The Road to Hana is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Maui. Every year, over 400,000 visitors traverse this popular roadway, and once you’ve experienced it for yourself, you’ll understand why. With so many visitors, you may think there are no hidden gems or unexplored sights, but you’d be wrong. At Hawaii By Storm, we’re intimately familiar with every inch of this iconic roadway, and below, we’ll share with you the five must-see stops on the Road to Hana you can’t miss out on during your visit.
The Rainbow Eucalyptus Grove
The first must-see Hana highway stop is just a few miles up the road at mile marker 7. With no attached parking and no indicative markings on tourist maps, most will drive past the grove. But if you do, you’re missing out on one of the best stops on the Road to Hana.
The grove only receives a handful of visitors daily despite being the largest and most accessible Eucalyptus grove on Maui. Many refer to these unique trees as rainbow gum trees, and once you see them for yourself, you’ll understand why! The stunning multi-colored bark of these trees leaves many visitors awestruck.
Pink, orange, yellow, and purple-streaked barks abound throughout the grove. The myriad of colors is more akin to an impressionist painting than a grove of trees.
Banana Bread Stand (Halfway to Hana)
Almost halfway through our list, and we’re halfway down the Road to Hana, so we might as well stop for a snack! Mile marker 17 brings us to the aptly titled Halfway to Hana Banana Bread Stand. Sure, there are a lot of places to stop and eat along the long road, but there’s only one Halfway to Hana.
Freshly made and wrapped up neatly for travel, you’ll enjoy some of the tastiest banana bread on Maui. If your appetite’s more robust, they sell sandwiches, hot dogs, shaved ice, and even ice cream. There’s also an ATM, which will come in handy since most of the stands along the Road to Hana are cash only. This simple stand offers its own humble, natural, scenic vistas similar to other Road to Hana must-see stops, but best of all, you’ll be glad you took the time to fill up on some delicious banana bread and snacks!
Hana Lava Tube
About a half mile from mile marker 31, you’ll find another geological wonder. Kaeleku Cave, or the Hana Lava Tube, is about a quarter mile long and is a self-guided tour of an underground cave formed about 30,000 years ago. It’s an underground cave and you’ll be provided with powerful flashlights, but photo opportunities are lessened from the inky darkness.
The lava tube has stalactites, stalagmites, fissures, and chockstone. The owner has installed handrails and a couple of skylights offer chances to photograph green plants and ferns near the skylights entrance.
Keep an eye out for leftover cow bones too. Once used by a slaughterhouse for dumping cows remains, the current owner removed over 17,000 pounds of cow’s bones before opening the cave to the public.
Allow yourself at least 30 minutes to navigate the lava tube, and after you’ve finished, enjoy the picnic area or the Red Ti Botanical Garden Maze. The current entrance fee is $12 for adults, and children under 5 are free. Your entrance fee does include the flashlights needed for the tour. The Hana Lava Tube is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wai’anapanapa State Park
Black sand, turquoise water, and green vegetation await you at Mile Marker 32 on the Road to Hana.
Walk down and dip in the water or hike up “The Point” for a bird’s eye view. Either way, you’re in for an incredible experience. Bask in the sun on big black rocks or check out some of the caves of this hidden cove. Here, you’ll make plenty of memories on the black sand beach, and you’ll be longing to return as soon as you leave.
It’s an incredibly popular destination that sees many visitors daily, so we recommend getting there before noon.
Wailua Falls
Mile marker 45 is home to arguably the most beautiful stop on the Road to Hana, Wailua Falls. Its ease of access is great because you don’t have to exit your vehicle, though you probably will want to!
A cascading 80-foot drop to the pool below offers some of the best scenes for pictures in Maui. Even with so many waterfalls in your rearview mirror by this point, you’ll still be stunned by one of the most photographed waterfalls on the Road to Hana.
If you take a dip in the pool below, be sure to pick up a few souvenirs from the local vendors as you head back to your vehicle.
Those are just five must-see stops on the Road to Hana, but there are plenty more! If you’re ready to experience everything this iconic roadway has to offer, book one of our guided tours here.
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