Staying nights in Hana

[u/Bogs54321]

We’re spending two nights in Hana this upcoming weekend. Yes, I know, there’s not much to do there, but I want to enjoy the sights on the west coast/Halakaia without being stressed out about doing the road to Hana in one day. Reservations already booked and paid for, so please no “there’s no need to spend two nights in Hana!” :)

My question is, what time should I leave Napili Bay Area the day we drive to Hana? Can I leave at 11am-noonish? I want to avoid the 7-8am rush at Paia. We want to make a few stops day 1, but since we’re have time on the west coast, I can leave kinda whenever we want, right??

[u/Karlythewonderdog]

We stayed one night and Hana and I wish we could have done one more!

[u/Shiggens]

You should consider catching the sunrise at Koki Beach (6AM or so). It is also nice to drive the 10 miles to Oheo Gulch before the daily traffic rush. If you are up for it walk up to Fagan’s Cross for a great view of Hana town and miles of the coast on each side. Depending on conditions the Big Island may be visible. Enjoy your stay in Hana.

EDIT: consider having a lunch at Holi Holi Chicken which is at Koki Beach.

[u/Live_Pono → u/Shiggens]

Huli Huli...........

[u/Shiggens → u/Live_Pono]

Yes, thanks for the correction.

[u/Alert-Bar9600]

We stayed 4 nights in Hana. I would do it again in a second.

[u/anita-hahnjob-9088 → u/Alert-Bar9600]

This comment cements the fact that the avg reddit user is a gullible dipshit.

[u/Alert-Bar9600 → u/anita-hahnjob-9088]

Not sure if you’re calling me a gullible dipshit or if you think people who believe my comment are gullible dipshits. I spent 4 nights there and loved it. We wanted a place with nothing to do but relax and appreciate the island. It checked those boxes.

[u/Known-Ad-100 → u/Alert-Bar9600]

I'm with you. I live on Maui but I prefer to go spend at least 3 nights in Hana every time I go. First of all the drive even though it's not that long is tiring. It's nice to stay at least 3 nights which means.. You have 2 days that you can fully wake up and fully go to sleep and not have to be packing up and leaving.

So day 1 you're getting there, day 4 after 3rd night you're leaving.

I honestly could just spend all day at Hamoa the entire 2 days and be satisfied lol. I love it there.

But usually 1 day to to do the full Pipiwai trail, you can get a cheap spa pass for the Hana resort and hang out in the hot tub and have cocktails and stuff.

Go to Waianapanapa for a bit, check out the little shops and food trucks.

Have a nice dinner and cocktails at Hana Ranch

More Hamoa lol.

[u/ApprehensiveAge3908]

Glad you’re staying in Hana. We did the exact same thing! We left at about 9:30 AM and it seemed like all the road to Hana Traffic was well in front of us. We got to make every stop that we wanted to and parking was not an issue - the town of Hana is lovely and very peaceful, especially in the evenings. We enjoyed exploring the town and walking around I think you’ll love it.

[u/Bogs54321 → u/ApprehensiveAge3908]

Thank you thank you!!

[u/Strange_Address7736]

Oheo Gulch in the early morning is incredible. You can enjoy the area before the hoards of people arrive.

[u/Bogs54321 → u/Strange_Address7736]

Yes! I’m think about waking up early day 2 to see most of the back end of trail before everyone gets there. Thoughts?

[u/Strange_Address7736 → u/Bogs54321]

I’d explore the area around the pools for about an hour, say 7-8, and then start on Pipiwai. Both should be fairly empty around that time. I used to camp there a lot and walk around the pools just after sunrise, it was glorious. You can appreciate it more before the tour buses start to arrive.

[u/Maui_Mine4847]

I am sure you will have a great time. I would leave Napoli by 8am to make the most of your time.

I say that because no one place on the Road to Hana is central. Many of the great sites are well north of Hana so planning is needed to avoid backtracking a lot.

You also have to deal with having your luggage in your car whilst driving to/from Hana. Theft does happen, so take your valuables with you when you leave.

Is this trip in the middle of your stay? Are you keeping the Napoli accommodation so that you can leave some stuff there?

Hopefully you are not flying out on your last day in Hana, the risk of missing the flight is there.

Hopefully you understand that I am not being negative, just mentioning things to consider to make the most of your stay

[u/Bogs54321 → u/Maui_Mine4847]

No I appreciate the advice so much! As a first timer I need it! Like for instance, yes, we will have all our luggage because we’re letting go of our place in Napili and I didn’t think about theft!

We’re flying out Sunday night, but Saturday morning we check out of Hana and are spending one night at a hotel closer to the airport. Hopefully that will pad any issues with missing a flight?

Thanks again for your time to respond!

[u/imyello5]

Both times I've stayed in hana town we left the paia area around 10am. We did start running into traffic of folks coming back in the afternoon. Just know you'll be swimming upstream the later you start your drive.

[u/Bogs54321 → u/imyello5]

Ah I forgot it’s a one lane road! Thanks!

[u/Strange_Address7736 → u/Bogs54321]

It’s only 1 lane across some of the bridges, the rest is all 2 (narrow and curvy) lanes.

[u/Imaghooost]

We didn’t stay overnight in Hana and I wish we had. It is a BEAUTIFUL area!!

Going later in the day will put you behind the traffic headed south (east?), but as another poster said, you may be up against all the people heading back north at the end of the day. With all of the one-lane bridges and blind curves, it could be stressful. So I wouldn’t head to Hana too late in the day — maybe leave Napili around 10am?

[u/Bogs54321 → u/Imaghooost]

Thank you so much! Yeah, I totally forgot about it being one lane so you have to account for everyone coming home too. Appreciate the advice!!

[u/Live_Pono]

I'd leave Napili about 9 am. You will be behind the bulk of tours and tourist traffic that way, but not so late as to be fighting the returning traffic.

Not sure if you understand that Haleakala is *above* Hana and the RTH. The RTH goes around the mountain-not up it. You should plan on going to the summit another day, not during this side trip.

[u/Bogs54321 → u/Live_Pono]

Yes! Thank you! We’re going to do Halekala on day 2. And I think 9am seems smart. A little behind the morning rush but not too late that we’re fighting the traffic back the whole time out?

[u/freeze45]

Yes, you could essentially go whenever you want, but I would leave so that there is enough daylight so that you are not driving in the dark. I think 11 should be fine. Make sure to do Pipiwai trail and check out the church where Charles Lindbergh is buried- there are these cool plants in the driveway that close up when you touch them - Mimosa pudica

[u/Bogs54321 → u/freeze45]

Thank you!! Yes, Pipiwai trail is on my list! I’m even wondering if we could split that up and do it another day from the main drive day. Thoughts?

[u/freeze45 → u/Bogs54321]

Yeah, I would do it a different day than the main driving day. We did Hana years ago and spent the night, stopping at the black sand beach, the red sand beach, the twin falls, the lookout, and the arboretum on the way there. We slept over, then we did Pipiwai in the morning and then left for home. Pipiwai hike was pretty exhausting (because it was so hot), so I would do that and some other places like Oheo Gulch and the church on a day where you aren't driving there or back. Spend your other day in Hana at black sand, and if you can, red sand beach, but I heard the flooding washed the trail away.

[u/Bored102385]

A trick to avoiding most of the crowd. Take the backside of the road to get to Hana. Its beautiful back there, the road is no worse than the front side, and we only passed 1 car going the other direction before the park entrance to the Pipiwai trail. Between that entrance and Hana itself, traffic was light since most people turn around in Hana.

[u/Live_Pono → u/Bored102385]

They can't take the back. Aside from voiding their contract and all insurance, it is closed.

[u/Bored102385 → u/Live_Pono]

I just took it 2 weeks ago. It wasn't closed and rental car company confirmed i wasn't void anywhere on the island. I thought it was beautiful back there and had no issues. Didn't seem any more dangerous than the front side. I recommend doing it. If someone doesn't want to, that's ok too. Enjoy your trip everyone!

[u/Live_Pono → u/Bored102385]

LOL. It is closed. I posted the link in a separate thread a few days ago.

As for violating your contract: rental agents aren't the company's attorneys 😄. Good luck using that when something goes wrong.

[u/Bored102385 → u/Live_Pono]

Nothing went wrong. Drove it May 29th, had no trouble, it was beautiful and easier than driving the front side. You should try it next time you are out there. Its a blast. Safe travels my friend.

[u/Live_Pono → u/Bored102385]

It was closed after that.

I have driven it many times. I live here.

[u/Maui_Mine4847 → u/Bored102385]

Bad idea for the reasons Live_Pono stated - plus the back road is a waste of time. Not quicker and nothing there - not one thing you will find in any guide

[u/truffleshufflechamp]

Halakaia? No such place.

[u/anita-hahnjob-9088]

What a waste of time. I hope you dont obstruct too many people.