Drive over 54 bridges and 600 twisting curves, and visit pineapple fields, eucalyptus trees, taro vines, waterfalls, black sand beach, and Charles Lindbergh’s grave.
Anyone who’s journeyed to our westernmost state will tell you that this is a trip that’s not to be missed. The 100-mile, round-trip excursion clocks in at 6 hours, and provides 54 bridges and more than 600 curves sure to please the adventurous driver. The twisting “highway” is well-paved but narrow, so caution is advised.
Route 36 begins in Kahului, where the sugar fields and coastline offer miles of unspoiled scenery. Stop off at Paia, the last place for gasoline or picnic provisions before Hana. Once a sugar plantation town, Paia now is home to an easygoing blend of hippies, surfers, and craftsmen. The road ascends precipitously through the pineapple fields from here. Just past the 16-mile marker, it is renamed Route 360, and the mile markers go back to zero. Past the 9-mile marker, stop at the short Waikamoi Ridge Trail to take in the taro vines and eucalyptus trees. Next up are Puohokamoa Falls and Waikamoi Falls, the latter a great spot to have that picnic you packed back in Paia. Honomanu Bay, with its rocky, black sand beach and rough waters, offers a route from which to view the spectacular panorama.
Driving past the Keanae Arboretum, famous for native and introduced flora, the road starts to climb high above the ocean at this point. Just past the Hana Gardenland nursery, take a side trip to the left on the rutted Ulaino road heading to Piilanihale Heiau, a large, 14th Century temple constructed of lava rocks. Back on Route 360, Waianapanapa State Park offers caves and a black sand beach. Soon you’ll reach the village of Hana, where you can visit the upscale the Wananalua Church, the Hana Cultural Center, and Hotel Hana-Maui. Although the drive finishes in Hana, the road continues as Route 31 to Oheo Gulch in Haleakala National Park. In the neighboring village of Kipahulu is the burial place of ace flyer Charles Lindbergh. Take a deep breath and go back to Kahului on the same route.
Starting Point:
Kahului, Maui
Distance of Drive:
107 miles
Must Eat:
Mama’s Fish
799 Poho Place, Paia, HI 96779 (Kahului area)
Phone: 808-579-8488
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For: Local Seafood
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Year round
Points of Interest on Drive:
Puohokamoa Falls
Keanae Arboretum
Piilanihale Heiau
Tagged with: beach • best time:yearround • Hawaii • volcano
Filed under: Best Road Trips