Although any tour of Hawaii will likely feature plenty of waterfalls and beaches, Hana tours are in a league of their own. This is the last bit of nature in the raw on the Hawaiian Islands, unspoiled by man and highly inaccessible in a remote corner on the island's eastern coast. It's like a dream tropical world, with jungles and jagged cliffs looming over the ocean and epic scenery so often portrayed in brochures but very hard to see in person.
Kahului Airport offers the main gateway in and out for visitors to this part of the island. The town is 52 miles from the airport, and this drive on the HI-360 is among the highlights of the tour. The tourist experience begins as soon as the bus is makes its way past the urban hustle and bustle of Kahului.
For the driver, the next few hours will be a treacherous time that requires extreme skill and concentration to get past the 59 bridges and 620 curves. A lot of these hairpin curves and old bridges are made all that much harder and time-consuming because they can accommodate only one lane of vehicles. For the passengers, it is an immersion into a beautiful and untouched paradise.
The air-conditioned buses that take passengers on this route have wide windows designed to offer a full and unimpeded view of the panoramic scenery. The lush green tropical forest, waterfalls, cliffs and ocean below combine to offer a fresh and clear atmosphere that is hard to describe. The bus stops a number of times at specific points of interest so that passengers can get off and get an up-close look at the attractions.
One of these stops is at the Puohokamoa Falls. The lower falls here tumbles down 130 feet into the ocean. Another serene spot where the bus stops is called the Ohe'o Gulch Pools, also known as the Seven Sacred Pools. Visitors can spend some time taking a dip in the pools. Just before the bus reaches Hana, it stops at the Black Sand Beach, which is in Waianapanapa State Park.
The Tedeschi Winery likewise offers a relaxing break where visitors can sample some of their quality wines while exploring the estate. One of the best stops on the route is the Keanae Peninsula, created by lava from the Haleakala Crater. The waves crashing into the lava rocks are a potent reminder of awesome natural powers and forces that remain beyond man's control.
After all this, visitors enter into Hana and are presented with the spectacular Hana Bay and historic attractions such as the Hasegawa General Store. Most tours will also stop by at the Kahanu Garden Botanical Gardens and the 13th century temple there, better known locally as Pi'ilanihale Heiau. Beaches included among the stops are Hamoa Beach and Hana Beach Park.
Tourists can get a view of the road's other side on the way back to Kahului on HI-360. Some Hana tours will make it a round trip instead, continuing on the highway past the town. If so, the first stop after the town will be Charles Lindbergh's grave at the Palapala Ho'omau Church. Going forward past the church, the road forges ahead to the opposite coast, and then turns back inland and cuts through central Maui towards Kahului.
Kahului Airport offers the main gateway in and out for visitors to this part of the island. The town is 52 miles from the airport, and this drive on the HI-360 is among the highlights of the tour. The tourist experience begins as soon as the bus is makes its way past the urban hustle and bustle of Kahului.
For the driver, the next few hours will be a treacherous time that requires extreme skill and concentration to get past the 59 bridges and 620 curves. A lot of these hairpin curves and old bridges are made all that much harder and time-consuming because they can accommodate only one lane of vehicles. For the passengers, it is an immersion into a beautiful and untouched paradise.
The air-conditioned buses that take passengers on this route have wide windows designed to offer a full and unimpeded view of the panoramic scenery. The lush green tropical forest, waterfalls, cliffs and ocean below combine to offer a fresh and clear atmosphere that is hard to describe. The bus stops a number of times at specific points of interest so that passengers can get off and get an up-close look at the attractions.
One of these stops is at the Puohokamoa Falls. The lower falls here tumbles down 130 feet into the ocean. Another serene spot where the bus stops is called the Ohe'o Gulch Pools, also known as the Seven Sacred Pools. Visitors can spend some time taking a dip in the pools. Just before the bus reaches Hana, it stops at the Black Sand Beach, which is in Waianapanapa State Park.
The Tedeschi Winery likewise offers a relaxing break where visitors can sample some of their quality wines while exploring the estate. One of the best stops on the route is the Keanae Peninsula, created by lava from the Haleakala Crater. The waves crashing into the lava rocks are a potent reminder of awesome natural powers and forces that remain beyond man's control.
After all this, visitors enter into Hana and are presented with the spectacular Hana Bay and historic attractions such as the Hasegawa General Store. Most tours will also stop by at the Kahanu Garden Botanical Gardens and the 13th century temple there, better known locally as Pi'ilanihale Heiau. Beaches included among the stops are Hamoa Beach and Hana Beach Park.
Tourists can get a view of the road's other side on the way back to Kahului on HI-360. Some Hana tours will make it a round trip instead, continuing on the highway past the town. If so, the first stop after the town will be Charles Lindbergh's grave at the Palapala Ho'omau Church. Going forward past the church, the road forges ahead to the opposite coast, and then turns back inland and cuts through central Maui towards Kahului.
