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Driving the Road to Hana vs. flying: Which Maui option is right for you?
15.02.2024 - 14:55 / thepointsguy.com
The Road to Hana is one of the most popular — and some would say treacherous — tourist activities on the island of Maui in Hawaii.
Having driven it myself, I can tell you it's not for the faint of heart (or those who regularly deal with motion sickness). I'd always wanted to visit Hana but failed when I tried to drive there on my own back in 2021. After an hour of driving on one-way roads and taking hairpin turn after hairpin turn, it started pouring rain. With no ocean views to be seen, I decided to turn back, giving up about three-quarters of the way to Hana.
The Road to Hana had won that round, but while I was disappointed, I hadn't given up on it forever.
That's why I jumped at an opportunity to take a short flight to Hana while on a recent trip to Maui. It's not every day you get to fly a small plane into the tiny hamlet, and it offered a chance for a do-over of sorts on the Road to Hana.
Here's what it was like flying versus driving to Hana and why the trek is worth the trip — especially now as the island recovers from the devastating Maui wildfires of 2023 — no matter which mode of transportation you choose.
Related: Save money: How you can book flights to Hawaii using points and miles
The Road to Hana connects the city of Kahului to the town of Hana on the eastern side of Maui. According to Google Maps, the drive should take roughly two hours from Maui's Kahului Airport (OGG) to the town of Hana, but you'll want to build in lots of extra time for stops ... and traffic.
It's a twisty, curvy road that goes up and down steep hills, occasionally turning into a one-lane road with single-lane bridges in several spots.
Along the way, you'll be competing for the road not only with oncoming traffic but with local residents who don't always love the slow pace of tourists. You'll need to stop or even pull over for traffic coming from the other direction at some points during the journey.
Frankly, the road can be terrifying. When I tried to do it solo a few years ago, I gave up once it started pouring rain.
There are also lots of no-trespassing signs put up by residents who aren't amused the local transportation system gets bogged down with tourists.
This whole experience may not sound like fun to most drivers, but the reward of spectacular views can make it worth the effort. You'll see incredible vistas from the oceanside parts of the road, along with stunning tropical foliage. There are also fruit stands and other places to stop along the way, including waterfalls galore.
During my latest journey, my brother drove while I played the part of a chauffeured cameraman. We had a Jeep rental from the Hana-Maui Resort and planned a leisurely day driving to see some of the sites on the Road to Hana that are
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