Mauihana

The Road to Hana

The small town of Hana on the island of Maui is known for its near isolation from the rest of the island. Nestled between an beautiful lush rainforest and the crystal blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, stepping into the town of Hana is like stepping into the past. You will not find massive shopping malls, high-rise resorts, or even a McDonald’s in this town. In fact, you will barely find locals: a 2000 census put the population of Hana at a mere 709. This town is known to be one of the most isolated towns in all of Hawaii, and therein lies its charms and perks. Instead of ultra-modern buildings and amenities, what Hana is loved and appreciated for is its simplicity and its incorporation of the wonderful natural habitats that surround the town. There is also the perk of fewer tourists visiting this area, allowing for way more crowd-free hiking and exploration. The Hana harbor is much too small for cruise ships but passengers on boat sometimes arrive on Hana by launch.

The main way to reach this island is on the 52-mile Hana Highway, winding through over 600 curves and passing past 50 one-lane bridges, a three-hour trip. Despite the length of this highway, this is one of most beautiful drives in the world, passing through miles of the northeastern Maui coastline with a beautiful lush rainforest teeming with all sorts of colorful and exotic plants. You are likely to catch everything from banyans to bamboo trees to breadfruit trees and flowers such as wild ginger and plumeria. When you reach Hana, you will find a variety of nature-rich activities, including red sand and black sand beaches. The Red Sand Beach, also known as Kaihalulu (meaning “roaring sea”) Beach, is located on the ocean side of the Kauiki Hill on the south side of Hana Bay. Kaiuki is an almost 400-foot tall volcanic cinder cone and the red sand of Kaihalulu Beach comes from red cinders spilled due to erosion. On Waianapanapa State Beach, you can find the interesting black sand beach on the northwest part of Hana. This beach faces a cove and is surrounded by the lush and unspoiled foliage that Hana is known for. You will not be able to swim in this beach due to dangerous currents and the abundant jellyfish that make the water of Waianapanapa their home, but the black sand beach in such a unique ecological setting is an attraction on its own.

While in Hana or on your way to Hana, make sure to stop by several of the preserved botanical gardens, such as the Kahanu Garden that is located just past the mid-way point on the Hana Highway. The main plant found at Kahanu Garden is the breadfruit, with over 120 different kinds of breadfruit that have been gathered from different islands throughout Polynesia and Indonesia. The Kaia Ranch Tropical Botanical Gardens is a smaller but equally impressive botanical garden boasting a plethora of tropical flowers and fruits native to Hawaii.

And if you have made to the remote Hana, you should also take time to explore the cultural and historical heritage of this small town by going to the Hana Cultural Center and Museum. The Center also hosts various cultural events throughout the year, so check out their calendar. While in Hana, the best place to grab a bite to eat is probably the Hotel Hana-Maui, where resident executive check John Cox concocts a mixture of local and eclectic dishes.

The trip to Hana might seem long and arduous but it is truly one of the last remaining completely unspoiled spots in Maui. Spreading the word about it might create more tourism on this small town that only brings in so many tourists a year, but only a few adventurous and truly curious visitors decide to make the trip out to Hana.