Road to Hana (First Half)

The Road to Hana (Hana Highway) is Maui's most famous drive -- a winding, cliff-hugging highway through tropical rainforest along the northeast coast. The full drive is 52 miles with 620 curves and 59 one-lane bridges. For families, the first half (to approximately mile marker 25) contains the best waterfalls, swimming holes, and roadside stops without the exhaustion of the full round trip.

Twin Falls at mile marker 2 is the first and most accessible waterfall stop. A short walk through a bamboo forest leads to a swimming hole beneath a cascading waterfall. The water is cool and refreshing, the setting is lush, and the hike is easy for all ages. It is the perfect introduction to Hana Highway's natural treasures.

Between mile markers 2 and 25, the road winds through dense tropical vegetation with waterfalls appearing around seemingly every corner. Upper Waikani Falls (Three Bears Falls, mile marker 19) is a dramatic three-tiered waterfall visible from the road. Hanawi Falls, Puohokamoa Falls, and numerous unnamed cascades reward those who pull over at each opportunity.

After rain, the waterfalls are at their most spectacular.

The one-lane bridges are part of the experience. Each bridge requires yielding to oncoming traffic, creating a rhythm of stopping, waving, and crossing that kids enjoy. Counting the bridges becomes a family game. The bridges cross streams that feed the waterfalls, and many offer viewpoints of cascades above and below.

Banana bread stands dot the highway. Local families bake fresh banana bread, coconut candy, and tropical fruit, selling from roadside stands that appear at irregular intervals. The bread is warm, moist, and genuinely excellent. Cash is preferred. Stopping at these stands is a Hana Highway ritual.

The key family strategy: drive only the first half. The full road to Hana and back takes 8-12 hours with stops, involves increasingly narrow and winding road past mile marker 25, and exhausts everyone -- especially kids. The first half has the best waterfalls and stops. Turn around at your family's energy level and return to your resort for an afternoon at the beach.