Maui - The Road to Hana

May 5th, 2008 by Kathy - NWA WorldVacations

If you are on Maui and plan to go to Hana, take the old road, but be sure to drive a vehicle with good shocks, and preferably a 4-wheel drive. My sister moved to Maui, Hawaii several years ago. I found the perfect Maui vacation packages - I visited my sister on Maui often. On one of my visits, we decided to go to Hana, to the opposite side of Maui from where she lived. We took the old road to Hana in her old truck. The ride was amazing and adventurous, as some of the road twists along the cliffs, right next to the shore. It can be a rough ride, and even rougher in an old truck with no shock absorbers, and no 4-wheel drive! There is a paved route to Hana on the other side of the island, but it will not get you there any quicker, because it is also very twisty, and the sights are not as adventurous. Either way, it is a full day there and back, unless you take a helicopter tour.

My sister was a true island girl, a real local surfer girl living a life of adventure. As we bounced along the road, riding in “the little truck that could”, I thought to myself, ”Hang Loose!” We bounced our way along the cliffs of the ocean, and around turns so close to the edge of the water you could feel the waves splash outside the passenger window. We waved the “Aloha, and Hang Loose” to all the Hawaiians passing by in vehicles. After a while, I was so taken in by the scenery, that it was easy to not feel the bumps and turns.

No matter what, I was so glad we had this adventure. I have so many wonderful memories, like seeing the Seven Sacred Pools, the bamboo forest, and the small abandoned church overlooking the ocean. Much of the area along the road was once populated by Hawaiians long ago, and you can still see a few remaining walls, if you look closely. Of all the Hawaii vacations I have experienced, there was nothing quite like my Maui vacations.

As memorable and wonderful as the ride was, the motionless beach was also a nice reprieve when we got back! And nothing is better than being able to say, we survived the old road to Hana, the old fashioned way.