Theres a very small parking area, but you know it will be secluded! Its named after the Ohai plant, one of the many species youll find along the trail. The way up is steep and unforgiving. Dont drive this route after dark. Oh, and dont forget the ocean-safe sunblock. When I did it there were no restrictions with the rental car. This road in many parts is only a one way rutted two track that is called a road. What a surprise! This road reminds me of some of the cliff roads I have been on in Italy and the Alps. Banana bread is sold at many roadside stands on the island, including a few convenient spots on the Road to Hana. I havent seen many pictures of the inside, but its so pretty. Good to know to plan to do the road from west to east. I would call me a bit of a timid snorkeler. This is a prayer labyrinth (Dragons Teeth Labyrinth). We nearly scraped the rental car on the rocks on the hairpin turns and ultimately make a sketchy u-turn. I still recommend it because it IS that gorgeous but be careful! The locals sometimes call this road the Death Highway, so please take our warnings seriously. But we do enjoy renting a car when we travel so that we have the freedom to check out the different sights. There is a lookout point here thats quite beautiful! Can you imagine if theres no automatic car when driving this road? Is the road from Kapula to the blowhole a little less stressful? Your email address will not be published. I try to be as accurate as I can, it is dangerous when someone (I mean not you) is not careful when they drive. He also dominated the ancient Hawaiian sport of lele kawa, which was essentially leaping from cliffs into the ocean without splashing. Today. There is also a short paved trail, the Overlook Trail, leading to a headland where you can see sweeping views of the rugged coastline. we are going to live in Wailea , and want to go to Ion Valley Needle, Waihee Ridge Trail, Honolua Bay Scenic Lookout, Olivine Pools This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Its perfection, really! Become one of the few who have been on this road, still have not met anyone else who traveled this road since we were on it back in 2011. It is an ancient Hawaiian burial site known as Honokahua Burial Site. And yes, we did (unfortunately) run into this situation! Seriously though, Kahekili Hwy should not be confused with "The Road to Hana," a popular tourist activity on the island of Maui. This N Ala Hele trail is a great place to stretch your legs. 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. Its an incredible adventure hike as you trek alongside a stream, crossing over it 13 times over the distance of the hike, until you get to a waterfall. We talked to many locals before going on the road, even one lady who lives up the road on the Head. She of course said she loved it! Pro tip: take athletic shoes or comfortable water shoes with you! Hi Sherry, I truly enjoyed reading this in-depth blog and gained valuable insights from it. Stopped several times to admire the beauty and buy some goodies at the stands. If you decide to go on this exciting adventure, drive from west to east (clockwise direction). At the parking lot, theres a short walk out to the overlook. . But what a view! Theres some technical navigating involved and can be quite scary when you meet and have to try to pass another car. - See 216 traveller reviews, 135 candid photos, and great deals for Maui, HI, at Tripadvisor. Beautiful images are easy in a scenic spot like Maui! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. thevanescape.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I was thrilled when we got back to 2 lanes. Anyway, just past mile marker 14, there is a scenic lookout. The Kahekili Highway in Maui is one of the most dangerous roads in the world, offering spectacular views of an untouched coastline. Hidden gem don't worry about the negative reviews too much! Its scenery is quite literally to die for. And some car rental contracts still prohibit driving on it. One of the most controversial areas of this drive is the Olivine Pools. Located near mile marker 18 on the Kahekili Highway is the trailhead for 13 Crossings Makamakaole Stream. I love maui but not the hiking, the roads are too treacherous for me. We love to hike and I think we would really enjoy the Ohai Loop Trail. I am taking notes about all of the great stops along the way. So not many people visit this part of Maui. via To-Hawaii. 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. There are no gas stations along the way, so make sure you have enough gas. Also, I mainly think about luaus and the ocean with Hawaii. Your email address will not be published. Important to consider: Since our reopening Maui to tourists, this last summer overwhelmed the local Hana community. We drove that road a few years back and loved it. If you drove too fast (especially at night) you could easily end up off the road and several hundred feet down, with no one aware. 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. The drive along the Kahekili Highway looks just like my kind of ride. Also, there arent many spots to stop for food along this part of the West Maui loop and you never know when one of these small food shacks will be open. A rockslide on the Pali Highway, Kailua bound closed the road redirecting traffic towards Likelike Highway. MISERABLE; thought I was going to die every time I saw a cross driven into the dirt inches before a steep, possibly 100+ foot drop into the ocean. Do happy you took the drive as I think its SO much better than the road to Hana! Dont play music in the car. So if another car comes from the only direction either you or the other car need to find a marginally wider place to stop so the other traffic can pass. I did the road to Hana but never heard of Kahekili Highway. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
No room for more than one car. We went on a Sunday afternoon, this time driving from Kahului toward Kahana/Lahaina. The bay has also been recognized by todays Hawaii as an area of significant cultural, historical, and ecological value. Its hazardous. I do think its worth the stop to see this unique part of the coastline! We had to back up once when we met a car because there was not enough room for two cars to pass each other. My adrenaline was pumping from a combination of the picture perfect views and the possibility of meeting another oncoming car on the narrow cliff. It is a long and difficult drive on a narrow winding mountain road. The Ohai Loop Trail is an excellent short hike on the north side of West Maui. Keep our reefs and sea life safe by using the proper stuff. Starting along the coast where the crowds start to fade away, one of your first stops along the highway is just outside of Kapalua at Slaughterhouse Beach. Sadly, there have been numerous deaths over the years on the road to Hana because of this sort of recklessness. Suppose you do not want to risk taking the Kahekili Highway. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. There youll find amazing rock formations. The roads were in as good a shape as could be expected for a windy, narrow road. 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. So you have no excuse to travel on this road. This drive is not for the timid. Its rather small and room for just a couple cars. If you read your rental car agreements, traveling this road violates your rental car contract. Road to Hana Day Trip 154 Recommended Full-day Tours from $219.99 per adult Small Group Road to Hana Adventure Tour with Pickup 896 Recommended Full-day Tours from $219.99 per adult Lahaina: Turtle Town Snorkel and Whale Watch (Dec-April Time Permitting) 120 from $89.95 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Seriously though, Kahekili Hwy should not be confused with "The Road to Hana," a popular tourist activity on the island of Maui. Thanks for sharing. The Road to Hana has unique attractions like the black sand beach (Honokalani Beach within the Waianapanapa State Park) and more waterfalls. Kahekili Highway is different from the Road to Hana. Instead of doing what everyone does and drive the road to Hana, I decided to take a different scenic route. 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. It is however, a rich part of the real Maui - no hotels (though there are some very opulent homes along the way) and a slower way of living. People have been killed as they get sucked back into the hole by the retreating water at this and other blowholes in Hawaii.. Learn more Take the 'path less-traveled' on this scenic exploration of the famous road to Hana JonnyFantastic 2 days ago Kahekili is more challenging than Hana, in my opinion, but then I drove it counterclockwise. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Yes this drive isnt for everyone which is why I tried to be honest about it and provide some images about what it looked like. Road to Hana, Black Sand Beach, Waterfalls 2-Hour Whale Watching Experience! Road: JN Hana Highway at Kaupakalua Gulch, west through Ha'iku to JN Hana Highway at Pauwela; no route signs, but some milemarkers indicate route number; does not appear in 1960s Hawaii DOT planning documents, but is in 1981 Maui county route log, and on 1976 Maui County planning map: 4.2 miles: Former County: Kauhikoa Road Speed limits are usually 15 mph or slower. Loved the tips section especially about packing water and snack, Love this adventurous Kahkili highay drive. This has got to be one of the most beautiful places to live on the planet! Scenic but not for the sissies and shouldnt be attempted by novice drivers! The driver should rest before this drive. Its a popular snorkeling spot if youre up for spending the day in the water. Cool! Not so sure about the blind corners, no guardrails, and possibility of falling rocks! She runs an Airbnb and always tells her renters dont do it, just go as far as the blowhole and then turnaround. Because of this post, now Im keeping this line in mind. Theres a fairly large parking area at the Nakalele Blowhole so you cant miss this one! This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. I asked her about what it was like to live so remotely out here. For some reason, that used to deter people (in the 70's this was an AMAZING adventure - virtually no cars except locals who stopped to talk to you as you yielded way to the "experienced") - now that is not the case. Think its worth the stop to See this unique part of Maui when you meet and have to to! Hiking, the roads were in as good a shape as could be for... Black sand Beach, waterfalls 2-Hour Whale Watching experience so remotely out here a sketchy u-turn road reminds me some! To go on this exciting adventure, drive from west to east it were... Looks just like my kind of ride has got to be one of cliff... 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April 2
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