An Unforgettable Memory Awaits You on this Road to Hana Tour

The curvaceous Road to Hana, which hugs Maui's northeastern shore around Haleakalā National Park, is one of the island's most memorable experiences. The 68-mile road harkens back to a Hawaii before shopping malls and crowds, with 59 bridges to cross—46 of which have only one lane. It's a feast for the eyes and the senses as well, with plenty to see as you pit-stop along the way.

The road takes about 2.5 hours to drive end-to-end if you take your own car and make no stops along the way, but where's the fun in that? The trip can easily take up a full day if you stop for hikes and photo ops—and two full days if you decide to sleep overnight in Hana.

The roads are quite windy, so those prone to motion sickness should proceed with caution. For a recent trip to Maui, we booked a tour with Valley Isle Excursions to take the hassle off of driving (and getting motion sickness) and to fully enjoy the experience. Although it was our third trip back to Maui and had already done the Road to Hana by rental car before, our experience was largely impacted by car sickness and a harrowing drive, especially when the road narrowed to a single lane.

Here’s why we loved our small group experience with Valley Isle Excursions and why you’ll be hooked and inspired to try their other tours, too.

They pick you up and drop you off on time

Valley Isle Excursions offers pickup at various resorts on Maui. We were staying at a vacation rental in Lahaina and our driver, Joe, was promptly on time. We hopped aboard the luxury-air conditioned 4-wheel drive van equipped with comfortable seats and extremely large windows, which played a huge part in keeping the motion sickness at bay. Our tour began with a hosted breakfast at The Mill Restaurant at the stunning Maui Tropical Plantation. The sun was just starting to rise so it made for a serene backdrop and set the tone for the day. Breakfast was quick and light but the coffee was strong, juices and fruit were fresh, and the biscuit was comforting. When we got back to the van, there were maps on our seats to follow along the route and identify the upcoming stops.

They are experts on and off the road

One thing of the many things we greatly appreciated from Joe was his efficiency to keep us on schedule to be able to see everything. The Road to Hana is not for those lacking professional driving skills. Our ability to make the most of our experience was largely in part to Joe’s skilled driving and savvy familiarity of the area. As a native of Hawaii, Joe’s decades-deep knowledge of the island made for a truly historic and authentic experience. Throughout the drive, he provided both stories and facts of our route stemming from both personal and historic roots. He was engaging and personable, and even asked if anyone had any questions that weren’t answered. And when the van was silent, he didn’t press for participation and wasn’t overbearing as other past tour guides that we’ve encountered. He was respectful and sincerely created space for each of us to enjoy the tour in whatever way felt right for us. He also proactively slowed down at waterfalls and photo opportunities that we didn’t get out of the van for; often made announcements of upcoming restroom stops, the distance to the next rest stop if no one had to go; and honored requests to stop at stands we passed along the way. The stops were timed so that we would stay on schedule but it was more than enough time to peruse the local fare and snacks, and make a purchase.

It was truly a nausea-free experience

For the most part, the Hana Highway is just a normal highway as it wends its way from the busier town of Kahului (where the OGG airport is), to the crunchy hamlet of Paia, where the sign says, “Do not feed the hippies.” Onward are some sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean from higher elevations, but the Hana Highway does not truly become that infamous Road to Hana until after the mile marker reset to zero at the corner of Hana Highway and Kaupakalua Road in Haiku.

As mentioned above, this was not our first experience on the Road to Hana. We had motion sickness each time so when we got to this tour, we were mentally prepared. Joe graciously announced the start of when the winding roads began and often expressed that he would keep the air-conditioning on as it helps with motion sickness; if anyone got too cold, he said he would turn it off. We preemptively kept taking ginger chews to keep the motion sickness away but not once in the 12-hour tour did we experience any sort of motion sickness from start to finish. This spoke volumes as we were extremely prone to it! The quality of the vehicle, massive van windows, and Joe’s expert navigation made for a truly comfortable ride.

It was a food lover’s paradise

The hidden gems we stopped at on this tour made for some of the best food we had throughout our entire vacation! Early on in the tour, we stopped at Aunt Sandy’s Banana Bread, which is so revered it often runs out by lunch. The line is long but moves quickly and you’re left with warm, fresh out-of-the-oven banana bread with that lust-worthy crunchy top that kept us totally satiated throughout the day. We also enjoyed fresh coconut candy, homemade macadamia nut brittle (the only one made on the whole island) , coconut macaroons, and banana and toffee crunch ice cream at the various stands. The tour also comes with hot prepared lunch–no cold sandwiches here! We had a proper sit-down meal at one of the stands along the route, which also doubled as a sanctuary and garden. Joe set up hot food stands as we grabbed a picnic table under a shaded area. We were treated to an authentic plated Hawaiian lunch where you get to choose from a vegetarian entree or Huli Huli chicken, a grilled chicken dish that’s barbecued over mesquite wood and basted with a sweet sauce. You also get mac salad, greens, rice, and an assortment of beverages; and can help yourself to seconds.

You’ll walk away with much more than great photos
“The adventure is in the journey” may be cliché, but it is also said that every cliché harbors a kernel of truth. The Road to Hana is not a commute, or even the means to an end – the drive is an adventure in and of itself.

Although we weren’t new to the drive, experiencing it with Valley Isle Excursions was just as magical, engaging, and never the same twice. The raw natural beauty is dynamic, containing countless hidden treasures and always just every bit as spectacular, especially when you can leave the driving and decisions to someone else!

Some of the stops that we got out of the van for included: The Painted Forest, where rainbow-colored streaks run down the trunk of eucalyptus trees; one hour at Wai’anapanapa State Park, Maui’s famous Black Sand Beach where we went for a quick swim and explored the freshwater cave made from volcanic rock (just make sure the tide is low before you enter); a waterfall swim; Hookipa Beach where we saw numerous turtles laying on the shore; and endless vistas and cliffs.

How to make the most of your tour:

Most stands along the way only take cash
Bring a beach towel and change of clothes
Wear your swimsuit underneath
Wear sturdy shoes that you don’t mind getting wet and muddy
Pack insect repellent
Keep hand sanitizer and bathroom tissues on you
Respect the aina and local culture. Respecting the “aina” means to respect the land, which you can do by understanding the inherent risks present in nature

EXPERIENCE IT