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Our family vacations tend toward the more laid back. We are a sit-on-the-beach and relax kind of family rather than a sightseeing clan. Our trip to Hawaii was no exception. Pre-trip we did outline some cool things to see and do, but our intention was to Live Like A Local for three weeks in the paradise that is Hawaii. The only big activity that we planned made us both excited and nervous. We had plans to Drive the Road To Hana with kids.
Driving the Road to Hana is definitely worth it, although it takes some thought and planning. I am so excited to share my Road to Hana tips with you!
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Driving The Road To Hana with Kids
Where is the Road To Hana?
If you have never been, the Road to Hana is exactly that, a 64-mile, two-lane road that connects the western, more populated part of Maui to the eastern, more remote part of the island. This road is narrow, with 600 hairpin turns and 54 bridges, many of them only wide enough for one car at a time. This scenic drive takes you along the north coast of Maui, past many waterfalls and through the tropical rainforest.
The road begins around the town of Paia, symbolically at Mile Marker (MM) 0 when Highway 36 becomes Highway 360. Confusingly the larger town on the east side, Hana is not actually the end of the road. It is past Hana that the paved road does literally end and only those with a four-wheel vehicle can proceed to circumnavigate the island. It is also confusing because around MM 50, the highway changes its name from Highway 360 to Highway 31, and the Mile Marker numbers start decreasing. Our intention was to make it all the way to the Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools) but we ran out of daylight!
Hawaii Pro-Tip: Check with your rental company, most do not allow their cars to be driven on unpaved roads, even SUVs
Along the road are dozens of natural, and man-made attractions. All navigation is done by noting the Mile Marker (MM) the stop is at or near. For our trip, I spent days reading articles and making notes of the different attractions we might be interested in seeing. I also consulted Fodor’s Hawaii (I highly recommend this guidebook).
The night before we left, I organized my research, wrote out a list in numerical MM order, of where to stop on the road to Hana. As I learned from my research and experience, if you pass a place you were hoping to stop, it is impossible to turn around, so its good to be prepared!
What to know BEFORE You Drive the Road to Hana with Kids
- Many folks swear by this Road to Hana CD that you can play while driving the Road to Hana with kids. However, I knew my children would not be interested in listening to a guide, so we did not utilize an audio tour. However, this would be a good option if I was just with my spouse or traveling with older kids. I am sure we would have learned a lot more about what we were seeing if we had an a companion audio component.
- Before heading out, I read conflicting advice on the availability of food on the Road to Hana. Let’s just say there is no Starbucks or Mickey D’s, but we made several stops that had food concessions. There are also several restaurants in the town of Hana. We did (as we always do when we get in the car) bring plenty of snacks and drinks. Nobody starved.
- However, one amenity that is not plentiful along the Road to Hana is gas stations. We filled up in Paia, and I strongly recommend doing so. Make sure you have enough fuel to make it out and back. We learned about the lack of fuel stations on the islands during our trip to Mauna Kea, but I’ll save that story for another post.
- We had hoped to swim in a waterfall and at the black sand beach at Wainapanapa State Park, so we all wore swimsuits under our clothes. We also had four towels easily accessible in the trunk. I highly recommend doing this!
- Lastly, if you can, plan to stay the night on the east side of the island. This was the one piece of advice my friend had given me. Staying in Hana was probably one of the highlights of my travel career. It also afforded us the luxury of not having to get started super early in the morning, and we had all day to explore the sites. I could not imagine having to drive back down this super-windy road in the dark. I definitely did not see street lamps! Staying over made driving the road to Hana with kids so much more manageable for us.
Where to stop on the Road to Hana
Here is my review of the sites and attractions that we stopped at. We left Kihei around 9:30, checked out of our VRBO, and loaded up our rental sedan with all of our suitcases. We stopped in Paia for gas and then spent all day driving, getting to Hana in time for dinner. Here is where to stop on the Road to Hana, in Mile Marker (MM) order.
MM2- Twin Falls. In my research, this seemed like the must stop spot on the Road to Hana. We excitedly pulled over at our first destination and were able to find a space in the parking lot. We checked out the fruit stand and sampled a cup of sugar cane juice. Although a fun novelty to be drinking sugar cane juice, no one actually liked this drink! We all took sips and then tossed it! At least we tried.
This stop was very disappointing and I would recommend that if you have little kids, you bypass this one altogether. There will be plenty of other places to see waterfalls – PLENTY. To actually see anything good, you had to hike up a long trail, which our kids did not have the stamina for. It was also very buggy here.
MM6- Huelo Lookout. Stopping here provides you with a scenic overlook as well as a food stop. The fruit stand offered local fruits and fresh smoothies. If you go a few feet down the path, there is a girl in a cart making waffles and acai bowls. On the way out to Hana, we sampled some smoothies. On the way back the following day, I had an acai bowl for breakfast, which was quite delicious and enough food for about 5 people!
MM9/10- Waikamoi Vantage Point. On a curve between mile markers 9 and 10, there is a little parking lot on the island side of the road. You can walk up to higher elevation and get some nice views of the water. On our stop here little man was fascinated with someone flying a drone. There were hiking trails to go further up, but we decided to skip those.
MM16/17- Keane Peninsula and Aunty Sandy’s. This was one of our favorite stops along the Road to Hana. About halfway between mile markers 16 and 17 there is a turn off which puts you on a small road heading toward the water. Look for the green sign for the Keane Peninsula. Here you will find a few houses and Aunty Sandy’s banana bread/shave ice/lunch spot.
We stopped here right around lunchtime and hubby and I had an actual meal (veggie burger and pork sandwich) and the kids each had a shave ice. Looking back, they must have heavily snacked in the car to be allowed a shave ice lunch, but again, live like the locals. Before we departed, we went to buy a loaf of their world famous banana bread, only to be told it was still baking and that it would be twenty minutes until the next batch was ready.
So we kept going to the end of the small road and came across a little park. This park had clean restrooms (take note, very important on the Road to Hana!), tide pools, and rocks that we all climbed on, watching the ocean spray up at us. Other families were having a picnic here, and this would definitely be a great spot to do so.
After the park, we were able to stop again at Aunty Sandy’s and get a loaf of the famous banana bread. It came warm, right out of the oven and it was delicious! It also made a great breakfast the following morning.
MM 17.3 Halfway to Hana. This milestone is marked by a little convenience store. On the way out, we just passed it by. The next morning, on the way back to Paia, I stopped here to get a coffee and some fresh fruit. This would be a good food stop if you missed the turn off for Aunty Sandy’s.
MM 19- Waikani Falls. When you drive up, just past MM 19, you will find illegally parked cars along the mountain side right before you cross a one-lane bridge. This is the spot to see, and swim, in a gorgeous 70-foot waterfall. We got out of the car to see the falls and try to figure out how to descend underneath to swim. After looking around and consulting with others who were wondering the same, we realized you had to make quite a steep (and dangerous looking) hike to get in the water. There were plenty of people down there, and we thought about it, until a couple came by and alerted us to another, easier to access waterfall three miles further down.
MM 22-Puaa Kaa State Wayside Park. Here is where we got to swim in a waterfall! To access the falls, you still had to tread carefully and cross the stream over some slippery rocks, but we all managed to make it to the base of the waterfall. The water was really cold! I swam out, but got nervous when it got deep- you never know what kind of critters might be in there!
Swimming here was truly a highlight of the trip and I definitely recommend seeking out this stop. There is an actual parking lot here, and restroom facilities as well. Of course this stop was not on my original “itinerary” but we heard about it from a fellow traveler – a good reminder to approach this journey with an open mind and flexibility!
MM 32 – Wainapanapa State Park. This is a large state park that offers campgrounds, a black sand beach and beautiful views. We arrived here late in the day and spent about an hour in the tunnels, on the beach, and in the water. The beach was beautiful and it was the first black sand beach we visited in Hawaii. The sand was more like black rocks. All four of us had a lot of fun crashing in the big waves. This would be a great spot to boogey board.
We did not stay at Wainapanapa as long as we would have liked, but in August the Hawaiian sun sets around 7pm, and we wanted to eat dinner and have time to find our rental house in the daylight hours.
MM34/35- Hana Ranch House. This was our dinner stop. The consensus is that the town of Hana is situated at mile marker 34, and at this point there were a few restaurants. The Hana Ranch House seemed to be affiliated with the Travaasa hotel, as it is situated across the street.
This restaurant offered regular American fare, burgers, chicken, pasta, seafood, and also had a full bar. There was a kid’s menu, vegetarian options, and fast service, so it suited our needs perfectly. A little overpriced, even for Hawaii, but in this remote area if you want to go out to eat, the options are limited.
Hana Accommodations
At the advice of friends, we decided to stay the night in Hana. This was our last night on the island of Maui. We checked out of our rental in Kihei, taking all of our luggage with us. The following day we drove back to the airport to catch our flight to the Big Island.
Overnight Hana accommodations are limited. One option is to rent Wai’anapanapa cabin. The price is right at $90 per night (cheaper for Hawaii residents), but you have to bring your own linens so that was a logistical deal breaker for us. There is one hotel, the Travaasa but its super fancy, and super expensive (I was quoted $650 a night for the time of our stay). When I looked on VRBO, I only found two house rentals that would have suited our needs. Ultimately I decided to book a night at Mack’s Shack in Hana.
Mack’s Shack is a one-bedroom, solar powered, Hawaiian plantation home located between MM 27 and 28. To get there, you had to ascend a steep gravel hill, driving amongst mooing cows! The house has a beautiful wrap around porch and a ton of windows and natural light. Staying here we felt so isolated from the outside world. We slept with the windows open, which provided a cool breeze, and we listened to animal sounds all night.
The house is a small one bedroom dwelling. To sleep four, one person had to sleep on the couch and one on an air bed. The house was also very buggy, although that is to be expected in a tropical rainforest. For me, it was a great place to hang our heads for one night, but not somewhere I would want to stay for a longer duration (mainly because of the bugs). I should add though, that there was Wi-Fi and satellite TV. So after a long day of exploring nature, we were able to come home and watch the women’s gymnastic finals from the Rio Olympics. A great mesh of old world charm and modern conveniences!
I found Mack’s shack on VRBO. If you need more tips on booking a vacation rental, be sure to read this post.
Driving the Road to Hana with kids was a highlight of the whole Hawaii trip. It was such an unparalleled experience for us. Waking up in East Maui, I felt like I was at the end of the world! Our kids did get a little bored in the car, but luckily no one got carsick! We did have barf bags just in case. And I will admit, scenic drives can be a more adult oriented activity, but the kids loved seeing the waterfalls, the rainbow eucalyptus trees and swimming at the black sand beach and in a waterfall.
Sounds incredible, right?
Have you driven the Road to Hana with kids? What was your trip like? What stops should we be sure to include next time?
Photo credit: paul bica via Visualhunt / CC BY
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Um, jealous! I’ll get there someday, thanks for all the recommendations. Love your site, by the way!
Thank you!
We loved loved the road to Hana. We’re going back to Hawaii next summer and will definitely drive the road to hana again.
yes i feel like you can do it many times and see different things. Next time I would like to go past Hana.
This looks so fun! I was a really big LOST fan, and apparently they filmed through many of these areas.
I didnt realize that! I used to watch that show a long time ago. I know at the Maui crater they film any scenes that are supposed to take place in space because the surface of the crater does look like Mars!
Aww I remember this drive when I was in 8th grade!! It was spring break and I had to do some catch up reading in the back seat of the rental… this is not an experience I would recommend to others!! Windy roads + reading = massive car sickness
that is hilarious! yes, def did not let the kids have their ipads and we did bring barf bags. I was so surprised no one got sick, my son is really prone to car sickness but thankfully he was ok!
That trip looks absolutely incredible. Your family is beautiful! I have never traveled there but sounds like something I would enjoy. Thanks for sharing- also- do you mind sharing what type of camera you use- your photos are gorgeous! Have a great weekend!
I have a really old canon digital! Its seriously like 10 years old! thanks for stopping by, I am very blessed to have such wonderful pictures of the Road to Hana. I have so many more!
I did this when I lived in Hawaii many years ago. I hope to return with my family someday soon.
Despite the long trip, Hawaii was amazing for kids. Its like a started abroad trip since there are so many comforts of home, but it is very foreign in a lot of respects. Nature and cultural sites that you dont get in other places. The jet lag (which was bad!) and long haul was worth it!
We spend February in Maui every year, and have never done the road to Hana. (Although we have started a few times. ha!) I think this year we will attempt to do it again! Thanks for the inspiration!
it was super intimidating, but really, its just driving and stopping at cool stuff. def do it! (PS so jealous you go to Maui every year!)
Beautiful photos. Glad it was a fabulous trip!
Thank you! I have so many pics, had to narrow it down to the better ones!
I just returned back from my trip to St Lucia, and your blog post has me wanting to return already! Very inspiring! Enjoy your travels!
I have never been to st. lucia, would love to go, I hear there are some great all inclusives!
Looks like a great time, lovely pictures. The food looks so yummy, I am hungry now 🙂 Thanks for sharing at the weekend blog hop..
thanks for stopping by! I need to recreate that acai bowl at home, Ive noticed trader joes now has frozen acai cubes.
Thank you so much for all the pictures. It almost feels like I was there. And lots of good tips if I ever get to go. Staying the night sounds like the way to go. And not having Starbucks and Mc D on the way is a great plus in my book.
it was really a once in a lifetime chance to disconnect (although like i said, having the satellite tv and the olympics was fun, we didnt want to miss the womens finals!) I planned my trip by reading similar posts by other bloggers and making a list, so pin to your travel bucket list board! 🙂
Hawaii looks beautiful and I have never heard of Hana. The Wakamoi Vantage Point looks stunning and well worth the walk! The Waikani Falls look gorgeous too!
I know! I had not heard of it until my friend mentioned it, even though this was my third trip to Hawaii (second to Maui!)
Hey Harmony, great article. I actually graduated from the University of Hawai’i and we used to go to Maui often. You definitely should go back and keep going past Hana. The rest of the journey is other worldly. You definitely get into some of those roads that car companies frown upon you going on but as long as you go slow its worth it. There is nothing on that southeast side of the island except some Hawaii homestead farmers, Charles Lindbergh’s grave and a church and a general store with a few friendly cats. There are almost zero tourists and it is quite amazing to be basically alone on one of the world’s most secluded islands! Thanks for bringing me back through your post! -Ryan from Raleigh Traveler.
I know, I need to go back to Hawaii, and Maui about 10 more times to do and see everything! My kids could have easily stayed in the black sand beach all day, I felt bad telling them we had to go, but we were buying time against the sunlight!
WOW! Living vicariously through you and your beautiful family!
The acai bowl looks DELICIOUS!!!! I’m sitting here eating thai coconut soup (I’m doing whole30) and I’ve been craving alllll the coconut things. So jelly of your trip!! XO
yeah acai bowls havent made their way to my area yet, this was a fun thing to try, she made it fresh right in front of me
I love your photos!! Hawaii is on my bucket list for sure. This sounds like a dream!
Thanks! These came out particularly well, I took my old camera with me!
This looks like an awesome trip! We plan to take our girls to Hawaii once they get a little older and I’ll have to put this on the list of possible activities.
I have a “Maui with Kids” post that I am working on to publish hopefully later this week!
I love the thought of driving to Hana, but it TERRIFIES me too. I can’t imagine all the turns, one car bridges, and dangerous cliffs. I know I’d have to close my eyes the entire ride haha.
My son always gets car sick in taxis and on airplanes, but suprisngly he was fine! We had barf bags just in case. It really wasnt as bad as I thought it would be.
This post made me smile so much! I’m from Maui, and lived there for 18 years before I moved to Canada. I miss it so much, so seeing all of your photos and commentary made me so much less homesick!
awwwww…. Im working on a “Maui with Kids” post right now! Definitely check that out.
I think that I would really love to see that black sand beach. The whole trip looks beautiful. I’m pinning this for a future trip to Hawaii someday!
-Brittany of GraceLoveLife.com
it was so cool! I think even better than the one on the Big Island that is so famous (although we went in the rain)
Thanks for all the tips and suggestions! I will be exploring the road to Hana with my family next month. As a matter of fact, I just made a reservation at Macks Shack last night! ? I felt it would be ideal just for one night. Any other pointers you’d like to add, pls do so! I have two girls 3 & 9. Thx!
Mack’s Shack was great, but it was buggy! It was perfect for one night. Hmm.. I did put pretty much all my pro-tips in the post. Bring your snacks, Loved AUnty Sandy’s for the banana bread, made a great breakfast the next day. I wish we could have gone past Hana, but our flight to the Big Island we had to get back to the airport! Enjoy! jealous! want to return!
I’ve never driven the Road to Hana, but it seems like there is more than enough to do on the way to the destination. I was just on the island of Oahu back in April. I would love to visit Maui one day! I’ve always wanted to visit a black sand beach, and I completely agree with you when you say the waves crash. When my sister and I went to the beach, the waves were something we had never experienced before!
it was only on my THIRD Hawaiian getaway that I got to Hana!
I loved this post! When I was 15, and my first ever trip to Hawaii, we drove the road at Hana and I remember it being such a crazy experience. We however did it with barely any time left on our itinerary and at night in the rain. (Made for an interesting experience as you can imagine!) I am totally pinning this because not only am I itching to visit Hawaii again (haven’t been in almost 10 years!), but I would love to drive the road to Hana again and truly experience all it has to offer!
oh wow, that sounds so crazy! We really took our time 🙂
Awww, the Road to Hana…we took a delayed honeymoon trip to Maui. Unfortunately, I was pregnant when we went and more motion sick than normal. All the hairpin turns on that road were not good for my system! However, I think we stopped at all the same spots and even swam by the same waterfall! I forget the name of the place where we ate in Hana, but they had an AMAZING off menu Oxtail stew. Yum! It was an amazing trip – would love to go there again! Way to go doing it with small kiddos!
oh wow, my son is very prone to car sickness and somehow he was okay!
Just as beautiful as my BFF Tom says it is – he would move there in a hearbeat if he could but for now we just have to settle for visiting. I love these more obscure Hawaiian locations
Looks like an awesome, beautiful adventure! Great idea to spend the night in Hana. And banana bread from Aunty Sandy’s sounds delicious!
I love road trips and this one looks amazing! I’d definitely try the audio guide – haven’t done one of those on a road trip but it’s a great idea!
Oh wow! I´ve never been on Hawaii but it is on my bucket list. I love the impressive Green. Hope to visit this wonderful place soon.
Greetings from Germany!
Sabine
Loved this, and it brought back so many great memories of when we drove it. Did you continue on around the island or head back. We did the whole loop and were rewarded with a great little winery on the other side who sells (and samples) pineapple wine. Loved your choice of accommodation at Mack’s Shack — sounds like it fit the occasion perfectly!
no we did an out and back. we did not have a four wheel drive vehicle.
This looks like such a beautiful drive. We absolutely love doing drives like this because it’s such a great way to see things. Would love to do this if we ever make it to Hawaii!
Looks great, especially those waterfalls 🙂 Lots of useful tips
Hawaii has been on my bucket list forever! I would love to do all of this someday. Someday…
Girl, I am definitely bookmarking this site. There are a TON of places to see and go. Once I convince my husband to travel the world with me and our three kids lol. He’s a home body and camping no more than 6 hrs away from home is not customary for him. But I’ll break, you’ll see. Anyway, thanks for the tips!
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