Vacation Itinerary
Day 1 (Sunday) – Fly in to Kahului Airport
Pick up car rental – make sure tank is full
Stay at Paia Inn – 93 Hana Hwy, Paia – 12 min drive – (Must pay to secure room/cancellation 7 days prior, full refund) – white sand beach access – inn has towels, beach chairs and boogie boards to use – Standard Room –town view – queen
Paia Town – visit shops
Hookipa Beach – 6 min drive – 2.4 mi – turtles near lava rocks – bathrooms
Paia Fish Market – dinner – open till 9:30 pm
Day 2 (Monday) – Road to Hana (Bring cash for snacks/some require cash) – sunrise 6:05am
Paia Bay Coffee – 4.6 stars – 115 Hana Hwy, Paia – 217 ft from hotel – 7am-5:30pm
Stop 1 – Twin Falls – near mm 2 – 19 min drive – 11.7 mi – right side of road – trail to waterfall – may swim here – trail may be muddy – fruit stand/cash donations – port-a-potty
Stop 2 – Waikamoi Nature Trail – between mm 9 and 10 – 21 mins – 7.5mi right side of road – .75 mi loop – sign may say Koolau Forest Reserve
Stop 3 – Lower Puohokamoa Falls – near mm 11 – 1.3 mi – 5 mins – past Garden of Eden – left side of the road – bridge crosses pools and waterfalls
Stop 4 – Kaumahina State Wayside Park – mm 12 – 4 mins – 1.2 mi – left side of road – 6am-6pm – overlooks Keannae Peninsula – bathrooms
Stop 5 – b/w mm 14 & 15 – large turnout – view of ribbon of Hana Hwy stretching across mountain – two turnouts, second is better 2/10 mi farther (added later, distance/time not included in list)
Stop 6 – Ke’anae Arboretum – mm17 – 14 min – 4.7 mi – will turn right off Hana Hwy – just walk around or take challenging hike to forest – trail at the side of the large taro path – 25 min hike to forest
Stop 7 – Keanae Overlook – mm 17.5 – 2 min – .6 mi – left side of road
Stop 8 – Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread – 210 Keanae Rd. Haiku – 1 min – 479 ft
Stop 9 – Wailua Overlook – before mm 19 – 8 min – 2.7 mi – right side of road – view of Wailua Canyon – go up steps for view of village w/a church made out of coral
Stop 10 – Upper Waikani Falls – past mm 21 –2 min – .6 mi – best falls – 3 Bears Falls – right side of road – muddy trail to falls
Stop 11 – Pua’a Ka’a Wayside Park – b/w mm 22 & 23 – 9 mins – 3.1 mi – series of waterfalls – muddy – bathrooms – picnic tables
Stop 12 – Nahiku Marketplace – near mm 29 – food trucks/gift shops (added later, distance/time not included in list)
Stop 13 – Waianapanapa State Park – past mm 32 – 28 mins – 9.9 miles – black sand beach, freshwater caves – to the left black sand beach, picnic tables and cave pools – to the right trail goes past blowholes, sea arches, 3 miles of trail ends at Hana Bay, walk half of it, can walk the other half from Hana – toilets – free parking
Stay at Hana Kai Maui Condos – Popolana Studio (oceanfront) 2 night stay – 4865 Uakea Rd. Hana – 8 min – 2.8 mi Directions: Continue on the Hana Highway for approx 50 miles (turns into 360 and the road becomes narrow and winding for the last 25 miles). At the fork in the road at the Hana Police Station, keep left. Continue on for approx 1/2 mile. Look for our sign (oval/blue) on the left side of the road. The office is located in the lower (Makai) building…just follow the signs – check in 2pm – if arriving after 8pm call before 8 – 1-800-346-2772 – checkout 11am – 7 days notice for cancellation – sunset 6:44pm
Hasegawa General Store – if needed – 3 min – .7 mi – left side of road
Places to Eat
Huli Huli Chicken – 4.8 stars – at Hamoa Beach – 175 Haneoo Rd, Hana – 8 mins – 2.7 mi – chicken/ribs – $12-$18 – opens at 11am
Hana Burger Food Truck – 4.8 stars – 5670 Hana Hwy – 4 min – 1.6 mi – 10am – 4pm – $14
Braddah Hut Roadside BBQ – 4.5 stars – 5305 Hana Hwy – 3 mins – 1 mi – M-F 11am – 3 pm – chicken, ribs, fish
Barefoot Bakery – 3.9 stars – 174 Keawa Pl., Hana – 2 min – .4 mi – 7am – 5 pm
Hana Ranch Restaurant – 3 min – .7 mi – right side of road – 5031 Hanna Hwy – 3.7 stars – 11 am – 8:30 pm
Day 3 (Tuesday)
Stop 1 – Wailua Falls – b/w mm 44 &45 – 21 min – 7.6 miles – right side of road – can climb under the bridge to get to the falls
Stop 2 – Ohe’o Gulch – mm 42 – 11 min – 2.7 mi – $25 parking (good for three days at Haleakala) – can swim in the lowest pond – bathrooms (may be at Visitor Center, 9-4:30, park rangers will know weather and trail conditions
Pipiwai Trail – 4 mi roundtrip hike – through a bamboo forest ends at Waimoku Falls – about 3 hours to hike
Lunch at Huli Huli Chicken – 175 Haneoo Rd – 28 mins – 8 mi
Stop 3 – Hamoa Beach – 2 min – swimming – bathrooms – picnic tables – powerful currents towards the end of the beach – good for boogie boarding, snorkeling just ok, left side of cove
Stop 4 – Kaihalulu Bay (Red Sand Beach) – 9 mins – 3.4 mi – not sure where to park, maybe Hana Community Center – past baseball field (Uakea Rd) – walk through grass lot to the trail below the cemetery – do not go through cemetery – trail is slippery – swimming
Day 4 (Wednesday) April 18th
Stop 1 – Garden of Eden Arboretum – 10600 Hana Hwy, Haiku – 23.6 mi/1 hour 2 min – $30 – 8am – 4 pm – 2 ½ mi of trails – Garden Café 9:30-4:30 – 3 hours approx.
Stay at Kula Lodge – 15200 Haleakala Hwy. Rt. 377 – 23.5 mi/55min – check in – check in time 3pm-9pm, check out 11 am, check in at restaurant
Lunch at Grandma’s Maui Coffee – 9232 Kula Highway – 7am-5pm (hours changed, check website before leaving) – 6.6 mi/11min
Stop 2 – Haleakala National Park Headquarters – 17.1 mi – 34 minutes 6:30 am – 3:45 pm – trail maps – ask where the best place is to watch the sunset and hiking conditions – bathrooms – bring flashlight, food, water, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, flashlight, layered clothes, winter coats/raincoat – have enough gas
Stop 3 – Halemauu Trail – 3.5 mi/8 min – trailhead b/w mm14 & 15 – 2.25 round trip – switchback trails – when you reach the gate at the bottom go back up
Stop 4 – Leleiwi Overlook – 2.8 mi/7 min – .5mi roundtrip trail to view crater – during late afternoon may see Brocken Specter (see yourself reflected on the clouds encircled in a rainbow
Stop 5 – Pu’u’ula’ula Summit – 3.7 mi/9 min – watch sunset (around 6:45) – low temp 30 degrees
Dinner at Kula Lodge – 15200 Haleakala Hwy. Rt. 377 –pizza – 21.4 mi/47 mins
Day 5 (Thursday)
Stop 1 – Drive to Puu Ulawa Overlook to watch sunrise (around 6:03) – 21.4 mi/47 mins – park opens at 3am, need ticket, four places to view, based on first come, first serve, should arrive about an hour early – try for Puu Ulawa, unless rangers tell you there is a better spot. Freezing, wear winter clothes, in layers, bring food, water – may make reservations 60 days in advance – $1.50
Stop 2 – Drive down to the Haleakala Visitor Center (6:30-3) ask about weather conditions for taking the Sliding Sands Trail – bathrooms
Stop 3 – Sliding Sands Trail (Keonehe’ehe’e Trailhead) – 5 mi. roundtrip, when you hit crater floor, turn around and go back (bathroom break Haleakala Visitor Center)
Stop 4 – Kalahaku Overlook – 2.1 mi/7 mins – short path and stairs, view of cindercones along the summit rift zone.
Stop 5 – Leleiwi Overlook (if missed yesterday) 1.6 mi/5 min
Stop 6 – T. Komoda Store and Bakery – 3674 Baldwin Ave. Makawao – 17.1 mi/45min – 7am-4pm – closed on Wed – 24.6 mi/52 mins
Shopping in Makawao – 3674 Baldwin Ave
Stop 7 – Coastal Nature Trail – Wailea Coastal Walk – free beach parking lot south of the Grand Wailea resort(Wailea Beach, Wailea Alanui Dr), 25.6mi/40 mins – additional parking at the south end – free – 1.5 mi/each way – free beach parking lot south of the Grand Wailea resort(Wailea Beach, Wailea Alanui Dr), additional parking at the south end of the beachwalk. Landscaped with rare plants, ocean on one side, landscaped grounds, resorts on other side.
Get dinner
Stop 8 – Makena Beach State Park for sunset – end of Wailea Alanui Dr. – 4.4mi/10 mins – free – weekdays 6-6 – steep drop off, big swells, not good for swimming – lifeguards, parking, toilets
Check in to Maui Kai – 106 Kaanapali Shores Place – 36.9 mi/1hr 4 min
Day 6 (Friday)
Stop 1 – Snorkeling – Pride Of Maui – Maalaea Harbor (North Dock, left of USCG) – $114/person – 20.3mi/35min – check in 7:30am – ride 8am-1pm – breakfast, lunch and drinks included (no wetsuits) Molokini and Turtle Town – buy ginger gum from Amazon
Stop 2 – Mokapu and Ulua Beach – tide pools, good for snorkeling – low tide 12:52pm – public parking near Wailea Marriott – 12.8 mi/22 min
Stop 3 – Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge – 9.2mi/16 mins – free – wetlands, bird watching, boardwalk -7:30am-4 – 700 acres – main entrance on Mokulele Hwy – Park near Kanuimanu ponds wildlife viewing area, then drive to Kealia Coastal Boardwalk and Viewing Area
Dinner
Drive back to hotel – 23.4 mi/37mins
Day 7 (Saturday)
Stop 1 – Lahaina Banyan Court – Maui’s oldest banyan tree – 6.2mi/15mins – Front Street b/w Hotel and Canal St.
Stop 2 – Shopping in Lahaina – front street – galleries/shopping
Stop at hotel to change – 6.2mi/15min
Stop 3 – Napili Beach – turtles – swimming – showers/toilets – white sand – 5900 Lower Honoapiilani Hwy (right outside the Napili Kai Beach Club) – 4.8mi/11mins
Day 8 (Sunday)
Stop 1 – Nakalele Blowhole – Poelua Bay, Wailuku, HI – 12.6mi/28mins – ½ mi past mm 38, wide turn out for parking – high tide best time for viewing – for a longer hike park at the lot near mm 38 – allowed to hike on the jeep road – 30 min hike to blowhole from other side – make your way towards the sea cliffs – keep going to the right – 10-15 mins will see a light beacon, half way there – continue along shoreline until you come to an ‘alien landscape’ – 20-30 mins to reach the blowhole – can be very windy on this hike – bring water
Stop 2 – Olivene Tide Pools – Kahekili Hwy – 4.1mi/11mins – dirt road ¾ mi past mm 42 – walk towards ocean, veer to right at the second intersection – nice rock formations – natural lava steps lead to the pools – to get to pools from the rock platform overlook, look down the cliff and to they left for a lava bench with a heart shaped pool – there is a faint trail leading down to the bench
Day 9 (Monday)
Stop 1 –Kapalua Ziplines – 500 Office Road – 8 am – 2 hours 50 mins – check in 30 mins early, gym shoes only – $354.15 – bought tickets through Maui Activities Store to save $40
Stop 2 – Iao Valley State Monument – $5/car – 54 S. High St. – 7am-6pm – Iao Needle Lookout Trail (.6 mi) and Ethnobotanical Loop – has bathrooms
Stop 3 – Kepaniwai Park – free – 7-5:30 – bathrooms – parking – picnic tables – walking paths – 6 acres
Day 10 (Tuesday)
Stop 1 – Maui Nui Botanical Garden –free – 150 Kanaloa Ave, Kahului – 8am-4pm (After more internet research, we decided to skip this garden and return to Ho’okipa Beach instead. We were so glad we did. We saw over 200 Green Sea Turtles on the beach!)
Stop 2 – Shop in Paia
Fly home
This was one trip where we had to do some improvising and rearranging, in part due to massive flight delays and missed connections, and from the sheer exhaustion of being up for 24 hours trying to get to Maui that eventually caught up with us. You will notice that the weekly posts do not always follow the itinerary, as some things we simply skipped or on the Road to Hana, could not find. I can tell you that we wished we would have stayed 14 days instead of ten, oh well, gives us another reason to go back!
All photography is available as Fine Art Prints or Digital Downloads at full resolution at Alamy If you can’t find something use the Contact Me page and I will make sure the image is available.
If you are interested in the itineraries for some of our other trips, click on the links below.
13 Day Road Trip from Wisconsin to California
15 Delightful Days in Kauai ~ A Travel Itinerary
Joshua Tree National Park – One Day Whirlwind Itinerary
4 Days in the Sun ~ Arizona Itinerary
What to See and Do in San Diego
Visit All Four Vortices in Sedona in One Day
Pin for later!
See the Entire Island of Maui in 10 Days!
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