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Northeast Maui Region
Location: Northeast Maui
Around half-mile beyond mile marker 16 on the Hana Highway you’ll see a sign on the mauka side of the road marking the entrance to Ke‘anae Arboretum. The arboretum is large with a paved parking lot makai after the sign. Because of the sloped curve in the road, be careful crossing the street from the parking area to the arboretum.
The Ke‘anae Arboretum lies alongside the Pi‘ina‘au Stream on leveled terraces built hundreds of years ago by Hawaiians for growing taro, a mainstay of their diet. A 0.6 mile paved walkway takes visitors through timber, fruit, and ornamental trees from tropical regions around the world, many of which are marked with name plates. Inside the arboretum you can find some 150 varieties of tropical plants (including taro). This is a great location to see some indigenous flowers and the painted bark eucalyptus trees.
Around half-mile beyond mile marker 16 on the Hana Highway you’ll see a sign on the mauka side of the road marking the entrance to Ke‘anae Arboretum. The arboretum is large with a paved parking lot makai after the sign. Because of the sloped curve in the road, be careful crossing the street from the parking area to the arboretum.
The Ke‘anae Arboretum lies alongside the Pi‘ina‘au Stream on leveled terraces built hundreds of years ago by Hawaiians for growing taro, a mainstay of their diet. A 0.6 mile paved walkway takes visitors through timber, fruit, and ornamental trees from tropical regions around the world, many of which are marked with name plates. Inside the arboretum you can find some 150 varieties of tropical plants (including taro). This is a great location to see some indigenous flowers and the painted bark eucalyptus trees.
Location: Northeast Maui
Between mile markers 13 and 14 on the Hana Highway you will have a chance to visit Honomanu Bay. There are two roads that lead to the beach. The first is about a half-mile beyond the 13 mile marker - but this dirt road brings you out on the wrong side of the beach (the stream will cut you off from the remainder of the shoreline). The other access road is available just beyond the 14 mile marker. This route is much muddier, steeper, and 4x4 may be required at times so you might have to walk to the beach instead. Taking your car off-road is a violation of your rental agreement anyway.
Like many beaches in Hawai‘i, the amount of sand can vary from the winter to summer months. In the winter months the beach can be mostly small rocks and boulders. Whereas, in the summer the sand will return. The beach is frequented by surfers, especially in the winter months. Swimming is ill-advised due to rough surf. In our opinion, the best way to view this bay is from above (at mile marker 13 or one of the upcoming lookouts).
Between mile markers 13 and 14 on the Hana Highway you will have a chance to visit Honomanu Bay. There are two roads that lead to the beach. The first is about a half-mile beyond the 13 mile marker - but this dirt road brings you out on the wrong side of the beach (the stream will cut you off from the remainder of the shoreline). The other access road is available just beyond the 14 mile marker. This route is much muddier, steeper, and 4x4 may be required at times so you might have to walk to the beach instead. Taking your car off-road is a violation of your rental agreement anyway.
Like many beaches in Hawai‘i, the amount of sand can vary from the winter to summer months. In the winter months the beach can be mostly small rocks and boulders. Whereas, in the summer the sand will return. The beach is frequented by surfers, especially in the winter months. Swimming is ill-advised due to rough surf. In our opinion, the best way to view this bay is from above (at mile marker 13 or one of the upcoming lookouts).
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
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
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
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.
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