The Road to Hana is one of the most popular – and some say treacherous – tourist activities on the island of Maui, Hawaii.
Having driven it myself, I can tell you that it is not for the faint of heart (or for those who regularly suffer from motion sickness). I had always wanted to go to Hana, but that failed when I tried to drive there under my own power in 2021. After an hour of driving on one-way roads, taking hairpin bend after hairpin bend, it started to rain. With no ocean views in sight, I decided to turn back and give up about three-quarters of the way to Hana.
The Road to Hana had won that round, but even though I was disappointed, I hadn’t given up forever.
That’s why I jumped at the chance to take a quick flight to Hana on a recent trip to Maui. It’s not every day that you fly into the small hamlet in a small plane, and it offered the chance for a transfer of sorts on the Road to Hana.
Here’s what it was like to fly versus drive to Hana and why the trip is worth the trip – especially as the island recovers from the devastating Maui wildfires of 2023 – regardless of which mode of transportation you choose.
Related: Save Money: How to Book Flights to Hawaii Using Points and Miles
Driving on the road to Hana
The Road to Hana connects the town of Kahului to the town of Hana on the east side of Maui. According to Google Maps, the drive from Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG) to the town of Hana should take about two hours, but you’ll want to allow plenty of extra time for stops… and traffic.
It is a winding, winding road that goes up and down steep hills, occasionally turning into a single-lane road with single-lane bridges in several places.
Along the way you not only compete for the road with oncoming traffic, but also with local residents who do not always like the slow pace of tourists. At some points during the journey you will have to stop or even stop for traffic coming from the other direction.
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Honestly, the road can be scary. When I tried to do it solo a few years ago, I gave up when it started raining.
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There are also many no trespassing signs, posted by residents who don’t like the local transportation system being clogged with tourists.
This whole experience may not sound like much fun to most drivers, but the reward of spectacular views can make it worth it. You’ll see incredible vistas from the oceanfront portions of the road, along with beautiful tropical foliage. There are also fruit stands and other places to stop along the way, including many waterfalls.
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On my last trip, my brother drove while I played the role of a chauffeured cameraman. We had rented a Jeep from the Hana-Maui Resort and planned a leisurely day of driving to see some of the sites on the road to Hana closest to the town.
My brother and I spent some time at Waianapanapa State Park, which has epic waterfalls and spectacular ocean views, along with several hiking trails. I recommend making an entrance reservation, although we got lucky the day we arrived and didn’t end up needing them. It cost me and my brother $30 to park our Jeep and go in.
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Fly to Hana
While there are ways to make driving the Road to Hana more enjoyable by having the right person in the driver’s seat, the right vehicle, and the right amount of time, there is another way to get there.
Now that I’ve done it myself, I can confidently say that flying to Hana is a completely different experience. The short flight from Maui Airport to Hana was in a 10-seat Cessna aircraft courtesy of the Hana-Maui Resort.
The flights depart from a separate terminal at Kahului Airport in downtown Maui.
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Our pilot met us at the commuter air terminal and took us to our Cessna. After just a few minutes of settling in, we were off.
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During the trip, my brother and I got to see sea cliffs, waterfalls, rainforests, and more. The entire flight time only lasted about 14 minutes, but we were able to take in some pretty epic sights along the way and create lifelong memories.
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Once we arrived at the tiny Hana Airport (HNM), a shuttle from the Hana-Maui Resort picked us up for the short ride to the hotel.
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On the way home we were able to get an up close look at Haleakala, a huge active volcano that covers most of Maui. It was such a magical way to see Hawaii.
You may think the trip is only for the wealthy (or lucky travel writers), but some of the longer resort packages at Hana-Maui Resort include private plane transportation.
For example, the hotel offers a Plane to Paradise package for bookings of at least four nights. It includes round-trip service from Kahului Airport (OGG), Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) or Lahaina’s Kapalua Airport (JHM) with no baggage fees, plus a resort credit and a Jeep rental. Prices depend on room rate, but start at around $900 per night.
The Hana-Maui Resort is also a great destination in its own right. There are breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, and with only 66 rooms and suites, you always feel like you have the place to yourself. Our room had an epic view of the coastline and the sound of the waves lulled us to sleep at night. The hotel is also part of the World of Hyatt program, so you can even earn and use Hyatt points.
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Regional carrier Mokulele Airlines also offers scheduled service to Hana on one of its Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft, from just $110 round trip. The airline also flies to Hana from cities like Honolulu with a connection at Maui’s main airport.
That’s a great price I’d happily pay for any getaway, let alone a getaway to this secluded paradise.
In short
Flying from Kahului Airport to Hana takes less than 20 minutes, but it is still one of the most spectacular flights I have taken. Best of all, it’s reasonably priced, so everyone from aviation nerds to casual travelers interested in seeing Maui from a whole new point of view can enjoy the experience, whether they have the cash or are on a budget.
Hana itself is one of the most attractive places I have ever visited. It has an undiscovered quality that makes it super immersive and enjoyable, perhaps because of how difficult it is to achieve. I can’t recommend spending enough days here, especially as Lahaina continues to rebuild after the devastating fires of 2023.
If you’re considering a trip to Maui, take a break from the popular areas of Kaanapali and Wailea and try Hana. Whether you drive or fly the Road to Hana, it is a phenomenal experience you will never forget. I can’t wait to go back now that I’ve found a more enjoyable way to the end.
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