Tom On day 4 of our travels in Hawaii, we did a a road trip that covered the famous Road to Hana! From Maui Seaside Hotel all the way to Waianapanapa State Park (where the blow holes and black sand beach are), it took us about about 4 hours in total though the driving time was only 2 hours. The reason why Road to Hana is famous is because along the way, there are simply too many stops where you can take in beautiful scenery and have amazing photo opportunities. Here are some of the rest stops we took during this road trip on Road to Hana…
Road To Hana Maui : Where We Visited
Twin Falls
Our first stop was at Twin Falls. As mentioned, there were several scenic stops before Twin Falls but you’ll have to pick and choose. Otherwise, Road to Hana can be longer than a day trip. The other thing to note is that the roads along this trip is pretty winding. So definitely drive with extra care…
There were 2 main reasons why we decided to stop at Twin Falls. Firstly, there was a sign that said “Twin Falls”. This meant that the location was a legitimate scenic spot. There were several stops prior where cars stopped but no sign indicating what that spot was for. Plus, Twin Falls had alot more cars when we passed by. Secondly, there was a pineapple juice truck – known as Twinfalls Farmstand (though a little pricey at $4) at its entrance! Always a plus especially in the Aloha state. The 5 minutes walk to the falls includes navigating a slope, that can be rather slippery. Just pay extra care on the way up and down this slope.
Maui Garden of Eden
We decided to be spontaneous for this drive on Road to Hana. Hence, we did not have planned spots but stopped at spots that attracted us. This, Garden of Eden did.
The entry to Garden of Eden costs $15 per person. The reason why we stopped by was because it had a view of the Keopuka Rock, featured in Jurassic Park. Check out Keopuka Rock in this short video clip as the helicopter flew by it…
This was probably the only highlight at Garden of Eden. The view with the naked eye was much better than the picture and it was indeed a beautiful view down the valley with the Keopuka Rock in the distance…
There was also a waterfall overlook that was pretty disappointing. Though you can see the entire falls, it was really really far away…We ended this visit at the Art Gallery & Gift Shop, where we saw an interesting series of artwork depicting dogs on holidays… 😛
Waterfalls Galore
There are also many views of waterfalls along the Road to Hana. Here are some we saw along the way…
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Halfway to Hana
At almost “halfway” to Hana, you’ll reach this snack shop called Halfway to Hana.
Here you’ll be able to savour its famous banana bread ($6.5) and Shaved Ice ($4.5) along with 13 tropical flavours to choose from. We were surprised that the banana bread was still warm when we bought it and it was moist and fluffy when we ate it. Though expensive, it was definitely a welcomed treat. We went with “rainbow” Shaved Ice so that we could try as many flavours as possible…
Waianapanapa State Park
Before long, we arrived in Hana and set foot in Waianapanapa State Park…
There were several highlights for us here. The black sand beach, blow holes as well as a Garfield-lookalike island…
The drive into Waianapanapa State Park can be a little daunting. Some parts of the road can barely fit 2 vehicles. In addition, the roads are really bumpy. There are limited lots as well though waiting for available lots wouldn’t take too long. There were many families hanging out that day, picnics accompanied by strolls by the waters. You can also choose to hike along the coast or swim out from black sand beach. Though there wasn’t any food stalls, food trucks are just a 5 minutes drive away…
Road To Hana Maui : Where We Ate
After visiting Waianapanapa State Park, we headed to a renowned local food truck known as Braddah Hutts. The pulled pork BBQ was definitely the best we’ve had in the Hawaii islands! A must visit!
After a 2 hours drive home, we headed to Maui Mall and had dinner at Max’s of Manila – a Filipino Restaurant…
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Be warned that the fried rice portion is HUGE! Good for 3 to share! The fried chicken was juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. With the screens in the restaurant highlighting the destinations in the Philippines, it added to the feel of a Filipino dining experience 🙂
Stay tuned as we head out to Haleakala National Park – all 3000m above sea level, of it!
Other Posts from 13 Days Hawaii Travels
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Big Island Hawaii Day 1!
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Big Island Hawaii Day 2!
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Big Island to Maui Day 3!
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Road to Hana Maui Day 4!
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Haleakala National Park Maui Day 5
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Arrival in Honolulu Oahu Day 6
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Diamond Head and Waikiki Honolulu Hawaii Day 7
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Hanauma Bay & Maui Brewing Day 8!
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Dole Plantation Oahu Day 9!
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Chilling at Kauai Shores Day 10
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Kauai Coffee & Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa Day 11
Travel Hawaii in 13 days: Luau at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa Day 12
Top 10 Things to do in Hawaii ( A Pictorial Review)!
Top 4 Things to do in Big Island Hawaii!
Top 3 Things to do in Maui Hawaii!
Top 5 Things to do in Oahu Hawaii!
Top 3 Things to do in Kauai Hawaii!
