I’ll admit, I wasn’t looking forward to the 48-mile drive from Paia to Hana.
I heard it takes three hours to cover that distance. And with something like 620 curves and 59 bridges along the legendary Hana Highway (HI-360), I was bound to get carsick.
Amazingly, I didn’t. (Driving helps.) And we spend four glorious hours driving through lush rainforest, along cliffs with spectacular ocean views, and around hairpin turns that brought another new and beautiful vista.
Here’s the long, winding road to Hana looked like:
Goodbye, Lumeria
Watch our journey from Paia to Hana
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5 Comments
Since I know that road so well, I enjoyed watching your video…but I almost wish I could have been sitting in the back seat so I could tell you all the cool places to stop. There are all kinds of views, waterfalls, and short hikes that you don’t see from the road. ex..at mm10 there is a 200 foot waterfall just below the road. And that place you said was closed…I think that gate is always closed and you just open it or go around it. I don’t think it is really closed. No one is there anyhow to open or close it. Are you going to go all the way around to Ulupalakua to get back? or the same windy road back? You can go all the way around. If you are..here is a picture set of images I made of me going from Ulupalakua to the Oheo/7 pools. https://www.asaellison.com/pics/2012/4/30/oheo_trip.html It is the reverse direction for you…it starts at Ulupalakua and ends at Oheo so for your purposes …look at the last pic first. Maybe it can help you to know what the road will be like. If you can..find Al lele bridge and hike back 5 minutes up the trail along the stream. It starts and the side of the white bridge and goes thru all the Hala trees. Great waterfall. You will see it in my pics.
Very cool! Can’t wait to see more Hana stuff ’cause I’ve nevah been
Hello Cat,
I stayed at that hotel when it was named the Hana Hotel years ago.
Love it! Looks like a gorgeous day for the drive. Thanks for taking us with you.
Awesome vid. A 4 hour drive with intense concentration will take the wind out of just about anyone’s sails. I will probably never get to Hana, so thanks to you and Derek for taking us on your journey.