Road to Hana

[tim]

Good evening,

My wife and I are going to be taking a trip to Hawaii and are considering renting a motorcycle to take the "Road to Hana" and I am looking for any information I can get about what to look for, do and see on this trip.

Thanks for your input,

Tim

[R J]

Wife & I went in 2000.

We rented a motor, but ended up taking the Tour instead.

Ours, was van up, chopper back.    Was a beautiful afternoon flight back.
It takes all morning to drive up, like 13 miles or less, and 45 minutes to fly back.

Roads are so narrow, they are scary.   Trust me.

If you are driving, you will not see a 1/3 of it.....

Just my $.02.

[Chrisj CMA]

I disaagree with RJ... I grew up on Maui.  I learned that road before it was improved, today it has merge lanes and right of way stops...its still scary narrow but not like it was before.  Most of the points of interest are marked, parks where waterfalls are, lookouts and such.  I wouldnt rent a bike for it, simply because if you are not familiar with the road you will be too terrified to enjoy it, but if you take a car instead of a "tour" you can take your time and see what you want to see. I have done it on a bike once and in a car several times....car is better.  I recommend going all the way past Hana to the Seven Pools.  I can almost guarantee most tours wont do that, and the pools are so much fun if you get there on a warm sunny day.  Its hard to believe that on such a small island there can be such drastic weather changes, but its normal to leave the populated part of the island in hot sunshine and get into the rain forrest in cool to cold overcast and rain, so pack a light jacket no matter how it feels when you start out.  Have fun!

[tim]

Good morning,

Thanks for your input. Why is the road to Hana so scary? Is it scarier than the Dragon tail in NC and TN? Are there other roads that you would consider a more enjoyable ride on that Island or one of the other Islands? Laura and I would like to ride in Hawaii some time during our trip but obviously want to be able to enjoy the ride as well. Is the road to Hana paved? When I googled it it looked like it was a very windy but well conditioned road.

How much farther is the Seven Pools you talked about? Any particular waterfalls that we shouldn't miss?
Thanks again for your help.

Tim

[Chrisj CMA]

I rode motorcycles on Maui for years and there are plenty of pretty roads.....around the coast on the south west side and up the mountain we call it "up-country"  I highly recommend Maui as the best motorcycle riding destination of the Islands.  The big island of Hawaii has riding too, but its much bigger, you would need more time.

The road to Hana is more treacherous than the dragon because there are so many places that one car barely fits and you have to fit two somehow....that isint even taking in account the many many rock slides and water standing in curves and no shoulder either on the mountain side or the cliff to the ocean side.  I LOVE driving on that road, but Im used to it.  I enjoyed my one motorcycle ride on it, but I wouldnt have if it was my first trip.  I would have made it no problem, but I would not have enjoyed the view or the sites as much.

Maui is a cool Island because there are perfect beaches, black sand beaches, rain forrests, High mountain terrain, dessert terrain and the dang thing isint but like 30 miles long.  Oh, if you go to Maui, you MUST go up Haleakala Mountain for the sunrise.  You will freez yer butt off however, there is not a prettier sunrise anywhere.

Ooops....almost forgot....its another 30-45 miutes to the seven pools and you get some even narrower roads through the rain forrest....very cool.  The first large park you come to on the road to Hana with green railing lining the path (cant miss it) has a great waterfall you can find a path on the far side of the large pool, so you can hike up to the top of the waterfall and jump off......few tourists on the bus have time to do that

[Disco]

Oh, if you go to Maui, you MUST go up Haleakala Mountain for the sunrise.  You will freez yer butt off however, there is not a prettier sunrise anywhere.

+1 on the sunrise!  And, if you decide to do this, please consider one of the bicycle tours.  It's an EARLY morning, but the bicycle ride back down the mountain is fantastic.  Almost 30 miles of coasting / braking with only a couple hundred yards of pedaling! 

[Chrisj CMA]

Oh, if you go to Maui, you MUST go up Haleakala Mountain for the sunrise.  You will freez yer butt off however, there is not a prettier sunrise anywhere.

+1 on the sunrise!  And, if you decide to do this, please consider one of the bicycle tours.  It's an EARLY morning, but the bicycle ride back down the mountain is fantastic.  Almost 30 miles of coasting / braking with only a couple hundred yards of pedaling! 

Dave....me and my brothers used to take our bikes to the top of Haleakala before they had commercial bike tours.  We flew down, way faster than the guides let them go today......I still say me and my brothers gave someone the idea for that business.  But, I agree, its WAY fun

[bassman]

- Skip the bike and rent a car for Hana....maybe a bike on the 2nd or 3rd visit to Maui
- 7 pools is a great visit
- beyond the 7 pools (near Marker #41???) visit Charles Lindbergh grave...not many have seen it
       http://www.hawaiiweb.com/maui/sites_to_see/CharlesLindberghsGrave.htm
- sunrise on Haleakala is a must .. get there early and bring warm clothes
- we enjoyed the helicopter tour a LOT
- Maui chips!!

[Wizzard]

I have done this road twice and its fun and very very scenic. Do not get close to the edge as its a long drop in most places. Be sure and stop at the black sand beaches. One of the highlights for me is to eat at "mamas fish house" at the beginning of the road. You will love the trip.

[Gary]

I don't recall the scary part other than riding that Ultra Classic rental. It rained off and on both ways. I'd rent the bike again if I were to ever make it over there again. My son rented the bike for me for my 50th b-day present a few years back.

We missed the 7 pools but still had a fun filled schedule. Watch for pot holes! I hit one and lost the kickstand spring, had to rig up my bandana and a lanyard I ran across to work the kickstand. Try and do that with a helmet. 





The Black Sands on the way to Hana... cooool!




Then there was the whale watching, snorkeling, cliff/rock diving...
Very cool trip, I would like to go back again sometime. Bring lots of dough, everything is pricey.

[sattz]

Good times for sure, check out mile marker 17 the garden of eden and ask for Kaj  he makes museum quality beaded jewerly...and the gardens are great....the road demands all your  focus and energy...lots of fruit in the roadway, and locals trying to sell fake buds...they carry them like ice cream cones while you drive by.....have fun either way..just my humble opinion..mikey likes the islands.