WhenI was working in New Jersey, we decided to go to Hawaii with one of my school colleagues (yes, I know every time I work somewhere in the world, I’m lucky to find people who want to travel as much as me, and even if she got back to France, we are still in touch!!!Feel blessed to have crossed her path!).
During our trip to Hawaii, we wanted to go not only on Oahu (this is where you have Honolulu), but we wanted to experience other islands.
Hawaii is an archipelago with many islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai, Island of Hawaii, We went to Maui, who was quieter than Ohau and we wanted so much to see the Volcano in Haleakala National Park!)
We decide to do Hana road in one day, and you can do it too! The route starts in Pana and goes to Hana. The road is very curvy, but you can make many stops (don’t try to go back, it can be tricky sometimes). The drive itself is not so bad (I was not the one driving!), but they are many small bridges where only one car can pass.
And be careful not to get any coconut on your head, you will see plenty of them on the road.
What will you see on the road?
Beautiful waterfalls and pools in an amazing setting:
Pools of Oheo (Seven Sacred Pools)
Pipiwai Trail& Waimoku Falls
Twin Falls
Upper Wailkani Falls (Three Bears)
Ching’s Pond (Blue Sapphire Pools)
Waioka Pond (Venus Pool)
Waikamoi Stream& Waterfalls
Wailua& Ke’anae Valley Hike
Bamboo Forest (Na’ili’ili Haele)
Nemo Falls
Upper Waikani Falls (Three Bears)
Helele’ike’oha Falls (Blue Pool)
Wailua Falls
Haipua’ena Falls
Pools of Oheo (Seven Sacred Pools)
Lower Puohokamoa Falls
Puohokamoa Valley/ Keopuka Roch which is very famous for the splendid and famous view you see in the movie Jurassic Park at the beginning. Only the dinosaurs were missing, but the picture itself is stunning!
Ching’s Pond (Blue Sapphire Pools)
Haipua’ena Falls
Some state Park:
Wai’anapanapa State Park
If you like road less traveled, continuing on past Hana around Haleakala is an adventure worth taking. Just be careful, some of the car rentals don’t cover this part of the road (and after some research, the way is not bad, it’s your own risk to get there, but if you have some problems, you will be just on your own to manage it, and to pay the damage (or the cow)):
The backside of Haleakala
Some State Wayside:
Wailua Valley State Wayside
Pua’a Ka’aa State Wayside
Kaumahina State Wayside
Some Garden:
National Tropical Botanical Garden and the largest heiau in Hawaii
Kahanu Garden & Pi’ilanihale Heiau
Wailua& Ke’anae Valley Hike
Bamboo Forest ( Na’ili’ili Haele)
Some Nature Trail:
Waikamoi Nature Trail
Some peninsula & Bay:
Ke’anae Peninsula
Jaws Surf Break (Pe’ahi): the best place to see huge waves)
Honomanu Bay
Some town:
Hana, Pa’ia Town and Wailua
Some beaches:
Koki Beach Park
Red Sand Beach
Ho’okipa Beach Park
Arboretum:
the Keana arboretum
We stopped in Hana, and they even have a school (I remember wanting at this time going there and having a teaching job there. I think that I would love that!)
In this town, we discover this Red Sand Beach, which is beautiful. You need to know that it was there, but it’s the mystery of this road!
For information, you need a map with the point and sometimes even with a map, you just don’t find what you find. Keep your Aloha Spirit!
I loved this part of Hawaii, and if you are looking for amazing views and waterfalls, you should go!
