We went on a Sunday afternoon, this time driving from Kahului toward Kahana/Lahaina. Hi Sherry, I truly enjoyed reading this in-depth blog and gained valuable insights from it. It's dangerous! However, this highway along Maui's North shore was no Road to Hana, because it was 10 times better than the Road to Hana. Saw a school bus.later a chopper pilot told us we had been on the forbiden road.forbiden by rental car companies.would like to do it again. We were staying in Kihei and drove up to Lahaina to see the sights. The Road to Hana is a breeze compared to the Kahekili Highway. Youll understand once you do it. !Stunning shoot.The sky is looking like a roof that has no end.Loved it!!! Glad you found this post helpful and inspiring. The interesting part starts when leaving Keokea. Look out your window and there is no guard rail and 1000's of feet to the bottom of a ravine or the ocean. Ultimately this stretch of road was named after a brazen Hawaiian ruler, Kahekili. I later read this warning about the blowhole so do be careful if you go visit it: While it may seen tempting to approach the blowhole for a great photo opportunity, dont do it. Its early in your trip, but every great road trip includes awesome food. . It may save your life, Happy trails to you, Sherry Ott, and may you never give poor advice to anyone again. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Hope you get the chance to drive this scenic route soon! Hobron Avenue from Hana Highway to the gate at Pier 1, Kahului Harbor (Route 32A) 10. Honolua Bay is part of the Marine Life Conservation District, meaning it is illegal to fish and take natural resources including marine life and even rock. The road hugs the sea cliffs and is very narrow (often just one lane), with many blind curves and no guard rails. This road is very open allowing you to see much, much more than the forested road to Hana. Its not nearly as tropical and does not have waterfalls, but it offers numerous sweeping ocean views that are missing on the Road to Hana. Sometime in the early 1780's Hana was besieged by King Kahekili in a surprise attack. What are some good. On our trip to Hana, and beyond to Kipahulu, we drove back to West Maui on Piilani Highway. 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. I havent seen many pictures of the inside, but its so pretty. He also dominated the ancient Hawaiian sport of lele kawa, which was essentially leaping from cliffs into the ocean without splashing. On a one-lane road, if you can not see around the corner to see if someone is coming towards you, honk a few times to let people know you are coming around the corner. Officially, the road is named the Hana Highway and on maps will be listed as Hwy. 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. 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 Kahekili Highway (County Route 340) could be West Maui's answer to the Hana Highway. Many people consider it (Kahekili Highway) hazardous and one of the spookiest roads they have ever driven. We stopped for frozen chocolate covered Bananas. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. I absolutely fell in love with it there and it was pretty nail-biting to do in a carby yourself! Yes this drive isnt for everyone which is why I tried to be honest about it and provide some images about what it looked like. Your email address will not be published. On Girl, Christy wants to be married at that church you photographed. Don't Miss This Side of the Island Because of Bad Reviews! A culvert is plugged and . On this route, a fairly common way of driving in some Asian countries can be helpful. When we go in April, I'm going to go get properly fitted. Kahekili Highway (Hawaii Route 340, Hawaii State Highway 340) is considered one of the most dangerous roads in Hawaii and the USA. Youre reaching the point where the Honoapiilani Highway/Maui Highway 340 and Kahekili Highway merge. No thanks. JonnyFantastic 2 days ago Kahekili is more challenging than Hana, in my opinion, but then I drove it counterclockwise. Enjoy all kinds of goodies and take some to go. If you drove too fast (especially at night) you could easily end up off the road and several hundred feet down, with no one aware. Explore different ways to experience this place. After the nail biter one mile of narrow road where I luckily didnt meet an oncoming car, I stopped for a smoothie at Kahakuloa Village, and sat and just took in the view. Most testifiers were in support of the affordable housing and highlighted the need for it. I need to go back. I was in this area a couple of times but always took the more sane road back to the Piai area, but not this time. This drive is not recommended for the faint of heart, on rainy days or at nightfall. 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 cliffs were scary as were the turns in the dark. But you need at least 4-5 hours to enjoy the scenery and see the highlights on the Kahekili Highway. But did you get to stop by and view the views? Sadly, there have been numerous deaths over the years on the road to Hana because of this sort of recklessness. There are hairpin turns, scenic lookouts, and narrow one-lane bridges. And this part is challenging and can be scary and dangerous. It looks damn amazing. ENJOY THIS AWESOME ROAD!!! I can say I was freaking out a bit when we had to BACK down the road to get to turn out so they could pass us. King Kahekili was said to leap 200 feet down to the water from this hill in the mornings before eating breakfast, from a spot called Kahekilis Leap.. You can get thoroughly wet. Cheers! Large rocks line the coast and it can be hard to keep steady while standing or swimming in the water. Hey! It is believed that Kahakuloa Head was one of King Kahekilis favorite places to cliff jump. Many areas around Kahekili Highway and Maui Highway 340 areprivately owned and not accessible by tourists. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What even is this incredible road with such stunning natural beauty!? Find this post helpful? The road is not lit, and many sections do not even have reflectors. This ones really for the adventurous soul. This road is called Highway 340, but it is better known as the Kahekili Highway. Wish I read this beforehand but you nailed the description of that drive. One more note, at the Motorcycle rental in Kaanapali, they gave me a map for this road, is was not forbidden like car rental companies deem it. You can get dizzy and nauseous on this stretch. But unlike the Hana Highway, it's a mystery to most visitors. First of all, lets just say that using the term highway is generous! However, a greater part of this area is part of the West Maui Natural Area Reserveand there are some public spots worth exploring! The hiking is fabulous and the coastline is pristine. If you drive straight to Hana, it can take anywhere from 2-4 hours depending on traffic. High Street from Main Street to Honoapiilani Highway (Route 30) 9. As the nickname suggests, the lava rocks resemble the mouth of a dragon. Its so stunning here! There youll find amazing rock formations. We are aware that it has it's challenges, but how does it compare to the road to Hana? 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. . Hana Highway, also known as the Road to Hana, runs for more than 64 miles along state Highways 360 and 36, connecting Hana in east Maui with Kahului. Amazing! Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. For those that know the road and know what to expect, its not bad. I have a better suggestion.. We only describe the places we have been to, which we know and recommend without hesitation. Some say that Maui is the most beautiful island in Hawaii. It is 21 miles of stress. Patience is a key and you need to be willing to backup from time to time to find a place for both vehicles can pass each other. Answer 11 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. 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. It isnt easy to decide which road is better. When I did it there were no restrictions with the rental car. I travel to off-the-beaten-path destinations to bring you unique travel experiences and photography. Ive worn them hiking the Mahaulepu Heritage Trail in Kauai and many other spots around the islands. what route whould we take? Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua would be built on an 11-acre site owned by the nonprofit Maui Economic Opportunity, near the intersection of Kahekili Highway and Waiehu Beach Road. Theres not really many overlooks so just sit back, relax and soak in the sights as you drive these curvy roads. One of the most picturesque bays in Hawaii, Honolua Bay is stunning! Ended up needing a massage the next day, no surprise here, the masseuse commented on "how tense" I was.DON'T DO IT. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Both you and your camera can get wet. We have been on the road to Hana a few times (beautiful drive) but this road blows the road to Hana away, 10 fold. Kahekili Highway (Hawaii Route 340) is a single-lane paved road framed by rocks on one side and sheer cliffs on the other. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Those vivid blue waters met with Mauis rustic northwest coastline. I was on top of a rocky cliff and could see for miles as little clouds that looked like cotton balls dotted the sky. Be polite. Highlights include several swimming stops, panoramic views from Keanae peninsula, and glimpses of Haleakala volcano. We drove Kahekili Highway with our kids years ago. Youll be glad you did! The water level fluctuates depending on the weather of the previous days, with waves filling the small cavities more or less. What a wonderful trip! We would at least like to go that far. We love to hike and I think we would really enjoy the Ohai Loop Trail. (The other is the crater at the top of Haleakala .) Related read: 20 Things to Do in Maui on a Budget. Immediately north of Dragons Teeth, you will notice a large stone circle. Dress comfortably for the trip. What are some good. Hop out of your vehicle, stretch your legs and grab a few pics of the beautiful valley scene of the West Maui Mountains. If you have a problem with the car on this road, rental car company will not help you ~ youre on your own! What a trip!!! Our goal is to share travel & photo experience and inspire you to outdoor adventures through America. Whats more, the Makaluapuna Pointon at the Kapalua coast is home to Mauis largest labyrinth. C'est magnifique. This road is so dangerous because of the imbeciles driving like maniacs, with no regard for other people on the road. And the weather can also play into it. When I took his highway 2 years ago I was with 3 young ladies. I seriously want to go back just getting the photos ready for this article. So fun! If youre hungry at all, youve gotta do Braddah Chics Stop! (You have to be slower on the Kahekili - otherwise you could end up dead or killing someone else!) Also, you can look farther ahead to see oncoming traffic. The hike passes several eroded rocks along the sea cliffs. The trail is stunning and one of my favorite things to do in Maui! :-). The Punalau Beach is better for surfing and watching the waves than for swimming. Take your time if you go. Ended up at Slaughterhouse Beach for a fantastic sunset and I foolishly decided to just keep going. Not kidding, there were no guard rails. The reason? If you choose to purchase items through these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Road to Hana Day Trip 154 Recommended Full-day Tours from $219.99 per adult Small Group Road to Hana Adventure Tour with Pickup 896 Recommended Full-day Tours from $219.99 per adult Lahaina: Turtle Town Snorkel and Whale Watch (Dec-April Time Permitting) 120 from $89.95 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Finally before coming down the Kahekili highway into Waihee I passed a number of little fruit and artist stands. However, at one point in the dirve, someone started directing everyone going in our direction to stop and line up as there was a bottleneck in the road coming in our direction and we were instructed that we needed to start letting everyone through. We drove this road during one of our Maui trips and it is gorgeous! If youre looking for a true adventure and have a 44 vehicle, you can take the dirt road down to the beach. Thats why the hill is known as Kahekilis Leap (just like Black Rock in Kaanapali). more. Posted on Published: June 17, 2022- Last updated: June 23, 2022. My family and I were told to go this route as the main road to kaanapali was closed due to a brush He climbed this hill and jumped into the ocean below. we are going to live in Wailea , and want to go to Ion Valley Needle, Waihee Ridge Trail, Honolua Bay Scenic Lookout, Olivine Pools Be sure to get as early a start as you can because while the road is both scenic and curvy - the traffic jams that start around 10 AM are no fun at all and can exponentially increase driving times (but you likely aren't making this a straight drive anyway). I grabbed my DSLR and was ready for a little Maui road trip off the beaten path. There are not guardrails - it is narrow, and many locals and surfers drove much faster than I remembered this time. Keep in mind you are only going 10-15 miles an hour, plenty of time to brake, the only bad thing is the driver (Me) was not able to take in the sights since my focus was mainly on the road most of the trip, which trust me was still awesome on a Harley. Honolua means two harbors in Hawaiian, and this bay has historically been used by Honolua Ranch to accommodate deliveries and shipping products. Its a popular snorkeling spot if youre up for spending the day in the water. Makes the road to Hana look like child's play. It will take you about 10 minutes to walk to pebble beach. We got a later start than we'd anticipated but still ended up taking this highway less traveled. But if you already had the opportunity to drive the Road to Hana and were tired of that route, it was exhausting for you, to give up the Kahekili Highway. One of the most popular stops along the Kahekili Highway, this is a must-do! 97% of travelers recommend this experience. We drove that road a few years back and loved it. Oh Lord, please, please, please dont let me meet another car on this road. I thought to myself as I drove like a 90 year old man. 1759 to 1779 - Kalani'opu'u of the Big Island captured and held power over Hana. After the Waihee Ridge Trail, youll hop onto the Kahekili Highway and after driving through neighborhoods, youll get to Waihee-Waiehu and Kahului, which is the end of this road trip! We are always looking for new things to do and the Kahelkili Highway drive certainly looks like a challenge. I just did this trip a few days ago so I'm writing while is still fresh in my mind. It is truly only one narrow lane and you are on this before you know it. Many of the positive reviews here are obviously from travelers that were going clock wise from Lahaina down. Aside from the standard views of the bay, its worth hiking a few minutes to the coast to Makaluapuna Point. Maui Honokohau Stream Bridge on Kahekili Highway (Route 30) Milepost 35.8. Just be careful on the bends, they're blind and other drivers come out of nowhere. But it was definitely worth it! This route requires more driving skills than Road to Hana. So I had to check out this post. . 100% of travelers recommend this experience. 93% of travelers recommend this experience. Keep our reefs and sea life safe by using the proper stuff. Courtyard by Marriott Maui Kahului Airport, View all hotels near Kahekili Highway on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Kahekili Highway on Tripadvisor, Hotels near Haleakala Highway (Crater Road), Hotels near Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve, Hana Highway - Road to Hana: Tickets & Tours, Haleakala Highway (Crater Road): Tickets & Tours, Coral Island Half-day Tour from Pattaya including Lunch, Punta Cana (PUJ) TRANSFER to FINEST PUNTA CANA EXCELLENCE COLLECTION ROUND TRIP, Traditional Private Geisha Experience/Dinner Show in Tokyo, Fukagawa District, Kauai's Ultimate South Island Zodiac Boat Snorkel Adventure, Spanish Flamenco Show in Puerto de la Cruz. That Maui is the version of our Maui trips and it is better known as Kahekilis Leap ( just Black! 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