Scary!! Stopped several times to admire the beauty and buy some goodies at the stands. My girlfriend has lived on Maui for 16 yrs. But what a view! 132 Culvert, located on Makani Road between Apana Road and Kaupea Street. Privacy Policy. Yet Kahekili highway was one very few people knew about which is probably what made me love it even more. Again, no trespassing just for a photo! Road to Hana, Black Sand Beach, Waterfalls 2-Hour Whale Watching Experience! It's time to book a trip! 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 provides incredible views of Maui, but travelers must be wary of the risk and challenges associated with driving this highway first and plan accordingly. Well, thats a wrap! I know it will take us most of the day! We do not recommend the Kahekili Highway for everyone. 92% of travelers recommend this experience. The Punalau Beach is better for surfing and watching the waves than for swimming. Someone posted that an unwritten rule says that drivers on the makai/cliff side have that right of way. The road has sheer drop offs on one side and a rock wall on the other side. If I lived here, I wouldnt necessarily want tourists coming in and wreaking havoc on the area, either! For this reason, I recommend just stopping at the lookout point and continuing on with the road trip adventure. Kahekili Highway (Hawaii Route 340) is a single-lane paved road framed by rocks on one side and sheer cliffs on the other. The last part of the ride is much easier. If you want to show reverence for this land, you will not follow this amateurs advice. Scenic but not for the sissies and shouldnt be attempted by novice drivers! I am glad I did. Please take this into account. It is a long and difficult drive on a narrow winding mountain road. Just after mile marker 16, watch for rainbow eucalyptus trees. The road to Hana is more rain forest like and more tree canopy covered. Thats why the hill is known as Kahekilis Leap (just like Black Rock in Kaanapali). It is worth stopping here for a moment because the rugged mountain serpentine ride is about to begin. We drove this road during one of our Maui trips and it is gorgeous! Great for you all thrill seeks. Explore different ways to experience this place. New weight limit 16 tons. Seriously though, Kahekili Hwy should not be confused with "The Road to Hana," a popular tourist activity on the island of Maui. I knew you had to hike to it, and luckily at one of my roadside stops for a picture, I met a guy from Wisconsin who knew where it was. Ended up at Slaughterhouse Beach for a fantastic sunset and I foolishly decided to just keep going. One of the most popular stops along the Kahekili Highway, this is a must-do! In our. And given this stretch of highway has deep cliffs that dive straight into the water, the name is certainly fitting! Forget the Road to Hana, take Highway 340 (also known as Maui's West Highway or Kahekili Highway) instead! But its also extremely narrow at points. The Road to Hana is one of the most popular things to do in Maui. It certainly looks breathtakingly beautiful, unspoiled, and uncrowded but, I go to Maui to relax so, this road is not for me! Whether this is your first time to Maui or your 10th theres something you should know: the banana bread competition here is fierce! we are going to live in Wailea , and want to go to Ion Valley Needle, Waihee Ridge Trail, Honolua Bay Scenic Lookout, Olivine Pools The Ohai Loop Trail is an excellent short hike on the north side of West Maui. 36 and Hwy. This post contains some affiliate links. My wife took the pictures and videoed most of our drive. Its essentially a one-lane road, and at some spots barely wide enough for an SUV. Oh, and the roads are still very narrow the next 5 miles or so. Its a great place to stretch your legs for a little while! Wow, Maui is a stunning place. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Dress comfortably for the trip. Lots of interesting stops along the route. Not counterclockwise, the RT 30 was closed and apple maps took us to the 340 we had never heard about this road and i had a bad feeling seeing how curvy it was. Keep our reefs and sea life safe by using the proper stuff. I asked her about what it was like to live so remotely out here. The other reviewers are right - the scenery (when you stop and take it in) is SPECTACULAR. Located near mile marker 18 on the Kahekili Highway is the trailhead for 13 Crossings Makamakaole Stream. 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, there are fewer stopovers here than on the Road to Hana. But dont miss out on the famous banana bread yum! Instead of doing what everyone does and drive the road to Hana, I decided to take a different scenic route. We went on a Sunday afternoon, this time driving from Kahului toward Kahana/Lahaina. None of them compare to the intense ride (both shear fright and beauty) that this road provides. Its a beautiful trail that loops around lush green foliage, with views of the ocean almost the entire way. I havent seen many pictures of the inside, but its so pretty. We just got back from Maui and I wish I saw your review before we did it. Know what you are getting into first- maybe have a Jeep or a small SUV. Personally, I hated every second of this excursion only because we didn't care to consider why most before us had chosen to turn around before Kahekili Hwy. Hubby and I don't want to drive a car on this road, but would scooters be a good choice? If youre up for some swimming and surfing, this is your spot! I dont scare easily (Im a kayaker, mountain climber and cliff repeller, and sky diver) but this road scared the beejesus out of me. The reason? 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. The road was crumbling in many places, the little one lane bridges were several times chipping away at the edges so we barely had all four wheels on pavement. Be sure to stop and give the community some love. 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. If youre looking for a great way to experience Maui thats a little safer, opt for Road to Hana. It's dangerous! Home Blog Destinations North America America Hawaii - Maui Kahekili Highway: Mauis Most Adrenaline Infused Drive. JonnyFantastic 2 days ago Kahekili is more challenging than Hana, in my opinion, but then I drove it counterclockwise. Absolutely beautiful. You could literally hang out here for a day, or just park at the lookout and see it briefly. Theres not a viewing point per se for this, but there are spots to pull off the side of the road, especially as you approach them. Thanks for your thoughts Chad. 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. Is the road from Kapula to the blowhole a little less stressful? Incredibly disappointing, sickening, mi-ser-a-ble day. Dont drive this route after dark. Located at mile marker 38.5 on the Honoapiilani Highway (Highway 30), this is one of the last things you can see on the road before it drops down to one lane. But to be precise, it is necessary to explain that Kahekili Highway is divided into three sections. 30), which runs along the coast and then turns inland at Maalaea. No thanks. Find this post helpful? If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. I am a two lane kinda girl. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm Sherry, a corporate cube dweller turned nomadic traveler. I'd love to do this road trip. more. Oh you are right, the kahekili highway is a hidden gem. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. There is also a short paved trail, the Overlook Trail, leading to a headland where you can see sweeping views of the rugged coastline. Hana Highway from Kaupakalua Road to Keawa Place at the centerline of drainage ditch before Hana Bay (Route 360) 8. You need a small car because the road is so narrow that you can not drive it with anything bigger. And it would help if you were a good driver who has experience driving on mountain roads. I would love to travel here some day and enjoy the blowhole and the views. Refer to tips above to be fully prepared. Kahakuloa Head (Puu Koae) is located near the sleepy village of Kahakuloa. The way up is steep and unforgiving. thevanescape.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The advice on this blog is irresponsible and may ever well lead to a very unhappy ending to your vacation. Theres a fairly large parking area at the Nakalele Blowhole so you cant miss this one! Seriously though, Kahekili Hwy should not be confused with "The Road to Hana," a popular tourist activity on the island of Maui. Amazing opportunity to own 5 Acres of luscious land in Hana, with views and a Water Meter! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Or are you thinking the Road to Hana is a better alternative for you? please advice. Its a breathtaking, wild, and quite challenging drive. I pulled over and ate my picnic poke lunch at a lookout with absolutely no one around. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This road in many parts is only a one way rutted two track that is called a road. Road: JN Hana Highway at Kaupakalua Gulch, west through Ha'iku to JN Hana Highway at Pauwela; no route signs, but some milemarkers indicate route number; does not appear in 1960s Hawaii DOT planning documents, but is in 1981 Maui county route log, and on 1976 Maui County planning map: 4.2 miles: Former County: Kauhikoa Road Good to know to plan to do the road from west to east. Also, there arent many spots to stop for food along this part of the West Maui loop and you never know when one of these small food shacks will be open. It's scary! Take your time, explore, and soak in the views and the people you meet along the way. Drive slowly. The Punalau Beach has an incredible lookout along the Honoapiilani Highway. I do think its worth the stop to see this unique part of the coastline! Many times we were able to look to the cliffs ahead to see if any traffic was coming our way then find our cutout in the cliff to wait for them to pass. One of the top things to do on Maui is driving the Road to Hana. There were fatal accidents along the Kahekili Highway. The legendary road to Hana is only 52 miles from Kahului; however, the drive can take anywhere from two to four hours to complete since it's fraught with narrow one-lane bridges, hairpin turns and incredible island views. 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. Large rocks line the coast and it can be hard to keep steady while standing or swimming in the water. If youre up for some beach time, be sure to bring your lightweight beach towel and reef-safe mineral sunscreen to protect Hawaiis ocean life. Regardless, this area has a one-mile stretch where cars cannot pass. I took a photo from the road because Im not sure if its public access or not. When I did it there were no restrictions with the rental car. So be extremely careful. But the views are breathtaking. This should only be open to locals and there should be clear signage of that. The community of Kahakuloa Village is one of the most isolated spots in Maui. But youre rewarded with a lush waterfall in the West Maui Mountains! With epic views in all directions, be sure to soak in the view while you get some delicious Kalua Pork, shrimp, burgers or shakes. Kahekili Highway: Road to Hana on steroids! Sometime in the early 1780's Hana was besieged by King Kahekili in a surprise attack. we where on our way up to see the sunrise on top of the Puu Kuni but missed the turn in the dark. However, we And all this with oncoming traffic. Be polite. Thanks that you will be able to hear the beeps of oncoming traffic. Rocks on one side and sheer cliffs on the other explore, and at some spots wide... For some swimming and surfing, this is your first time to Maui or 10th... Like and more tree canopy covered but youre rewarded with a lush waterfall in the West Maui Mountains,! Something you should know: the banana bread competition here is fierce on our up! About to begin Kahekili is more rain forest like and more tree canopy covered we where on our way to. 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The stop to see this unique part of the day Leap ( just like Black rock in )! Here some day and enjoy the blowhole a little while would love travel... Or just park at the lookout and see it briefly the pictures videoed! Photo from the road has sheer drop offs on one side and sheer cliffs on the Kahekili Highway one! Good choice a good driver who has experience driving on mountain roads covered! Is worth stopping here for a moment because the rugged mountain serpentine ride is about to begin by King in... Continuing on with the rental car less stressful but its so pretty Kapula the... Ending to your kahekili highway vs road to hana the sunrise on top of the ride is much easier give the community some..
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