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Hana Highway Sights
Location: Northeast Maui
Between mile markers 14 and 16 on the Hana Highway there are several dirt and/or broken pavement pullouts on the makai side of the road that will provide really beautiful lookouts. Most are as good as any other, but the two we’ve noted next are our favorites and are worth a quick stop.
Makai, around mile marker 14, there is a pullout that overlooks the Hana Highway and Honomanu Bay back to your left. This is a perfect location to take a picture of the winding highway along with Honomanu Bay.
Down the road a bit further is another pullout, this time on a steep embankment with trees on top. This is the last place you can see such an expansive view of the highway as it twists and turns around the shore heading for Hana Town.
Between mile markers 14 and 16 on the Hana Highway there are several dirt and/or broken pavement pullouts on the makai side of the road that will provide really beautiful lookouts. Most are as good as any other, but the two we’ve noted next are our favorites and are worth a quick stop.
Makai, around mile marker 14, there is a pullout that overlooks the Hana Highway and Honomanu Bay back to your left. This is a perfect location to take a picture of the winding highway along with Honomanu Bay.
Down the road a bit further is another pullout, this time on a steep embankment with trees on top. This is the last place you can see such an expansive view of the highway as it twists and turns around the shore heading for Hana Town.
Location: Northeast Maui
Upper Hanawi Falls is located at mile marker 24 on the Hana Highway. This is one of many falls that the Hanawi Stream creates in its nine-mile path to the ocean. Because the stream is spring-fed, many of the falls can even be seen during the drier summer months. A large rain shower can have a great effect on the flow of Hanawi Falls. The safest way to view the falls is from the bridge.
Upper Hanawi Falls is located at mile marker 24 on the Hana Highway. This is one of many falls that the Hanawi Stream creates in its nine-mile path to the ocean. Because the stream is spring-fed, many of the falls can even be seen during the drier summer months. A large rain shower can have a great effect on the flow of Hanawi Falls. The safest way to view the falls is from the bridge.
Location: Northeast Maui
Between mile markers 10-11 along the Hana Highway there are two impressive waterfalls, Upper & Lower Puohokamoa Falls.
Lower Puohokamoa Falls eludes nearly everyone driving the highway due to its ‘hidden’ location. You have to view it before the upper falls, not after like you’d think. The pull out for the overlook is about 8/10 of a mile past mile marker 10 near a telephone pole. Here there is a path leading over alongside a fence that will take you to a small lookout where you’ll be able to see the fall cascading around 160 feet down the green cliff.
Between mile markers 10-11 along the Hana Highway there are two impressive waterfalls, Upper & Lower Puohokamoa Falls.
Lower Puohokamoa Falls eludes nearly everyone driving the highway due to its ‘hidden’ location. You have to view it before the upper falls, not after like you’d think. The pull out for the overlook is about 8/10 of a mile past mile marker 10 near a telephone pole. Here there is a path leading over alongside a fence that will take you to a small lookout where you’ll be able to see the fall cascading around 160 feet down the green cliff.
Location: Northeast Maui
Further down the Hana Highway, around a half-mile past mile marker 22, you’ll find Pua‘a Ka‘a State Wayside Park (that’s always fun to say). Here you’ll find a paved trail to several small falls and a picnic area. A larger falls can also be accessed upstream via a dirt trail. If you decide to go, use caution crossing the viaduct and be prepared for mud.
Mongooses (yes that’s plural) also hang out at the park. You may have already seen them streaking across the road. Some bright soul imported them to kill the rats that the sailors brought here on their boats. Well, they killed the ground rats and most of the ground birds but left the tree rats. They are now found on every island except Kaua‘i.The little creatures run around this area gathering food left over from picnics. You are also likely to see the wild Jungle Foul (chickens) that frequent the area (that is, if the mongooses haven’t gotten to them yet).
Further down the Hana Highway, around a half-mile past mile marker 22, you’ll find Pua‘a Ka‘a State Wayside Park (that’s always fun to say). Here you’ll find a paved trail to several small falls and a picnic area. A larger falls can also be accessed upstream via a dirt trail. If you decide to go, use caution crossing the viaduct and be prepared for mud.
Mongooses (yes that’s plural) also hang out at the park. You may have already seen them streaking across the road. Some bright soul imported them to kill the rats that the sailors brought here on their boats. Well, they killed the ground rats and most of the ground birds but left the tree rats. They are now found on every island except Kaua‘i.The little creatures run around this area gathering food left over from picnics. You are also likely to see the wild Jungle Foul (chickens) that frequent the area (that is, if the mongooses haven’t gotten to them yet).
Location: Northeast Maui
As you approach mile marker 7 along the Hana Highway you’ll find some Painted Bark Eucalyptus trees makai (toward the ocean) in a small grove.
These trees have a unique bark that appears to have been hand-painted shades of red, purple and green. This location is not really a stop per se, as there really isn’t much room to pull over. You can also get a glimpse of these trees at Ke‘anae Arboretum, one of the stops that will come later in your journey.
As you approach mile marker 7 along the Hana Highway you’ll find some Painted Bark Eucalyptus trees makai (toward the ocean) in a small grove.
These trees have a unique bark that appears to have been hand-painted shades of red, purple and green. This location is not really a stop per se, as there really isn’t much room to pull over. You can also get a glimpse of these trees at Ke‘anae Arboretum, one of the stops that will come later in your journey.
Location: Northeast Maui
Just beyond mile marker 2 on the Hana Highway a bridge crosses the Ho‘olawanui stream and here you’ll find Twin Falls. But first, a word of advice. Twin Falls is a nice stop if you want to view several small falls. Compared to what is ahead of you on the Hana Highway though, it’s really not worth the time to stop here this early in your journey. We have talked with several people who have stopped at this location expecting grand waterfalls they’ll never find until further down the road.
If you do decide to stop now (or later) you can pull off and park on the mauka (toward the mountain) side of the road in a small parking lot which is usually accompanied by fruit stands. Walk through the small grassy area to a rock with a map drawn on it. Using this make-shift map you should be able to navigate to the various falls at this location. The round trip takes about an hour.
Jan-09 Update: We've received some news of rather unpleasant encounters with this stop lately; though we have not witnessed this ourselves. Apparently certain individuals have chosen to start dumping the remains of farm animals at this stop. You can read about one of these encounters here at Trip Advisor. We personally choose to now skip this falls on our journey down the highway. You may wish to do the same.
Just beyond mile marker 2 on the Hana Highway a bridge crosses the Ho‘olawanui stream and here you’ll find Twin Falls. But first, a word of advice. Twin Falls is a nice stop if you want to view several small falls. Compared to what is ahead of you on the Hana Highway though, it’s really not worth the time to stop here this early in your journey. We have talked with several people who have stopped at this location expecting grand waterfalls they’ll never find until further down the road.
If you do decide to stop now (or later) you can pull off and park on the mauka (toward the mountain) side of the road in a small parking lot which is usually accompanied by fruit stands. Walk through the small grassy area to a rock with a map drawn on it. Using this make-shift map you should be able to navigate to the various falls at this location. The round trip takes about an hour.
Jan-09 Update: We've received some news of rather unpleasant encounters with this stop lately; though we have not witnessed this ourselves. Apparently certain individuals have chosen to start dumping the remains of farm animals at this stop. You can read about one of these encounters here at Trip Advisor. We personally choose to now skip this falls on our journey down the highway. You may wish to do the same.
Location: Northeast Maui
The journey along the Hana Highway begins at a small town on Maui’s north shore named Pa‘ia (Pah-ee-ah) town. To get to Pa‘ia town from the Kahului Airport, turn onto Highway 36 and follow it to where you enter Pa‘ia town beyond mile marker 6.
A little over a hundred years ago Pa‘ia was a sugar plantation town. Today it is famous primarily for Ho‘okipa Beach Park located right beyond the town.
The journey along the Hana Highway begins at a small town on Maui’s north shore named Pa‘ia (Pah-ee-ah) town. To get to Pa‘ia town from the Kahului Airport, turn onto Highway 36 and follow it to where you enter Pa‘ia town beyond mile marker 6.
A little over a hundred years ago Pa‘ia was a sugar plantation town. Today it is famous primarily for Ho‘okipa Beach Park located right beyond the town.
Location: Northeast Maui
About 8/10 mile past mile marker 16 on the Hana Highway, a bridge crosses Palauhulu stream (the same stream that empties into the ocean at Ke‘anae Peninsula below). Beneath the bridge is a series of pristine (sapphire) pools that you won’t be able to view from the road.
Access is via two trails on the makai side of the bridge before you cross it. The trail immediately next to the bridge is very steep, very difficult, and should be avoided. A bit further to the left of the bridge, about 50 feet over is a large tree. There is a trail here too, and it’s significantly easier to get down to the pools this way.
About 8/10 mile past mile marker 16 on the Hana Highway, a bridge crosses Palauhulu stream (the same stream that empties into the ocean at Ke‘anae Peninsula below). Beneath the bridge is a series of pristine (sapphire) pools that you won’t be able to view from the road.
Access is via two trails on the makai side of the bridge before you cross it. The trail immediately next to the bridge is very steep, very difficult, and should be avoided. A bit further to the left of the bridge, about 50 feet over is a large tree. There is a trail here too, and it’s significantly easier to get down to the pools this way.
Location: Northeast Maui
As you take the bridge over Makapipi stream near mile marker 25 on the Hana Highway be sure to stop to check out the falls under the bridge. Here you’ll find Makapipi Falls, one of the most interesting falls on the Hana Highway. The Makapipi Stream flows within the lava streambed into a pristine blue pool. The Hana Highway crosses directly over the stream allowing folks a view of the falls over the bridge railing. The flow of the falls is dependent on rainfall, but if flowing is very intriguing to witness.
To access this spot, park just beyond the bridge where there is a small pull off and walk back onto the bridge to look down on the makai side of the road.
As you take the bridge over Makapipi stream near mile marker 25 on the Hana Highway be sure to stop to check out the falls under the bridge. Here you’ll find Makapipi Falls, one of the most interesting falls on the Hana Highway. The Makapipi Stream flows within the lava streambed into a pristine blue pool. The Hana Highway crosses directly over the stream allowing folks a view of the falls over the bridge railing. The flow of the falls is dependent on rainfall, but if flowing is very intriguing to witness.
To access this spot, park just beyond the bridge where there is a small pull off and walk back onto the bridge to look down on the makai side of the road.
Location: Northeast Maui
Ho‘okipa Beach Park is located right beyond Pa‘ia and Ka‘au town makai (toward the ocean) on the Hana Highway. You’ll pass the steeply graded exit before you pass the entrance, so be looking for the sign marking the spot. There are two very different spots (hangouts) located inside small Ho‘okipa Beach Park: one is an overlook that is almost immediately to your right once you turn into the park, and the other is the road that leads down to Ho‘okipa Beach itself and then back up to the exit you passed prior to turning into the park at the sign.
Ho‘okipa Lookout is a nice spot to get a good view over parts of coastal north west Maui (to your left) and the Pacific Ocean stretching to the north in front of you. It’s also a great place to watch surfers and windsurfers catch the waves below you on Ho‘okipa Beach. World-class windsurfing events are held here annually. After you’re done at the lookout, your best bet is to get back on Highway 36 and continue your journey. You don’t want to waste too much time at this location. Also the beach is a surfer’s hangout, so the crowd is not always as full of “aloha” as people in other parts of Maui. We’ve never had any problems, but there are better beaches on Maui, so why waste your time here?
Ho‘okipa Beach Park is located right beyond Pa‘ia and Ka‘au town makai (toward the ocean) on the Hana Highway. You’ll pass the steeply graded exit before you pass the entrance, so be looking for the sign marking the spot. There are two very different spots (hangouts) located inside small Ho‘okipa Beach Park: one is an overlook that is almost immediately to your right once you turn into the park, and the other is the road that leads down to Ho‘okipa Beach itself and then back up to the exit you passed prior to turning into the park at the sign.
Ho‘okipa Lookout is a nice spot to get a good view over parts of coastal north west Maui (to your left) and the Pacific Ocean stretching to the north in front of you. It’s also a great place to watch surfers and windsurfers catch the waves below you on Ho‘okipa Beach. World-class windsurfing events are held here annually. After you’re done at the lookout, your best bet is to get back on Highway 36 and continue your journey. You don’t want to waste too much time at this location. Also the beach is a surfer’s hangout, so the crowd is not always as full of “aloha” as people in other parts of Maui. We’ve never had any problems, but there are better beaches on Maui, so why waste your time here?
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