Maui, Hawaii: The Best Stops on the Road to Hana

Your travel to Hawaii is coming up & you’re still looking for bucket list-worthy recommendations for Maui? Going on the famous road trip “Road to Hana” will be a fantastic start to see breathtaking waterfalls, viewpoints, and unique black sand beaches. But what are the best stops along the Road to Hana? This ultimate guide will show you Maui’s most picture-worthy spots & first-timers tips. Get ready to learn about the absolute best Road to Hana stops…

Not sure why to choose Maui or how to plan your itinerary yet?
Check out The Ultimate Maui Guide!

The number one must-do on Maui is the Road to Hana, where you’ll see
the best waterfalls, viewpoints, and unique beaches in just one day!

Road to Hana | What is it?

The Road to Hana is basically a road trip along the Hana Highway winding around the northeast side of the island of Maui. Hana Highway’s main purpose is to connect the cities of Kahului and Hana on a 64.4-mile route. Due to its beautiful and unique scenery though, it’s easily the most popular road trip and activity to do in Hawaii and the U.S. Most of the island’s natural wonders, i.e., stunning waterfalls, viewpoints, different colored beaches (red & black sand!), and lush bamboo forests can only be reached by taking the Road to Hana. This makes it a once-in-a-lifetime experience you can’t miss. Since there are many stops along the way, it’s hard to choose the best spots for your itinerary. Thus, in this guide, you’ll learn about the absolute best stops on the Road to Hana and the most picture-worthy places on Maui… (You will also find a FREE BONUS further down!)

Why This Guide?

Now, I know what you must be thinking – How hard can it be to follow this “Road to Hana”?
See, the problem you encounter while researching is that there are so many different stops along the road (40+ stops to be exact!) that you can’t possibly see all. At least, that’s how I felt the first time going to Maui. Many Road to Hana guides out there focus on different things or can get confusing after taking in so much information.

With that in mind, I created this easy first-timers guide for anyone looking for the BEST stops on the Road to Hana all in ONE PLACE. This guide also focuses on the most picture-worthy stops for everyone loving to take memorable photos on their vacation in Maui.

What to Know BEFORE Heading on the Road to Hana

Before jumping into the best stops, let’s look at the most important things you NEED to know before doing the Road to Hana road trip. It’s extremely crucial to keep in mind what to do & what NOT to do while driving the Hana Highway. Especially, if you’ve never been to Hawaii or have never heard of the Road to Hana and its “dangers”.

Useful Tips for the Road to Hana

1. When to leave?
   If you’re located in Kihei, leaving at 5:30 a.m. is the best choice in order to skip the crowds and get the best pictures. In general, leaving early is super important, otherwise you won’t be able to see all the best stops before sunset. If you don’t feel confident driving in the dark, you should also plan to get past the windy parts of Hana Highway before the sun sets. Ultimately, the earlier you leave, the better.
   
2. Food & Drinks
   Bring plenty of water and snacks – you’ll be on the road the whole day!
   There will be small food stands along Hana Hwy and some of them are definitely worth a visit. But don’t expect food stores or restaurants like in the cities of Kihei or Lahaina – Paia will be the last city before heading into the more quiet side of the island.
   
3. What to Pack?
   • Sunscreen
   • Swimwear (for the beaches & waterfalls)
   • Towels
   • Mosquito spray
   • Comfortable shoes (for hiking)
   • Cash (for park entrances, food stands & more)
   • Phone + portable charger
   • Camera
   • Toiletries like wipes etc. / first aid kit
   • Guides/maps

Get the full Road Trip Packing List here! (FREE)

The Best Stops on the Road to Hana
(for IG-worthy pictures)

Twin Falls

This beautiful waterfall will be the first stop on the Road to Hana. The hike to the Twin Falls only takes 25 minutes and is a very popular stop to start with. Since it’s at the very beginning, many people tend to miss it, so definitely keep an eye out for this natural beauty.

Rainbow Eucalyptus

Have you ever seen a Rainbow Eucalyptus? These stunning trees can be found on multiple stops along the trip, yet this might be the best option if you want to also see other Hawaiian native plants. The Garden of Eden Aboratorium has so much to offer and is the best place to learn about Maui’s flora and fauna.

Upper Waikani Falls aka “Three Bears”

These 3 waterfalls can be seen directly from the road. If you do want to jump in and take pictures up close, it will only be a 2-mile hike to get there. Since it’s easily accessible, this is a must-see stop on the Road to Hana.

Wai’ānapanapa State Park (Honokalani Beach)

This has to be the absolute BEST stop on the Road to Hana! Not only will you see Maui’s unique black sand beach, but also have the opportunity to hike around and up the cliffs to viewpoints and explore a volcanic cave. To get the best pictures without many people around, make sure you arrive early! Wai’ānapanapa is extremely popular and fills up very quickly – thus you’ll also need a reservation beforehand to even enter the park. Without a doubt, this is one of the best stops on the Road to Hana for unique pictures!

Learn more about it here.

Koki Beach

This beautiful beach with reddish sand and a large red cinder hill is perfect for taking pictures. It’s a great alternative if getting to the actual red sand beach is too risky / out of the way for you. On top of the beautiful scenery, the sand here is very unique and soft and the beach itself tends to not get as busy.

Hamoa Beach

A tropical beach dream! Even though it’s located next to Koki Beach it’s totally different – lighter sand and luscious greenery all around. 

Wailua Falls

Another waterfall that you will drive right by. If you decide to stop here, the waterfall can be reached by a short walk around the bridge. Perfect for a quick refresher and for taking Instagram-worthy pictures!

Ohe’o Gulch aka Seven Sacred Pools

Located within the Haleakalā National Park, these beautiful waterfalls & natural pools are a must-see. They can be reached by hiking the designated trail and are totally worth a visit.

Pīpīwai Trail

Right next to the Ohe’o Gulch, you’ll discover the Pīpīwai Trail (different hike entrance from the parking lot!). This 1.8-mile hike through lush bamboo forests has to be one of the best on the island. You can take stunning pictures on this trail and will even be rewarded at the end of it… (keep reading)

Waimoku Falls

Hiding at the very end of the Pīpīwai Trail you will discover this 400 ft tall waterfall. This is probably Maui’s most spectacular accessible waterfall. Please note that going past the viewing point and or swimming in the falls is not allowed. But even from a far, this waterfall is amongst the best stops on the Road to Hana and need to make the itinerary.

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And there you have it – that concludes my Road to Hana Guide and all the best stops to explore & take pictures!
Of course, there are so many more waterfalls, beaches, hikes, and viewpoints along the Hana Hwy but if you take on this trip for the first time, this will tick most of the boxes & answer the question of what are the best stops on the Road to Hana.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see everything, but we also visited other things that didn’t make this list. It always depends on how well you plan your itinerary, when you get going, and how much you want to see. So overall the Road to Hana really is a unique and individual experience for everyone taking it.

With these tips, you should be all set for creating the perfect Road to Hana itinerary for yourself now!

Nonetheless, I totally recommend going on this journey – it will be an unforgettable experience!
And as the Hawaiians say it: The Road to Hana is not a destination, but a journey… 

Please also share your favorite must-sees in the comments! 🙂

Want to read more about Maui? Check out these:
Vegan food guide to Maui || What to Do in Maui || Maui’s Best Beaches

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