Hana Highway
Encyclopedia
The Hāna Highway is a 68 miles (109.4 km) long stretch of Hawaii State Routes 36 and 360 which connects Kahului with the town of Hāna in east Maui
. On the east after Kalepa bridge, Hana Highway continues to Kīpahulu as Route 31 (Piilani Highway), the first section of which is unofficially considered to be part of Hāna Highway. Although Hāna is only about 52 miles (83.7 km) from Kahului, it takes about 2.5 hours to drive when no stops are made as the highway is very winding and narrow and passes over 59 bridges, 46 of which are only one-lane bridges. There are approximately 620 curves along Route 360 from just east of Kahului to Hāna, virtually all of it through lush, tropical rainforest. Many of the concrete and steel bridges date back to 1910 and all but one are still in use. That one bridge, badly damaged by erosion, has been replaced by a parallel structure by a portable steel Bailey bridge
erected by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
.
In August 2000 it was designated as the "Hana Millennium Legacy Trail" by President
Bill Clinton
, with the trail start designated in Pāia
. The Hāna Highway is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
The Hāna Highway is a popular tourist attraction in Maui
. Guidebooks often devote large sections to traveling the highway leading to the eastern side of Maui and document the many waterfall
s and attractions that can be found along the way. Some of these attractions lie within or through private property and will often have "no trespassing" signs posted or even signs claiming that the attraction does not exist. All beaches in Hawaii are public. Some guidebooks document the "keep out" areas and ways past barbed wire fences and locked gates to reach attractions.
At the end of the Hāna Highway (actually past Hāna in a clockwise direction around eastern Maui) is the Oheo Gulch, also known as the "Seven Sacred Pools". This series of waterfalls and pools is located inside the Haleakala National Park
.
Occasionally the dirt road past Route 31 is closed to traffic due to landslides. Most major rental car contracts forbid driving this section. However, although it is somewhat rough in places, it is by no means a daunting or particularly dangerous road if taken slowly. Some parts are washboard-like and require speeds of 5 miles per hour or less in order to avoid damaging the suspension of a rental car. This prohibition in rental car contracts seems more related to the remoteness of this section of highway; in case of a breakdown, there is very little in the way of passing traffic or inhabitants around, and no cell phone service in parts.
Scenic turnouts abound, including one for Wailua Falls near the Seven Sacred Pools in Oheo.
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
. On the east after Kalepa bridge, Hana Highway continues to Kīpahulu as Route 31 (Piilani Highway), the first section of which is unofficially considered to be part of Hāna Highway. Although Hāna is only about 52 miles (83.7 km) from Kahului, it takes about 2.5 hours to drive when no stops are made as the highway is very winding and narrow and passes over 59 bridges, 46 of which are only one-lane bridges. There are approximately 620 curves along Route 360 from just east of Kahului to Hāna, virtually all of it through lush, tropical rainforest. Many of the concrete and steel bridges date back to 1910 and all but one are still in use. That one bridge, badly damaged by erosion, has been replaced by a parallel structure by a portable steel Bailey bridge
Bailey bridge
The Bailey bridge is a type of portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge. It was developed by the British during World War II for military use and saw extensive use by both British and the American military engineering units....
erected by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
.
In August 2000 it was designated as the "Hana Millennium Legacy Trail" by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, with the trail start designated in Pāia
Paia, Hawaii
Pāia is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, on the northern coast of the island of Maui. The population was 2,499 at the 2000 census. Pāia is home to several restaurants, art galleries, surf shops and other tourist-oriented businesses. One business, Charley's, is frequented by...
. The Hāna Highway is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Tourism
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
. Guidebooks often devote large sections to traveling the highway leading to the eastern side of Maui and document the many waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s and attractions that can be found along the way. Some of these attractions lie within or through private property and will often have "no trespassing" signs posted or even signs claiming that the attraction does not exist. All beaches in Hawaii are public. Some guidebooks document the "keep out" areas and ways past barbed wire fences and locked gates to reach attractions.
At the end of the Hāna Highway (actually past Hāna in a clockwise direction around eastern Maui) is the Oheo Gulch, also known as the "Seven Sacred Pools". This series of waterfalls and pools is located inside the Haleakala National Park
Haleakala National Park
Haleakalā National Park is a United States national park located on the island of Maui in the state of Hawaii. The park covers an area of , of which is a wilderness area...
.
Occasionally the dirt road past Route 31 is closed to traffic due to landslides. Most major rental car contracts forbid driving this section. However, although it is somewhat rough in places, it is by no means a daunting or particularly dangerous road if taken slowly. Some parts are washboard-like and require speeds of 5 miles per hour or less in order to avoid damaging the suspension of a rental car. This prohibition in rental car contracts seems more related to the remoteness of this section of highway; in case of a breakdown, there is very little in the way of passing traffic or inhabitants around, and no cell phone service in parts.
Scenic turnouts abound, including one for Wailua Falls near the Seven Sacred Pools in Oheo.
State highway numbers
- Route 36 from Kahului to Haiku-PauwelaHaiku-Pauwela, HawaiiHaiku-Pauwela is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 6,578 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Haiku-Pauwela is located at ....
- Route 360 from Haiku-PauwelaHaiku-Pauwela, HawaiiHaiku-Pauwela is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 6,578 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Haiku-Pauwela is located at ....
to Hāna - Route 31 from Hāna to Kalepa Gulch
Intersections with other highways
- Route 32 in Kahului
- Route 380 in Kahului
- Route 37Hawaii Route 37Hawaii Route 37 is a 26.6 mile road on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Its northern terminus is with Route 36, where it heads eastward as Haleakala Highway. At the junction with Route 377, it becomes the Kula Highway, until its southern terminus with Route 31. A short 1.6 mile section of the Kula...
in Kahului
External links
- Road to Hana Tips, The Official Maui Information Guide, 2007
- On the Road to Hana, Honolulu Star-BulletinHonolulu Star-BulletinThe Honolulu Star-Bulletin was a daily newspaper based in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the second largest daily newspaper in the state of Hawaii...
, October 27, 2000 - Road to Hana Tour, The Best Stops on the Hana Highway, 2010