The Road to Hana
Life is a journey, not a destination — The Road to Hana proves this adage. The Road to Hana is one of the most exciting road travel I have undertaken in the last few years. I include this journey in the five beautiful experiences in my life: vulcanoes National park in the small town of Musanze near Rwanda, a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, a visit to Angkor wat temple complex near Siem Reap, a fourteen km walk to Sri Mata Vaishanvdeo temple on Trikuta hills and the kayak ride to Pagsanjan falls near Manila.
Navigating and observing the beautiful sights along the road to Hana is exhilarating. I felt terrified several times on the drive, which was windy and narrow, though I was not driving. The forty-three-mile zig-zag travel has 620 curves and 59 single-lane bridges. Kudos to my daughter for her driving skills on this challenging road. As a driving etiquette, no one sounded a horn even while negotiating a deep hairpin bend. The driver needed to be careful and wait while crossing the bridges. The scenic drive truly is a heart-pumping adventure that left me breathless with anticipation for what lays around the next turn. I was humming involuntarily and pulled out my handphone several times on the way to take pictures.
I learned that the whole route to Hana was operational on December 18, 1926. Construction of bridges continued through the 1930s, and the road was not ready until the 1960s.
We were not in a hurry not to miss the panoramic beauty that distracts and delights from both sides of the road. Even though occasionally vexing, the drive overwhelms the senses, tempting us to pull off the highway 360 and stare. As my daughter was always at the wheel, I wondered whether she could appreciate the stunning vistas.
The Road to Hana is a photo opportunity:
- Waterfalls
- A tropical jungle
- Checker-board fields of taro patches
- Black lava rocks rimmed with white foam cast against towering cliffs in an ocean of the bluest blue.
Hana is a small sleepy town with a gas station, a general store, a school and a nursery. The journey began at a small village called Paia, while the winding road of thirty miles begins at Makawao. Our road trip ended at Haleakala National Park, and we got to see the Wailua Falls, the four hundred feet tall Waimoku Falls and the Seven Sacred Pools. The tourist guides recommend twelve places to stop by on the Road to Hana. If the time does not permit, these are the must-see places-
Mile marker 2: Twin Falls: The hike to see Twin Falls is unique and beautiful. The pools below the picturesque waterfalls offer a large area to swim.
Mile Marker 10: Garden of Eden, Arboretum: It’s worth paying a visit to enjoy walking the grounds, which are immaculately kept up and offer photo opportunities. I could see a 100-year-old mango tree,
bamboo trees, colourfully painted Eucalyptus trees, ocean views and Puohokamoa Falls. I could smell fresh flowers and watch birds of different colours and tiny butterflies during the short break.
Mile Marker 14: Honamanu Bay: This bay, nestled in a beautiful valley, is a dramatic beauty off the Highway, a stunning reminder of nature’s feats.
Mile Marker 29: Nahiku marketplace: Nahiku marketplace provides a pause on this long journey, which offers stunning views of lava outcrops and lava land. We savoured freshly baked banana bread and fresh POG (Passion fruit, Orange and Guava) juice.
Mile Marker 32: Wainapanapa State Park: The area at Wai’anapanapa is known for its history, legend, and gorgeous views. The black sand/pebbles at Pa’iloa Beach are very picturesque.
Mile Marker 45: Wailua Falls are what I consider the perfect falls. These falls are tall and beautiful, on the road and along a narrow bridge.
Mile Marker 51: Koki Beach A favourite hangout spot among local surfers, Koki Beach is just a few minutes from Hana’s south.
Beyond Hana: Kipahulu: Kapihalu was our final stop on this road, and worth spending hours at this portion of Haleakala National Park’ visiting Ohe’o Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools), the Pipiwai Trail, and four-hundred feet tall Waimoku Falls- a fitting finale to our trip.
We returned to Paia along highway 360 as per the advice of the locals avoiding the road around Haleakala Crater.
The Hana road journey lifted me, and my mind lightened with happy thoughts. The breathtaking views, stunning waterfalls, pristine beaches, and scary green valleys made me forget everything else. The road trip shall remain in my memory in the years to come.
