But if youre confident (and safe) while driving, the Kahekili Highway and Maui Highway 340 road trip might just be for you! Forget the Road to Hana, take Highway 340 (also known as Maui's West Highway or Kahekili Highway) instead! But dont miss out on the famous banana bread yum! Loved the tips section especially about packing water and snack, Love this adventurous Kahkili highay drive. But unlike the Hana Highway, it's a mystery to most visitors. The drive itself can be done in a couple of hours without stops. I was in this area a couple of times but always took the more sane road back to the Piai area, but not this time. Its the same gorgeous blue water youre used to in Hawaii only without the loads of tourists. The many twists and turns on the one path of the labyrinth reflect the journey of life, which includes changes of direction, transitions, realization, and completion. The Kahekili Highway in the northwest of Maui fro. A . My family hiked this with hiking shoes and trekking poles, which I recommend, especially if its recently rained. Some like the adventure, some like the beach to each his/her own. It sounds perfect for us! You can get thoroughly wet. This is a dangerous place to swim. You could literally hang out here for a day, or just park at the lookout and see it briefly. Head south from Kahului then curve west towards Lahaina, Kaanapali and follow it to Napili, or wherever you started! The Road to Hana or Hana Highway is the highlight of Maui for many visitors. Honestly, if you have to choose just one adventure, it will be difficult! Note: I am absolutely not encouraging you to swim in the natural pools. This was not a relaxing or pleasant way to spend time on vacation. We drive this road every time we go to Maui and its my favorite. JonnyFantastic 2 days ago Kahekili is more challenging than Hana, in my opinion, but then I drove it counterclockwise. People have been killed as they get sucked back into the hole by the retreating water at this and other blowholes in Hawaii.. What are some good. Its a legendary road known for switchbacks, narrow passages, and dangerous road conditions. It is quite beautiful, but kind of scary! Wow! The Scenic Route from West Maui to Central or Upcountry Maui: The Kahekili Highway The usual road from west Maui to Wailuku is the Honoapiilani Highway (Hwy. But you need at least 4-5 hours to enjoy the scenery and see the highlights on the Kahekili Highway. We talked to many locals before going on the road, even one lady who lives up the road on the Head. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What even is this incredible road with such stunning natural beauty!? Hope everyone realizes that driving this road in a rental car, invalidates your rental contract. You can drive the road to Hana yourself, or take a tour in a van . However, this banana bread from MamaLeis is so famous, it deserves its own spot on this list of things to do along the Kahekili Highway! Hana Highway, also known as the Road to Hana, runs for more than 64 miles along state Highways 360 and 36, connecting Hana in east Maui with Kahului. It is narrower that Hana Highway and similar in many ways. Be sure to always wear reef-safe sunscreen when in Hawaii, or any ocean destination for that manner. We strongly advise against driving Kahekili Highway with children and people with sensitive stomachs or travel sicknesses. Depending on the tide and weather conditions when you go, the blowhole could be showing off or pretty minimal. I'd love to do this road trip. Be careful because the water hits full force if you want to get closer.The rocks are very slippery. Required fields are marked *. If youre hungry at all, youve gotta do Braddah Chics Stop! I guess if you like this sort of thing, it would be terrific because the terrain and views and everything else is wonderful.But the road is simply too dangerous for most of us and takes away from the beauty of the surroundings. This stretch of road is far less touristy than most of the island of Maui. At the parking lot, theres a short walk out to the overlook. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Especially if youve done the Road to Hana, which has gotten incredibly popular and busy. We were staying in Kihei and drove up to Lahaina to see the sights. Your email address will not be published. We only describe the places we have been to, which we know and recommend without hesitation. Good call! But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. But those in search of a back-to-nature driving experience should go the other way, along the Kahekili Highway (Hwy. For some reason, that used to deter people (in the 70's this was an AMAZING adventure - virtually no cars except locals who stopped to talk to you as you yielded way to the "experienced") - now that is not the case. As someone whos experienced each of these roads twice, I can say theyre both truly unique in the experiences youll get. But to be precise, it is necessary to explain that Kahekili Highway is divided into three sections. This is the real deal and you must be comfortable driving on this type of narrow road with big drop offs, and no help for miles. It is easy to trip. . Ah so cool Yvonne! If you want to snorkel, dont forget to pack a Snorkel Set, and Quick-Drying Towel, and check out this detailed guide to the best diving spots in Honolua Bay. This scenic drive is really around the entire side of west Maui. The hike itself is beautiful and short, but rocky and slippery. At the end of Highway 30, the excellent road gives way to a simple asphalt road that narrows and becomes very narrow and winding. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. I don't recommend this drive as you are not able to trust the drivers coming the other way. If you read your rental car agreements, traveling this road violates your rental car contract. . Thats the unwritten rule, the people on the ocean cliff side (makai) have the right of way, and you must somehow do whatever you can to allow them to pass. High Street from Main Street to Honoapiilani Highway (Route 30) 9. Although the addresses here are technically Wailuku, this small village is a cluster of a few homes and businesses in the most picturesque valley on earth.. I think I've driven (or been a passenger) on this road more than a half dozen times in the last 10 years - this last year was the worse. I would drive Hana in a heart beat over this any day. I havent seen many pictures of the inside, but its so pretty. You will not see any change on the road which is for the moment beautiful, wide, not very winding and lined with a few shrubs. Ottsworld is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The Road to Hana has unique attractions like the black sand beach (Honokalani Beach within the Waianapanapa State Park) and more waterfalls. What to wear and what to pack for the Kahekili Highway trip? This is one of the most beautiful bays on the west coast of Maui. Shutterstock Visitors to Maui will be charmed by a beautiful drive along the Hana Highway that offers some of the most spectacular sights on the Hawaiian Islands. But if you drive the Hana full loop, the road gets pretty sketchy past Hana, but still doable in a sedan. If you love driving, this is for you - but staying alert is key, as you'll run into a few surprise obstacles along the way. Round trip circumnavigating the north part of Maui takes about 3 hours. The road to Hana is more rain forest like and more tree canopy covered. But since youre probably not here to read about all the things to do in Kaanapali or Lahaina, so lets start north of the ultra-touristy spots and work our way around. If youre wanting to make this stop quick or are traveling with young kids, just going to the overlook is adequate. Amazing! Enjoy! It's scary! This has got to be one of the most beautiful places to live on the planet! There is also a great lil' place with shave ice (Ululani's) where you can also buy cds of Grammy award winning Ho'ipi'i Brothers. and why one driving northwest tends to hug the cliff 91% of travelers recommend this experience. Labyrinths are tools for walking meditation and spiritual growth. The downhill traffic on the makai side ALWAYS yields to vehicles traveling uphill on the mauka side. It looks damn amazing. Incredibly disappointing, sickening, mi-ser-a-ble day. I stopped to buy some jam and chatted with the woman who lived there. What a trip!!! This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The village is home to about 100 people. Quality water shoes with traction are imperative for this adventure! Punalau Beach looks gorgeous! I happened to see some on private property, so this picture is from the road. There is a hiking trail to the blowhole if youre up for the adventure! Hi Sherry, I truly enjoyed reading this in-depth blog and gained valuable insights from it. ENJOY THIS AWESOME ROAD!!! - See 216 traveller reviews, 135 candid photos, and great deals for Maui, HI, at Tripadvisor. WTF. Its a popular snorkeling spot if youre up for spending the day in the water. Its rather small and room for just a couple cars. Driving time without stops is about 2 hours. I still recommend it because it IS that gorgeous but be careful! I pulled over and ate my picnic poke lunch at a lookout with absolutely no one around. Kahekili Highway (Hawaii Route 340, Hawaii State Highway 340) is considered one of the most dangerous roads in Hawaii and the USA. They are based on patterns that are thousands of years old and have roots in many cultures and traditions. It's dangerous! This looks like it will be a good option for snorkeling for us. 30), which runs along the coast and then turns inland at Maalaea. Do you need a Jeep for road to Hana? It will take you about 30 minutes. On a one-lane road, if you can not see around the corner to see if someone is coming towards you, honk a few times to let people know you are coming around the corner. Oh, and dont forget the ocean-safe sunblock. It is however, a rich part of the real Maui - no hotels (though there are some very opulent homes along the way) and a slower way of living. In our. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Please respect the locals and their private land. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Its common, especially with children. She of course said she loved it! Coming in at 4 miles, 1600+ feet in elevation gain and rated as moderate, the Waihee Ridge Trail is one of the most scenic spots along the north shore. You can also get a great close up view of Kahakuloa Head which is 636 feet high. Great for you all thrill seeks. This route is more open and has so many amazing views. This ones really for the adventurous soul. There is also a short paved trail, the Overlook Trail, leading to a headland where you can see sweeping views of the rugged coastline. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Thanks Jan! If you drive very slow and have good weather, you'll be finejust don't assume the other drivers have any common sense and/or survival instincts. It sounds like the perfect adventure for your next trip to Maui!! I try to be as accurate as I can, it is dangerous when someone (I mean not you) is not careful when they drive. Also, you can look farther ahead to see oncoming traffic. It is what we call the road to Hana today. Also known as State Highway 340, it also happens to be one of the most dangerous roads in Maui. His bold approach to leadership warrior spirit made him well-known during his reign and for centuries after. What restaurants are near Kahekili Highway? A beautiful drive -if you have the right driver. A beautiful drive with several noteworthy stops (the Blowhole, the Olivine pools, Karen's's Lei Gallery, banana bread). My Wife (Rose) and I rented a Harley and drove on this road back in 2011, I was 49 years old then, what a Great ExperienceWe went the same route from West to North (Mauis Head), (The recommended route since cliffs are on your right instead of the ocean also it was easier with the motorcycle to find places in the cliffs to squeeze our bike in for passing traffic. I recommend both but I guarantee you will never forget this road. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm Sherry, a corporate cube dweller turned nomadic traveler. The last part of the ride is much easier. We are always looking for new things to do and the Kahelkili Highway drive certainly looks like a challenge. More waterfalls happened to see the highlights on the planet picnic poke lunch at lookout... Help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, source! To leadership warrior spirit made him well-known during his reign and for after. 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Do and the Kahelkili Highway drive certainly looks like it will be!.
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