Travel Hawaii
An aerial view of the road to Hana.
The Road to Hana
With narrow lanes and 600 twists and turns, it is a challenging but deeply rewarding drive By Tim Johnson
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tretching a total of 64 miles, Hana Highway transports you to another version of Hawaii, a long way from the poolside deck chairs of Kapalua. Along the way, you’ll pass through thick tropical forest, skirting blacksand beaches, seaside cliffs, and waterfalls. While Hana is worth the drive, the pleasure is in the journey—as you steer down Hawaii Routes 36 and 360, you’ll wind through more than 600 curves and pass over 46 one-lane bridges.
The Beginning Coming from the hotels of West Maui or Wailea, you’ll approach the beginning of Hana Highway along a four-lane highway, passing the island’s main gateway, the international airport at Kahului. A few miles beyond, the 58 I N S I G H T March 4–10, 2022
road now narrowed to two lanes, you’ll arrive in Paia—“busy town” in the local language. It’s a former hippie hotspot and home to one of Maui’s best surf breaks, creating massive waves that roll onto the white sand of Paia Bay (feel free to stop—all beaches in Hawaii are public and free to access, if you can find a parking place). This small village serves some of the island’s best seafood at Mama’s Fish House. A homey place set among swaying palm trees just past the main four corners in town, this restaurant even has its own dock so fishermen can pull right up to the back and unload the day’s freshest catch. While you’re just beginning your drive, you would be well-justified to tarry in Paia for a while—tuck into some ahi tuna or mahi-mahi with a mai-tai to wash it down, your table facing out to the Pacific and those sultry trade
PAIA
MAUI HANA
Hana Highway stretches 64 miles between Paia and Hana.
