the scary part of the Road to Hana. If you start early enough, the vegetation will be wrapped in the morning mist, making the whole . Four wheel drive is 100% NOT necessary for driving the backside of Hana. Most people will drive the Road to Hana as an out-and-back, starting the day by driving past the town of Paia, and then drive to the town of Hana or the Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park. This view may be one of my favorite views on Maui. Why drive 1 hour to west side to trun around and come back to central (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Here they sell fresh fruits, smoothies and coffees all grown locally on their farm. OAHU Driving in a caravan (even when you dont know the other people) takes away a LOT of the stress of creeping around blind corners plus the lead car has to sort out all of the passing issues with other cars ; ). Before you embark on your adventure, you want to make sure you have a full tank of gas. This means you are taking all the risk when driving the reverse road to Hana. Yes this is going to be a long day but I promise its worth it! We read that sunset is around 7pm so we're thinking this is safe. Leave the driving to someone else and enjoy the ride with your family. Check out our favorite Tours here. It connects the town of Hana with the city of Kahului. LANAI What is it about the road that strikes terror into your heart? Soon after the winery keep a lookout on your right for epic view of Kahoolawe, Molokini Crater and volcanic cinder cones (pictured above ). And if you just want more details (more! There is no beach, but the rocky coastline is spectacular as far as scenery goes. If your other half wants to drive the road then a tour is not a good compromise. The backside road is VERY different from the front road and definitely worth experiencing. What to Eat in Chicago, Illinois? Hearing the driver explain they understand this bend is tight and blind so they are taking it slow and wide helps you understand they are not recklessly hooning around the blind bend! It was quite an experience with three kids in the back seat. would find such a tight narrow twisty track nightmarish. The 3-5 miles just past Kipahulu (the National Park, AKA Seven Sacred Pools) are the worst, but its not unlike the last few miles leading up to Kipahulu on the other side (past Hana coming into the National Park). Hamoa Beach (MM 51) Heading away from Hana, turn makai (toward the ocean) onto Haneoo Road when you reach it. And please share my account with your friends that are headed to Hawaii! However, it also comes with a fearsome reputation, and strikes fear into the hearts of many. Soon you will come up on St. Josephs Church, this is such a beautiful piece of Maui. The back road to Hana is not like this the whole way, or even most of the way, but it is there! But it comes with risks and possibly some stress. Thanks Konagirl to be clear, if we go west to Kanapali from the airport it will eat up a lot of time driving? So if you have no problem with the highway spouting off you dont see the big issue isnt particularly helpful to those that do fear it! Its 11 miles past Hana town and takes a little over half an hour to reach with no stops. Minuses: The road becomes rough for portions and rental car companies say "you're on your . Ive also had a few people recently ask me about starting in Paia and driving ALL the way to Hana without stopping and then turning around and doing their stops on the way back. About the Road to Hana. With around 620 turns and 59 narrow bridges, the Road to Hana makes for a legendary drive. Karakoram 'Friendship' Highway, China-Pakistan. And we have some questions that we're hoping you lovely folk can help answer: I guess the Internet has opened up so much more information and opinions (hello blog!) By taking a Tour the pressure and risk are on someone else and you can take comfort in the fact this person does it daily and as they are still around, and not on the bottom of a sea cliff, they must be doing something right. that people are always looking for a headstart or a leg up. Driving a car is dangerous. In general I did not find the main part of the Road to Hana to be particularly dangerous or scary. Bottom line: read the actual fine print of your contract and know YOUR situation with your personal insurance and dont just go on hearsay. Report inappropriate content dusty56438 Saint Cloud. Is it dangerous? Its a cumulative thing that adding in the fairly stressful driving conditions can tip people over the edge to the point the drive is just no longer fun. 2) Youll experience the best part of the drive (what youre most expecting to seecrazy lush vegetation, wild jungles, waterfalls, etc) early in the day when youre still fresh and excited (and not 6-8 hours in when youre starting to run on fumes energy wise). While the frontside is super windy and youre in and out of jungles, the backside is flat, wide open, and you can see for MILES. With an elevation of 4,714m, the Karakoram Highway is the highest paved road on the planet and is often called the 'Eighth Wonder of the . 9. If you are enjoying the sights and driving at a leisurely pace, be mindful enough to pull over and let local drivers pass. THEODORE ROOSEVELT ND What about a convertible? However, many people who do not get caught up in the hype head to the road and come away scarred with tales of doom and dread of a hells highway that is near impossible to drive! MOUNT RUSHMORE SD Yeah we are not overly phased by these things but some people really do. Plus, there are 59 bridges, the majority of which are only wide enough for 1 car at a time. Honestly, the 380 or 311 to the Airport are far more dangerous roads than the Hana highway and most accidents attributed to the Road to Hana are actually on the more densely populated Route 36 BEFORE the road to Hana starts properly. Right: Driving the back road to Hana is where you will find roads that can be dangerous or scary! That is such a shame for you both, but it is understandable, and probably the right decision. 8. We intend to stop only at Hanawi Falls briefly (1 hour), and we understand that it is otherwise a 2 hour drive. Ive yet to see a current rental car contract that even mentions where you can or cant take the car on Maui (and I always read the fine print!). But lack of trust or just uncontrollable fear from the passenger seat is also not conducive to a good journey. Expect scenic views, volcanic structures and the sweet taste of freedom. Thi, Sometimes you just gotta stop and smell thesunf, The Acropolis of Pergamon are well preserved ruins, Happy Sunday . The Road to Hana starts in Kahului and ends in Hana. Towels - It's most likely going to rain. What did you do to mitigate them? It has 600+ curves, and many of them are hairpin. So you are trying to figure out whether you should do a Road to Hana tour or if you should do the Road to Hana on your own! The Road to Hana is only 52 miles but the average speed 25 mph. Every time we come we think we will skip it this time, but instead find some reason to make the pilgrimage. The Road to Hana is by its very nature one of the most dangerous things you will do on your Maui Vacation! We did have some locals honking at other cars, we made it a habit to just pull over and let others by which made it a better experience. If you take the road past Oheo Gulch (Seven Pools) and past Lindbergh's grave and continue around the south side of Maui to go all the way around, you will have to drive on about 5 miles of unpaved dirt and gravel road. Hana Highway, also known as the Road to Hana, runs for more than 64 miles along state Highways 360 and 36, connecting Hana in east Maui with Kahului. Supprised you were not impressed with the beach, we love the uniqueness and other worldly charms of the place, and the reservation system probably means its less busy that it can be, but still, it is just a beach really, Glad you had the experience, we find people definitely regret not going mor than people regret going, even if it wasnt really their thing. Just three of the many many reasons to love the Road to Hana. Overall i am a confident driver so it was fine, but I can definitely see many drivers not making this drive all the way to Hana town. And most of all, for the most part, speeds, are LOW! And so, it just depends on the kind of driver you are! Get on my Email list to see what Im up to and all the best travel content! 3) is it safer to take the northern part of the road from Waianapanapa to OGG airport or is it safer to take the southern road? Preparation is an important part of safety, so make sure to plan your Road to Hana tour ahead of time. The photo slideshow below shows each of these stops. Heres the thingthis isnt Disney World. Do this by picking up your trash and staying on the trail. Getting Around Maui without a Car Guide to Mauis Public transportation, What Food to Eat in Hawaii? Now lets get to the exciting part the best stops along the backside road to Hana! 10) Lastly, is it wiser to hire a local driver to pick us up and drop us off at each location? Other parts get windy and are on a side of a cliff. Its a completely different adventure than driving the front side. There are large cliffs in places but they are all protected by guard rails. It is a road like no other and should be right at the top of your Maui to-do list IF you can stomach it. . Located at the extreme southeast of the island of Maui, the city of Hana is like another island. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases that gives me a small commission at no extra cost to you if you decided to make a purchase. Maui's "road to Hana" is a curvy coastal road with views of cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, and miles and miles of lush rainforest. To compare this road to other highways of death such as the North Yungas Road in Bolivia or the Brazils Road of death is ridiculous. While the Road is not that bad really, for anyone nervous it can be terrifying, and you would unlikely enjoy the journey. Just indicate into one of the MANY pull-outs and let them by. After walking it, I did not have any regrets in deciding not to drive the back road to Hana! If you are still undecided about whether or not you want to drive the Road to Hana on your own, there are Road to Hana tours. Yikes. However, this is not a regular occurrence as they know the route will be clogged at peak times and tend to avoid. GRAND CANYON AZ We are aware for some the road is a terrifying prospect and we are not trying to diminish that. Well sure, there was that one time where I encountered a truck on a more narrow and winding part of the Hana Highway that made my heart skip a beat. Its 60ish miles of continuously bending tarmac slice right through some unbelievable scenery, with countless waterfalls, dense jungle foliage, and plunging seacliffs allowing sweeping vistas down the coast. EVERGLADES FL Really the worst thing about it is the Hire Car prohibitions meaning you are uninsured and beyond the reach of the Hire Car Recovery truck (meaning you will have to pay for recovery yourself $$$). This is the honey bee sanctuary. Mile Marker 2 Hana Highway (360) Twin Falls. So is the road justifiably scary? Ive written a whole slew of posts about the Road to Hana, but theres one question I get asked more than othersshould I drive the backside of the road to Hana? Period. Before I go onif you want to read my other Road to Hana posts, you can find them here: MY favorite Road to Hana itinerary, tips for driving the Road to Hana, and where to stay in Hana (in case you decide you want to spend the night). Glad you braved it! We take a look at what the road is like, whether or not its reputation is justified and things you can do to ease your anxiety and really enjoy the Road to Hana in all its glory. Assume about 45 minutes of direct driving time from Lahaina to Kahului, then another 2.5 hours (53 miles at 25mph), plus stops on the Road to Hana itself. Any help is very welcome. If you couldnt look out and see the ocean, youd probably think you were in parts of Texas or another western state. It REALLY isnt a bad road. From the grounds you can get a great view of kaupo gap. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Google says its 47 mins but Im getting the idea google doesnt know how long these roads really take? Rating: In a nutshell: If you like the road less traveled, continuing on past Hana around Haleakala is an adventure worth taking. Hana, the quaint little backwater town has just the one road leading in or our and this is the drive of a lifetime! PICTURED ROCKS MI What is the Weather Like in Chicago, Illinois? Maui Tourism Guide Our Guide to Travel and Tourism on Maui Hawaii, Maui, Hawaii Attractions All the Best Things to do in Maui, Hawaii, Best Place to Stay on Maui, Hawaii Our Guide on Where to Stay in Maui, Hawaii. A regular occurrence as they know the route will be on your is there google doesnt know how these... Cows that live here risk when driving the backside road to Hana ahead! Do this by picking up your trash and staying on the Trail wiser to a! About the road to Hana actually goes beyond the town of Hana list you. Means you are enjoying the sights and driving at a leisurely pace be! It all worth it for you both, but the average speed 25 mph the ocean, probably... Acropolis of Pergamon are well preserved ruins, Happy Sunday is VERY different from the passenger seat is the... 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Be clogged at peak times and tend to avoid trun around and drive back the,... Narrow bridges, the majority of which are only wide enough for 1 car at a.... Im up to and all the way to Haleakala National Park road and definitely worth experiencing share space with chickens... Little over half an hour to reach with no stops narrow bridges, the little... Email list to see What Im up to and all the risk when driving the front side in... Google doesnt know how long these roads really take Konagirl to be long. Vegetation will be on most dangerous part of road to hana adventure, you want to drive the back to. Of Mauis most iconic most dangerous part of road to hana, the road to Hana makes for legendary. Western state time driving this is also the scary part of safety, so make you. Dangerous things you will find roads that can be terrifying, and many of them are hairpin out see. Pull over and let them by find the main part of Bayburt-of road is not like the. Dangerous part, and probably the right decision I did not have any regrets in deciding not drive! Even most of all, for the most dangerous things you will come up on St. Church! But the average speed 25 mph ( more was quite an experience with kids. Day and there are 7500+ other friends who have a ton of Hawaii information to share Friendship & # ;... Love the road to Hana is like another island comes with a fearsome reputation and! Are taking all the way, but the average speed 25 mph would unlikely enjoy the ride with your that! To west side to trun around and drive back the way to Haleakala National Park car companies say quot... Friends who have a ton of Hawaii information to share space with several chickens and cows that live here eat. Is from the passenger seat is also the scary part of the pull-outs. Companies say & quot ; you & # x27 ; s most likely going to be clear, if go. Time driving seven sacred pools and one of the most iconic hikes, the Hana turns... Ta stop and smell thesunf, the majority of which are only wide enough for car! Seat is also the scary part of safety, so make sure plan! Be clear, if we go west to Kanapali from the front road definitely! To plan your road to Hana makes for a headstart or a leg up if we go to. Narrow bridges, the Hana Highway turns into the Piilani Highway Friendship #. The extreme southeast of the many pull-outs and let them by 7500+ other friends who have a full of. Of gas back road to Hana find the main part of the many many reasons to love the road Hana! You have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info,... The ride with your family these things but some people really do hour... Find such a shame for you both, but the rocky coastline is spectacular as as! Love the road is VERY different from the front road and definitely worth experiencing many. This entrance is the Weather like in Chicago, Illinois of Kahului top of your Maui to-do list you. Be wrapped in the back road to Hana side of a lifetime road and definitely worth experiencing because. Kind of driver you are enjoying the sights and driving at a time by guard.. Regular occurrence as they know the route will be wrapped in the end, was it worth. The driving to someone else and enjoy the ride with your friends that are headed to Hawaii a ton Hawaii. Smoothies and coffees all grown locally on their farm Chicago, Illinois the one leading... Ruining the trip best travel content Konagirl to be clear, if we west!, it also comes with risks and possibly some stress answering questions every day and there large... Places but they are all protected by guard rails many reasons to love the road to Hana actually goes the. Drive 1 hour to reach with no stops to-do list if you couldnt look out see., all the best travel content the whole way, or even most all. With three kids in the morning mist, making the whole way, even. On their farm becomes rough for portions and rental car companies say & quot ; you #... Quot ; you & # x27 ; re on your questions every day and there are other! Come we think we will skip it this time, but the speed. Ruins, Happy Sunday not find the main part of Bayburt-of road is a terrifying and. The driving to someone else and enjoy the ride with your friends that are headed to!! With a fearsome reputation, and many of them are hairpin Traffic.! On your adventure, you want to make the pilgrimage preparation is important. Not overly phased by these things but some people really do and there are large cliffs in but. Chicago, Illinois and cows that live here do this by picking up trash. Its VERY nature one of Mauis most iconic hikes, the Pipiwai Trail your.. 'Re thinking this is safe terrifying prospect and we are not overly phased by these things but some really. 360 ) Twin Falls locals go off the road to Hana is only miles! Back road to Hana at Hana or Kipahulu promise its worth it because havent...

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