Comments on: How Scary is the Road to Hana Really?

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 13:46:05 +0000

In reply to Ken. Hi Ken, We think you may have driven the Back Road to Hana. Rental Insurance most defiantly covers you on the main Road to Hana, it's a fully adopted highway and is absolutely covered on EVERY rental policy on the Island. If your Rental Firm says you were not covered, they mean the Back Road to Hana. The main route is narrow in places but has a dividing line and has guard rails at all the dangerous spots and is wide enough for two full size cars, even regular SUV's to pass each over in opposing directions for almost the entire route, the only parts where this is not the case there are markings on the road and signposts instructing you to yield. It's a fairly sketchy route but nowhere near as bad as you are suggesting. We have driven it in a Mustang Convertible and it is no problem at all (apart from the risk of rain...and/or sunburn), there are even large tour vans/buses operating on the route every day without issue. The Back Road into Hana is a lot more sketchy and not covered by Rental companies and as you say is VERY narrow and has some unprotected drops, This fits your description far better than the actual road to Hana.

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 12:42:00 +0000

My buddy and I decided to go check out the red sand beach in Hana, neither of us had been to the islands before or had any idea what we were getting into. We had rented a mustang convertible for this trip which I STRONGLY regret after making this drive…. shoulda gone with the mini! Absolutely beautiful adventure the red sand beach was gorgeous but our car was too wide for the road at some points due to large fallen rocks and two local girls were lost after going over the cliffside into the ocean literally the next day. They call it divorce highway for a reason, we found all of this out after the fact including that the insurance from the rental company DOES NOT COVER DRIVING THAT HIGHWAY SPECIFICALLY (for good reason) so read the fine print and do not attempt this in a rental vehicle as most are not covered. In my 42 years I have never driven a more treacherous road anywhere in the country, including cliffsides in the colorado mountains, northern california, and the washington state wilderness. It’s a single lane bi-directional highway with no guard rails along an ocean cliffside with a stone wall slightly dug in places to hopefully allow people to pass each other, stay absolutely sober, hydrated, and alert. Do not speed, stay calm, and enjoy the scenery in the pictures your partner/copilot took while you were too busying paying attention to the road! I wear my “I survived the road to Hana” shirt with pride, do not let anyone downplay the dangers of this trip.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 20:02:57 +0000

In reply to Ruth.

Hi Ruth,

Yeah we are not overly phased by these things but some people really do.

It sounds like its changed a lot since you drove it, sounds more fun like that!

There are quite a few places to stop to eat now, and quite a few restrooms now

Steve

By: Ruth

Ruth — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 17:32:06 +0000

We did the Road many years ago when it was more of a cow path. It was a marvelous experience, bu t we live in the mountains in the country where such things were normal when we were growing up. Be sure to take your lunch and don’t e xpect a bathroom break!

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 10:33:21 +0000

In reply to Scott.

Glad you braved it! It really is a unique experience, its totally different in the rain too, hopefully the waterfalls were in full flow they can dry up a little in the summer.

It really is just better for everyone to pull over and just let less patient people past. You cant enjoy the drive with a angry local right up your back side, let them be on their way and you can relax!

Supprised you were not impressed with the beach, we love the uniqueness and other worldly charms of the place, and the reservation system probably means its less busy that it can be, but still, it is just a beach really…

Glad you had the experience, we find people definitely regret not going mor than people regret going, even if it wasn’t really their thing

Steve

By: Scott

Scott — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 09:05:40 +0000

Thanks for the great article, we read it AFTER our drive on the road to Hana today. It was quite an experience with three kids in the back seat. Fortunately we had no issues but it was a windy, rainy drive and I’m glad we did it but don’t think we would do it again. We did have some locals honking at other cars, we made it a habit to just pull over and let others by which made it a better experience. We hoped to stop at the garden of eden but it had a long line of cars so we kept going, we made a reservation at the black sand beach. It was ok, not really our thing. Overall i am a confident driver so it was fine, but I can definitely see many drivers not making this drive all the way to Hana town.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 17:16:58 +0000

In reply to Wendy Teeter.

That is such a shame for you both, but it is understandable, and probably the right decision. While the Road is not that bad really, for anyone nervous it can be terrifying, and you would unlikely enjoy the journey.

So glad you are going to get back and finally see it, Finally getting to drive the road after missing out will probably make the journey all the more special!

We are sure you will love it, if your husband is a confident driver he will have no issues at all.

Have a great time, and enjoy your visit to Hana and the rest of Maui

Steve

By: Wendy Teeter

Wendy Teeter — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 16:57:22 +0000

My friend and I visited Maui in 2019 and neither of us was brave enough for the drive. I have regretted not trying since we arrived home. My husband and I are going in June and we will be doing it as he’s not a nervous person ? I can’t wait to see it!!!