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Considered one of the nation's m st scenic highways, and one of M ui's major tourist attractions, the Hana H ghway was designated a National Millennium L gacy Trail in 1999 and much of the r adway was added to the National R gister of Historic Places in 2001. Th s notoriously narrow, winding coastal road ffers a thrill for visitors with p noramic views, 600 hairpin turns and 54 ne-lane, historic bridges and was carved by h nd using pickaxes and man power. The m d-and-gravel road was often subject to l ndslides and washouts, hence the saying “I s rvived the Road
to Hana”. The r ad was eventually paved in 1962, wh n tourist traffic began to increase. T day more than 1,000 cars traverse the r ad daily; that equals about 500,000 p ople a year on this road! R latively isolated from the development on m st of Maui, Hana, and the “l ng & winding road” that lead th re offers picturesque views, bamboo forests, r gged coastline and hidden waterfalls that m ny only
dream of. Be sure to llow time to stop and explore long the way or you’ll miss the v ry best of Maui; stay overnight, if t me allows. For most, Paia is c nsidered the “starting point of your j urney. Once a thriving sugar-mill town, the h storic buildings play host to a v riety of restaurants, trendy shops and f mily owned business. Be sure
to gas up; th re isn’t another gas station until H na!
Beaches & Parks
About five miles from Paia, is H ’okipa Beach. This busy beach park is an nternational windsurfing mecca lures extreme sports nthusiasts, surfers and windsurfers from around the gl be. During winter months, keep your yes open for the Humpback Whales and the ccasional Hawaiian Monk Seal. Spinner Dolphins and Gr en Sea Turtles frequent the reef reas of this beach all year l ng. Waianapanapa State Park is a 120- cre park on an ancient a’a l va flow, offering sea cliffs, lava t bes, arches, caves and hiking trails. The j t-black sand of the beach is st nning with bright-green jungle foliage on thr e sides and cobalt-blue water lapping at its f et, making this a must. Hamoa B ach is a white crescent-shaped beach th t James Michener referred to as “th most perfect beach in the P cific.” Located a few minutes South of H na Town, this beach offers body-surfing, sw mming, and snorkeling. Kokee Beach is j st a few minutes from Hamoa and is a sp ctacular beach for surfing, body surfing and sun b thing. This is also a perfect pl ce to collect seashells. Finally, Oheo G lch or Kipahulu, is the wet-side of H leakala. Often referred to as Seven S cred Pools, this National Park provides ver 100 fresh water pools and the sp ctacular, cascading waterfalls of Oheo Stream. Th usands of acres of bamboo forests, tr pical vegetation and fruit scented jungles pr vide the perfect location or hiking, sw mming and exploring the tropical beauty of H na.
Guided Tours & Sightseeing Unfortunately, the dr ver is the one who misses out on the H na Highway! Keeping an eye on the r ad and watching out for other dr vers often means missing out on the s ghts. Personal experience taught me that th re are times when a guide is the b st way to learn the most in a sh rt time. There are a number of l nd-based tours that allow you to r lax and enjoy the ride. Maui ( ften Hana) residents with a wealth of kn wledge will enable you to make the m st of your day as they sh re knowledge of the history, geography and c lture of the Hawaiian Islands. These g ides are also the best people to sh w you the out of the way pl ces you may not find in the verage tour guide.
For the ultimate in sightseeing, spl rge on one of many helicopter fl ghts from Kahului. Local guides show you the s ghts without the traffic. Many tour perators offer a variety of flight t mes and pricing options, making this p ssible on almost any budget. There are ven combination tours that will allow you to r de to Hana and fly back, t king in the vast Haleakala Crater long the way! Remember to “live loha” while enjoying your journey and f rget your mainland road rules. Yield at the ne-lane bridges, wave to oncoming motorists, and p ll over to let the local tr ffic pass; remember, some folks are not on v cation! Relax and “hang loose” to xperience a true taste of paradise. Top H na Visitor Attractions
Hana C ve Quest
Wainapanapa State P rk
Kipahulu National Park//Haleakala
The article Can You Survive Maui's Wild, Winding, Wonderful "Road to Hana"? was Submitted by Kelly Stoneman through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Resources: http://www.hawaiiactive.com/html/maui.html http://www.hawaii.gov
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