Wow, this looks like an amazing drive with such breathtaking scenery! Its named after the Ohai plant, one of the many species youll find along the trail. However, if its done safely, this can be one of the most unique and memorable experiences youll have in the Hawaiian islands. And we lived to tell the story. A must stop is the art gallery at the top before you descend. 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. Large trucks dont dare drive this stretch and inexperienced drivers shouldnt either. High Street from Main Street to Honoapiilani Highway (Route 30) 9. But like the Road to Hana, there are so many fantastic things to see, do and eat along the way, from eccentric art galleries to panoramic views and hiking trails to truly exceptional banana bread. Kahekili Highway vs Road to Hana which is better? But unlike the Hana Highway, it's a mystery to most visitors. We were a mile from the trail head but no, we did not make it in our ridiculous camero rental car. 4 sourbeer51 2 days ago I was on top of a rocky cliff and could see for miles as little clouds that looked like cotton balls dotted the sky. We are always looking for new things to do and the Kahelkili Highway drive certainly looks like a challenge. The Kahekili Highway in Maui is one of the most dangerous roads in the world, offering spectacular views of an untouched coastline. Undoubtedly, the Kahekili Highway is more challenging, dangerous, strenuous, wilder, and less touristy than the Road to Hana. Its common, especially with children. The water coming out of the hole also has a strong breeze, so be careful. When we go in April, I'm going to go get properly fitted. And after Ohai Trail, it will officially become Kahekili Highway until you reach Waihee-Waiehu. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. But those in search of a back-to-nature driving experience should go the other way, along the Kahekili Highway (Hwy. It is Kahekili Highway, a hidden gem of Maui. Not easy with a passenger on the back, love you Rose :). I love this highway and the images! 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. Pinterest. She stated the road was repaired and is a great drive. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 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. Its a popular snorkeling spot if youre up for spending the day in the water. Youre reaching the point where the Honoapiilani Highway/Maui Highway 340 and Kahekili Highway merge. Gorgeous photos! And given this stretch of highway has deep cliffs that dive straight into the water, the name is certainly fitting! Youll be glad you did! Now this was the real deal a road worthy of being called one of the best (and most dangerous) drives in the world. We strongly advise against driving Kahekili Highway with children and people with sensitive stomachs or travel sicknesses. It is a special road to be sure lots of dips to catch air on too. There have been many injuries and deaths here, so enter at your own risk. As the nickname suggests, the lava rocks resemble the mouth of a dragon. Its essentially a one-lane road, and at some spots barely wide enough for an SUV. Theres still a trail that leads up there, but its too narrow and dangerous. Because it wasn't paved until the mid-1990s, many tourist maps show it as a dirt road, if they show it at all. One of the most picturesque bays in Hawaii, Honolua Bay is stunning! Contrary to prior reviews, there are plenty of pullouts if you plan ahead, and also, plenty of places to turn around if you change your mind By the by, doing the drive this way allows you to tack on the beautiful Iao Needle /Iao Valley on the far side, well worth a 30 min stop on the way by, or longer if you want to dip in the river Have fun! The Hana Highway is perhaps the most beautiful highway in the world, but it can be deadly. Highlights include several swimming stops, panoramic views from Keanae peninsula, and glimpses of Haleakala volcano. If you have a problem with the car on this road, rental car company will not help you ~ youre on your own! This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. I'm here to help you enjoy the outdoors! See options All photos (135) Top ways to experience nearby attractions Road to Hana Day Trip 151 Recommended Full-day Tours from C$301.15 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Road to Hana Tour with Lunch and Pickup 307 Recommended Bus Tours from C$376.44 per adult The Road to Hana is about 52 miles from Kahului. ENJOY THIS AWESOME ROAD!!! Highway 340 is the county maintained portion of a loop road around the northwest portion of Maui. None of them compare to the intense ride (both shear fright and beauty) that this road provides. 95% of travelers recommend this experience. We are so glad youre here! Maui Snorkeling Molokini Crater Uncrowded, Unhurried. We talked to many locals before going on the road, even one lady who lives up the road on the Head. The interesting part starts when leaving Keokea. The waves crash against the rocks below me in a rhythmic fashion and enjoyed my perfect moment of Maui Zen. Drive very carefully, obeying all rules and road signs. I had also heard about the Nakalele Blowhole (near mile marker 38), but I wasnt too sure where it was. The Kahekili Highway (Hawaii state highway 340) lives in the shadow of it's big well-known brother - the Road to Hana. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. When my family and I got back to Ka'anapali to grab dinner (we didn't find anything edible for breakfast or lunch on the Kahekili Hwy, shocker), we couldn't even eat it we were so strung out from the drive. 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. Never Again. My husband and I, not wanting to spend the rest of the evening waiting on the other side of the mountain for all the traffic to clear, prodded on (no one followed, so I'm not sure how long everyone bottlenecked traffic coming from our direction). It's scary! Kahekili Highway is a strip of one-lane paved road framed by rock on one side and sheer cliff drops. Refer to tips above to be fully prepared. But it was definitely worth it! Kahakuloa Head looks gorgeous, I would defo make a stop there to soak in the views. Seriously though, Kahekili Hwy should not be confused with "The Road to Hana," a popular tourist activity on the island of Maui. Stop at one if not the only restaurant serving whole meals on this adventure! These cookies do not store any personal information. This is a prayer labyrinth (Dragons Teeth Labyrinth). Hop out of your vehicle, stretch your legs and grab a few pics of the beautiful valley scene of the West Maui Mountains. Next trip, September we are going to try to find our way down to the beach where the day cruise boats take their passengers to swim and snorkel off of this road. 7. 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. Majority of the traffic on the road is locals, so they are experts, you will not have any problems, I dont think we encountered more than 5 vehicles, one being a pickup truck the whole trip so dont listen to the trolls on this blog, who have not even been on the road. Look out your window and there is no guard rail and 1000's of feet to the bottom of a ravine or the ocean. . Theres a fairly large parking area at the Nakalele Blowhole so you cant miss this one! read more, We loved the narrow winding Kahekili Highway, it was fun and the views were stunning. This drive is absolutely gorgeous and unexpectedly thrilling! It will take you about 10 minutes to walk to pebble beach. I think I would find that one lane road a bit stressful! We had to back up once when we met a car because there was not enough room for two cars to pass each other. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Most rental car companies tell you not to drive this route as it can be extremely dangerous. 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. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. Anyway, after you pass the parking to walk to the beach, drive up the hill to the overlook. But if you drive the Hana full loop, the road gets pretty sketchy past Hana, but still doable in a sedan. But what a view! Karen Lei's gallery is a great stop. Amazing! Luckily there wasn't too much traffic that day but there are so few places for a car to pull over to let another pass. Check out their prices for a Hawaiian road trip! Honokohau Bay is located where the Honoapiilani Highway (Highway 30) ends, and the actual Route 340 (Kahekili Highway) begins. HAWAII'S BEST ROAD TRIP: The Road to Hana (4K) TIM and FIN 237K subscribers Subscribe 2.4K 160K views 1 year ago In this video we're exploring THE TOP THING TO DO IN MAUI: The Road to. The county reported the road open at about 1:15 p.m. Around 8 a.m., police reported that Kahekili Highway in the area of Mile Marker 7 was impassible due to flooding. Explore. When I did it there were no restrictions with the rental car. Aside from the standard views of the bay, its worth hiking a few minutes to the coast to Makaluapuna Point. Answer 1 of 17: Is there parking at Kapalua Bay? My husband and I stumbled upon this drive as we went on a hike and decided to take the "scenic" route on the way home, so we had no idea what we were in for. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The road is not lit, and many sections do not even have reflectors. DO NOT DRIVE THIS ROAD - It is not enjoyable. No room for more than one car. Theres not really many overlooks so just sit back, relax and soak in the sights as you drive these curvy roads. Answer 1 of 55: We are leaving soon on our 2nd visit to Maui & we are interested in trying to take the Kahekili Hwy across the northshore of Maui. Some say that Maui is the most beautiful island in Hawaii. Especially dangerous is the stretch of highway between mile markers 6.9 and 16.3, where the changeover from state to county maintenance occurs in Maui. Its the same gorgeous blue water youre used to in Hawaii only without the loads of tourists. There is an excellent viewpoint of the cliffs. 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 The trail is easy and flat. It's not for the faint of heart but I was lucky to have good weather and that makes all the difference. Makani No. It stretches 21.5 miles from Kapalua to Wailuku in western Maui. Its one of the most charming stops on the Kahekili Highway. Wish I read this beforehand but you nailed the description of that drive. However, all of a sudden the newly paved road ended leaving me with a bit dodgier pavement full of undulations, crumbling asphalt, no shoulder, and faded lines. This road is called Highway 340, but it is better known as the Kahekili Highway. Driving time without stops is about 2 hours. Cheers! Know what you are getting into first- maybe have a Jeep or a small SUV. While the road to Hana is certainly an experience with the one lane bridges (that have warning signs) and many sharp turns, it is no where near as intense as a journey around Maui's West coast on the Kahekili Hwy. The road to Hana is one of Maui's two most famous sights. It will be much worse, and more tension and stress will be. more. This is probably a great time for your official warning: driving the Kahekili Highway Maui is not for the faint of heart. Its not just about the driving, its also about what you can stop and see along the way that is virtually tourist-free. Its an easy trail, but take shoes with good traction. We started out driving to the Nakele Blowhole, and ended up following Highway 340 to Wailuku. 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. He climbed this hill and jumped into the ocean below. It is quite beautiful, but kind of scary! So bring a pair of binoculars. It looks damn amazing. I travel to off-the-beaten-path destinations to bring you unique travel experiences and photography. On your way south from Kahului, be sure to check out the ao Valley State Monument or the Maui Ocean Center, one of the top things to do with kids in Maui. What a trip!!! However, we The road had a fresh coat of asphalt and brightly colored lines. You need to be an aggressive driver or you will spend most of your time waiting for other cars to pass while you are pulled over to the side of the road. 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. Its a great way to end or start your road trip on the Kahekili Highway! The internet is replete with this kind of nonsense. So be sure to follow our tips to safely prepare for this scenic Kahekili Highway adventure! Once when we met a car because there was not enough room for two to... And dangerous straight into the water dare drive this Route as it can be one of the most picturesque in! 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