There are no waterfalls or places to see. Kahekili Highway is more dangerous based on the width of the road Honestly, if you have to choose just one adventure, it will be difficult! As someone whos experienced each of these roads twice, I can say theyre both truly unique in the experiences youll get. 30), which runs along the coast and then turns inland at Maalaea. Thats the unwritten rule, the people on the ocean cliff side (makai) have the right of way, and you must somehow do whatever you can to allow them to pass. I would never do it again. For those that know the road and know what to expect, its not bad. You can see them for miles along the coast, but as you drive the Kahekili Highway, youll get closer and eventually pass them. This has got to be one of the most beautiful places to live on the planet! . Amazing! We love to hike and I think we would really enjoy the Ohai Loop Trail. We purchased the Shaka audio download guide which has a driving tour for "West Maui Coastline Tour" which takes you on this road. And we lived to tell the story. This post contains some affiliate links. Whats more, the Makaluapuna Pointon at the Kapalua coast is home to Mauis largest labyrinth. There are several food stands, a studio, a ranch and many hillside homes along the way. Large rocks line the coast and it can be hard to keep steady while standing or swimming in the water. A: The scenic drive is located on the northeast coastline of Maui. However, a big wave can come at any moment, and you will find yourself underwater. Its so stunning here! It is easy to trip. Some like the adventure, some like the beach to each his/her own. It will take you about 10 minutes to walk to pebble beach. Its the same gorgeous blue water youre used to in Hawaii only without the loads of tourists. An SUV is not required. A rockslide on the Pali Highway, Kailua bound closed the road redirecting traffic towards Likelike Highway. Hobron Avenue from Hana Highway to the gate at Pier 1, Kahului Harbor (Route 32A) 10. What to wear and what to pack for the Kahekili Highway trip? This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. It is believed that Kahakuloa Head was one of King Kahekilis favorite places to cliff jump. (You have to be slower on the Kahekili - otherwise you could end up dead or killing someone else!) There is a hiking trail to the blowhole if youre up for the adventure! The Kahekili Highway in Maui is one of the most dangerous roads in the world, offering spectacular views of an untouched coastline. The Nakalele Blowhole is near milepost 38. Look out your window and there is no guard rail and 1000's of feet to the bottom of a ravine or the ocean. We drove Kahekili Highway with our kids years ago. Your email address will not be published. Not easy with a passenger on the back, love you Rose :). We just got back from Maui and I wish I saw your review before we did it. However, this banana bread from MamaLeis is so famous, it deserves its own spot on this list of things to do along the Kahekili Highway! You cannot trust advice from a tourist, get your information from a local. I stopped to buy some jam and chatted with the woman who lived there. One time I had to get out with very little footing to help my husband and an oncoming large SUV negotiate a means of passing each other without damage to either car. !Stunning shoot.The sky is looking like a roof that has no end.Loved it!!! The hike passes several eroded rocks along the sea cliffs. Honopiilani Highway from High Street to Honokohau Bridge (Route 30) 11. I took a photo from the road because Im not sure if its public access or not. Also, there are fewer stopovers here than on the Road to Hana. , etc. more. Although we had to stop suddenly when a school van speeding around a blind corner, gave us little time to react. Instead of doing what everyone does and drive the road to Hana, I decided to take a different scenic route. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. ONLY do it if you are a confident, safe, alert, experienced driver, and even then, only in the day, with dry roads, and west to east (clockwise). 36 and Hwy. Its perfection, really! The drive Kahekili Highway is more exciting, but it is also scarier at the same time. It will take you about 30 minutes. A 13h passes, on remonte dans la voiture. After doing the Road to Hana a few times and seeing so many of these trees, youll start to notice them popping up in different areas of the island! Honokohau Bay is located where the Honoapiilani Highway (Highway 30) ends, and the actual Route 340 (Kahekili Highway) begins. Aside from the standard views of the bay, its worth hiking a few minutes to the coast to Makaluapuna Point. Its an easy trail, but take shoes with good traction. I'll share guides to help you plan an epic road trip, check the next adventure off your bucket list and explore amazing places you've gotta see to believe! However, we Thats why the hill is known as Kahekilis Leap (just like Black Rock in Kaanapali). 7. The water can push over the natural pools wall and when it recedes it can pull you overboard and into the ocean. Kahekili Highway Maui is just more remote and has far less traffic. There is a lookout point here thats quite beautiful! Kahakuloa Village is located near mile markers 14 and 15 on Kahekili Highway. With so many fabulous stops along the Kahekili Highway in Maui, its quite the adventure! I'd love to do this road trip. But you need at least 4-5 hours to enjoy the scenery and see the highlights on the Kahekili Highway. Your photos have me swooning. Explore different ways to experience this place. Especially if youve done the Road to Hana, which has gotten incredibly popular and busy. And given this stretch of highway has deep cliffs that dive straight into the water, the name is certainly fitting! It can be so peaceful and wild if you are lucky. This is my favorite reef-safe sunscreen I used in Maui and it worked great! Theres not really many overlooks so just sit back, relax and soak in the sights as you drive these curvy roads. And of course, written details are below in this post! Required fields are marked *. Yet Kahekili highway was one very few people knew about which is probably what made me love it even more. Theres a very small parking area, but you know it will be secluded! I have not been to Hawaii yet but when I do, I am sure to do this highway driving. Its a fun drive with some areas of danger and not an easy one but an experience for those who like danger and challenges. Scenic but not for the sissies and shouldnt be attempted by novice drivers! . The internet is replete with this kind of nonsense. Also its great you had a guide to the blowhole we got a bit lost both there and back. This ones really for the adventurous soul. Route 340 is a road for adventurous types who like high adrenaline levels. First, A Serious Warning Wow! Seriously though, Kahekili Hwy should not be confused with "The Road to Hana," a popular tourist activity on the island of Maui. Seriously though, Kahekili Hwy should not be confused with "The Road to Hana," a popular tourist activity on the island of Maui. I havent seen many pictures of the inside, but its so pretty. It is narrower that Hana Highway and similar in many ways. If you want to show reverence for this land, you will not follow this amateurs advice. We drove that road a few years back and loved it. Hi Sherry, I truly enjoyed reading this in-depth blog and gained valuable insights from it. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. If you choose to purchase items through these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you drive very slow and have good weather, you'll be finejust don't assume the other drivers have any common sense and/or survival instincts. I knew you had to hike to it, and luckily at one of my roadside stops for a picture, I met a guy from Wisconsin who knew where it was. So, its a good idea to stop, buy something local to support small businesses, and stretch your legs. . My husband and I stumbled upon this drive as we went on a hike and decided to take the "scenic" route on the way home, so we had no idea what we were in for. Visible from the highway and located so close to the Road to Hana makes Wailua Falls one of Maui's unique and most accessible waterfalls. People were not yielding properly, i was a nervous wreck, route went from 2 hrs for 22 miles to 3 hrs and we were only a third of the way through, we ended up turning around and going back to the RT 30 and were back to the resort before the last updated time for route 340. Lots of interesting stops along the route. Oh you are right, the kahekili highway is a hidden gem. Privacy Policy. Dress comfortably for the trip. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. There were fatal accidents along the Kahekili Highway. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. For more info, see mydisclosures. The road to Hana is one of Maui's two most famous sights. New weight limit 15 tons. Here are some pros and cons to each. This trail requires good shoes with traction and some endurance. What a wonderful trip! Officially, the road is named the Hana Highway and on maps will be listed as Hwy. I was thrilled when we got back to 2 lanes. We waded through the water to get a bit closer and thats when it really hit. We had to back up once when we met a car because there was not enough room for two cars to pass each other. If you want to snorkel, dont forget to pack a Snorkel Set, and Quick-Drying Towel, and check out this detailed guide to the best diving spots in Honolua Bay. The road is not lit, and many sections do not even have reflectors. And some car rental contracts still prohibit driving on it. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm Sherry, a corporate cube dweller turned nomadic traveler. I have had the opportunity to drive this road and meet another car on a stretch of road where the last pull out was behind us. The most interesting spots are Lorraines Banana Bread and Banana Cream Pie, Julias Banana Bread, Karen Leis Gallery, Bruce Turnbull Studio, and Sculpture Garden. If youre wanting to make this stop quick or are traveling with young kids, just going to the overlook is adequate. The road to Hana is more rain forest like and more tree canopy covered. But its also extremely narrow at points. We want to drive the mountain side, so safer side should be that i am guessing, not very confident about the ocean side I was in this area a couple of times but always took the more sane road back to the Piai area, but not this time. The Road to Hana is a breeze compared to the Kahekili Highway. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
. My family and I were told to go this route as the main road to kaanapali was closed due to a brush Never Again. On this route, a fairly common way of driving in some Asian countries can be helpful. I'm Nikki. . Serious hiking shoes are not necessary, although a comfortable set of athletic shoes is preferred over sandals. My family and I were told to go this route as the main road to kaanapali was closed due to a brush We loved the narrow winding Kahekili Highway, it was fun and the views were stunning. Some say that Maui is the most beautiful island in Hawaii. Cool! What a trip!!! The road hugs the sea cliffs and is very narrow (often just one lane), with many blind curves and no guard rails. Many areas around Kahekili Highway and Maui Highway 340 areprivately owned and not accessible by tourists. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Although the addresses here are technically Wailuku, this small village is a cluster of a few homes and businesses in the most picturesque valley on earth.. The Punalau Beach is better for surfing and watching the waves than for swimming. They are based on patterns that are thousands of years old and have roots in many cultures and traditions. Its hazardous. Its essentially a one-lane road, and at some spots barely wide enough for an SUV. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Do not stop on the road to take just one photo. Its life-threatening. I seriously want to go back just getting the photos ready for this article. For those driving the Road to Hana over the next few months, consider booking Road to Hana tours. Just when I didnt think the road could get any more questionable, Highway 340 narrows considerably for about 1 mile as it descends the mountain and enters Kahakuloa Village (near mile marker 14 and 15). :-). All of the negative reviews focus on the portion of road roughly between the Nakalele Blowhole and Waihee. This is the real deal and you must be comfortable driving on this type of narrow road with big drop offs, and no help for miles. It is truly only one narrow lane and you are on this before you know it. Yes, its a beautiful no, stunning stretch of road along northwest Maui. It is narrow, one lane, steep, winding and scenic. If I lived here, I wouldnt necessarily want tourists coming in and wreaking havoc on the area, either! This stretch of road is far less touristy than most of the island of Maui. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. Better than the Road to Hana, minus waterfalls! Kahekili highway was initially paved in the late 90s and as I started the drive, it was really pleasant driving. We love to stop at the church at Honokahua (maybe the praying helps us enjoy the rest of the trip..hee hee). As one of the most picturesque drives in the world, the Hana Highway is filled with volcanic sights, cascading waterfalls, and incredible beaches. The Hana Highway is perhaps the most beautiful highway in the world, but it can be deadly. It is a long and difficult drive on a narrow winding mountain road. Oh, and dont forget the ocean-safe sunblock. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. It's not for the faint of heart but I was lucky to have good weather and that makes all the difference. Thanks Jan! Watch for oncoming traffic and give as much as you can. Answer 11 of 55: We are leaving soon on our 2nd visit to Maui & we are interested in trying to take the Kahekili Hwy across the northshore of Maui. The hiking is fabulous and the coastline is pristine. Its located on the side of the road right before you pass the Puu Koae. The trail is easy and flat. Youll see warning signs and a grave of a 17-year old who passed away at the site. We are always looking for new things to do and the Kahelkili Highway drive certainly looks like a challenge. I had to back up at one point as the other car was in the turn with no where to go and I felt I had no where to go. Hey! Wow, Maui is a stunning place. The community of Kahakuloa Village is one of the most isolated spots in Maui. Its a beautiful and spectacular drive! The road has sheer drop offs on one side and a rock wall on the other side. Stopped several times to admire the beauty and buy some goodies at the stands. Absolutely beautiful. In that case, you will find other exciting inspirations on what to see and how to spend an exciting time on this paradise island in our 5-day itinerary to Maui. If you arent settled yet on where youll stay on Maui, here are a few options, including some of my favorite spots! Be sure to stop and give the community some love. You can see the natural pools easily, and all along the coast. The spray felt refreshing, but of course I had stupidly left my LensCoat raingear for my camera back in the car since it certainly wasnt rainy weather, but down by the blowhole it was pretty easy to get drenched. Is the road from Kapula to the blowhole a little less stressful? Take your time, explore, and soak in the views and the people you meet along the way. Hi, we are Agnes & Chris! Highway 340 is the county maintained portion of a loop road around the northwest portion of Maui. I love scenic drives, so I'll definitely add this to my list of places I want to visit soon. All photos are also ours. However, this highway along Maui's North shore was no Road to Hana, because it was 10 times better than the Road to Hana. We stopped for frozen chocolate covered Bananas. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'inspiredroutes_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_10',167,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-inspiredroutes_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0'); With swaying palm trees and vibrant blue water, this is a great spot to catch a wave or two in the water before getting sweaty on land. Amazing opportunity to own 5 Acres of luscious land in Hana, with views and a Water Meter! I love your photos, especially the blue sea and sky. Once youre going clockwise the ride is just fine even w only one lane. Can you imagine if theres no automatic car when driving this road? Quality water shoes with traction are imperative for this adventure! The View is breath taking from the high cliffs above the deep blue, blue ocean. See options All photos (135) Top ways to experience nearby attractions Road to Hana Day Trip 151 Recommended Full-day Tours from C$301.15 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Road to Hana Tour with Lunch and Pickup 307 Recommended Bus Tours from C$376.44 per adult There are hairpin turns, scenic lookouts, and narrow one-lane bridges. Finally before coming down the Kahekili highway into Waihee I passed a number of little fruit and artist stands. So cool Rachel! There are no guard rails in many areas. The cliffs were scary as were the turns in the dark. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Most testifiers were in support of the affordable housing and highlighted the need for it. Sorry for answering so late. 31. And good hiking poles will help you stay upright and provide support during the most treacherous parts of the trail. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Kahekili Highway (Hawaii State Highway 340) runs north and south from Kahului through the small town of Waihee-Waiehu, flanked by the beauty of the West Maui Natural Area Reserve to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east, on its way to Kahakuloa Village, one of the most isolated spots on Maui. The scenery is beautiful, but 90% of the drive is spent pulling over and hoping your car doesn't end up over the side of the road. Find the trailhead for the Ohai Trail between mile markers 40 and 41. So in the case of Kahekili Highway vs Road to Hana: you really cant go wrong with either decision! DO NOT DRIVE THIS ROAD - It is not enjoyable. This is one of the most exciting attractions of the Kahekili Highway. I would love to travel here some day and enjoy the blowhole and the views. Thus, you can admire the sharp, jagged prongs that rise high into the air. When I travel, I find the cheapest rental car rates at RentalCars.com. The advice on this blog is irresponsible and may ever well lead to a very unhappy ending to your vacation. Check with the car rental company to see if they allow cars to be driven on the Kahekili Highway. After the nail biter one mile of narrow road where I luckily didnt meet an oncoming car, I stopped for a smoothie at Kahakuloa Village, and sat and just took in the view. So our concierge in Kaanapali Beach suggested the 13 crossings trail. The County of Maui announced that MP10 Hana Highway 360, has been closed in both directions due to a landslide in the area. this loop, Slaughterhouse Beach, Olivine Pools. Maui Snorkeling Molokini Crater Uncrowded, Unhurried. Driving the stretch takes more than two and a half hours, even with no stops, because of the narrow, winding road and nearly 60 bridges with 46 that are one lane only. Dont drive this route after dark. And because of this, the increased congestion on the roads, combined with visitors disobeying posted no parking signs, creates traffic jams and slow moving traffic. My adrenaline was pumping from a combination of the picture perfect views and the possibility of meeting another oncoming car on the narrow cliff all the time. Why Kahekili Highway Is Better Than the Road to Hana, Its Not as Well Traveled as the Road To Hana, Experience the Powerful Nakalele Blowhole, Experience the Ranch Land and Kahakuloa Head, Visit Fruit Stands That Dont Get Much Business, Maui Surf Lessons: Becoming a Gnarly Surfer Girl. It certainly looks breathtakingly beautiful, unspoiled, and uncrowded but, I go to Maui to relax so, this road is not for me! But unlike the Hana Highway, it's a mystery to most visitors. If you are looking for something a bit different on Maui, then spend a day driving highway 340. Refer to tips above to be fully prepared. Posted on Published: June 17, 2022- Last updated: June 23, 2022. As a reminder, a small stele by the path mourns Steven, a 34-year-old young man who was swept away by a wave in 2017 and whose body was never found.