{Basically the same transcript as my video, but some people are better with words>pictures.}

I just got finished driving the Road to Hana Loop, so I wanted to focus this blog post on the lesser known part of the route - driving the back side of the Road to Hana.

I’m going to cover Four Topics specifically about the backside of Hana.

Pros
Cons
How much time you need - plus some driving/sightseeing math
Where you should stop on way

1. PROS

Why do the Hana Loop instead of just to Hana and back?

I have a one-word answer: Variety. It won't be your Great Life Regret if you don't see the back road, but the backside of the Road to Hana is drastically different than the front side. You go from lush rainforest to mountains and lava rock-strewn grasslands. There are not as many “must see” stops as on the front-end of the Road to Hana, but I personally was glad we did it because it gave me a fuller picture of Maui as an island.

2. CONS

Why Not drive the backside of Hana?

A lot of rental car companies don’t allow it because the road gets kind of rough in a few areas. And while some of the unpaved road can get bumpy, I found it to be a lot better than some of the paved portions because of all the potholes.

But even if Rental companies didn’t care, consider this: The turns in the road are more narrow and more blind spots, meaning it’s going and you absolutely have to be on your toes so you don’t headon with another car coming around the bend.

Also, rocks falling from the cliffs is a reality. They have cliff guards trying to prevent this but it still happens-- you can see rock fragments on the road.

Furthermore, during heavy rains, portions of the road may be un-passable because they are washed out or underwater.

Last of all, if you do happen to get a flat tire, calling a tow truck is going to be expensive. I just called around, and the tow company I talked to in Hana quoted me upwards of $800. And that’s if you can even call a tow truck because some areas you drive through don’t have cellular service. A fix for this would be to rent a jeep since they have a spare tire.

3. Time Needed

How depends how time you need depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.

“The Experiential” Road to Hana Loop needs at least 2 days, in my opinion.

When we went, we did the first day on the front end, stayed the night in Hana, and then completed the loop around on the second day... and it still felt rushed. A few days or a week would be ideal. Or a whole lifetime.

While doing the whole loop in one day is possible, I personally don’t recommend it, because that would mean sacrificing valuable time swimming in a waterfall, or hiking to a Black Sand Beach, or exploring a lava tube. (Those are all actual things we did in one day.)

>>> Calculate the Road to Hana Drive <<<

Here’s my math and I’ll let you decide for yourselves:

Your GOAL is to drive Road to Hana Loop during daylight hours ← (daylight is key because you do not want to be on these windy, narrow roads after dark.)

Driving takes minimum 5 hours if you don’t stop and there’s no traffic,
add in 30 minutes for eating lunch,
plus 4 small hikes or beach explorations at an hour a piece,
plus about 8 quick stops for waterfalls or bamboo forests at 15 minutes a piece,
and let’s throw in 15 minutes for the bathroom breaks.

Arithmetic: 5hrs +.5 + [4 x 1 = 4] + [8 x .25= 2] + .25 = 11.75 hours in perfect road and traffic conditions.

That said, it will take longer than Google Maps' prediction.

Proof: The drive from Hana to the airport took my sister and her bf 3 1/2 hours even though Google Maps predicted 2 1/2. They left Hana at 8:30 am on Sunday morning to make a 12:30 pm flight and they barely made it on the plane. So take that for what it is.

4. Where should I stop on the backside?

In short, download the app Shaka Guide.

If you want to look up some key places, here ya go:

Haleakala National Park (Seven Sacred Pools, Pipiwai Trail)
Lindenberg’s grave
Maui Wine

But if you want a true expert guide on where to go with history and exact directions for about $5, I highly recommend you download Shaka Guide for Maui. It’s an audiobook - style travel guide and you listen while you drive. It’s linked up to GPS, so tells you what you’re passing and when to turn off to see something. There are probably a lot of other great ones as well, but that’s the one we used and I 100% recommend it.

So... should I do it?

If you’re nervous about driving the backside of Hana, don’t do it. Doubling back on the Hana Highway is beautiful and always a good option. But if you are a good driver, reeeeally want to see Maui’s different landscapes, and you’re willing to take on the risks I mentioned above, then maybe doing the full Hana Loop is for you.

I hope I answered some of your questions about the Back Road to Hana, but if I missed anything, let me know in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer.

It should go without saying, but be courteous while on the road, let others pass you when needed (ESPECIALLY LOCALS-- imagine if someone was driving 5 mph in front of you while you're trying to get to work), and don’t trespass on private property.

Enjoy the Road to Hana!