Shaka Guide Maui "Classic" Road to Hana Audio Driving Tour
Description
Embark on Maui’s most iconic coastal adventure with this self-guided driving audio tour. Journey along the legendary Hana Highway, winding through lush rainforests, past cascading waterfalls, black and white sand beaches, and dramatic ocean cliffs, all while listening to immersive stories that bring the island’s history and culture to life. Enjoy total flexibility: start anytime, pause for hikes, swim in natural pools, or stop for fresh banana bread along the way. With offline GPS navigation, insider tips, and lifetime access, you can explore both famous sights and hidden gems without crowded buses or tight schedules. Highlights include Twin Falls, Waiʻanapanapa Black Sand Beach, Hana Town, O‘he‘o Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools), and countless scenic lookouts along this breathtaking route. Simply download the tour, hop in your car, and experience one of Maui’s most unforgettable drives at your own pace.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Enjoy a ton of fascinating and fun stories to tell you on the way about the legends of Hana and the history of Hawaii
Paia town is home to several restaurants, art galleries, surf shops, and other tourist-oriented businesses. We recommend filling up your gas here prior to tackling the Road To Hana.
Ho'okipa Beach is a world-renowned windsurfing destination. It's a beautiful white sand beach and is perfect for watching sunsets at.=
Twin Falls is the first easily accessible string of waterfalls and pools on the Road to Hana. It's the best way to kick off your Road to Hana adventure in style!
Waikamoi Ridge Trail is an often unnoticed attraction along the Road to Hana. It's located just past mile marker 9 between Twin Falls and the Garden of Eden Arboretum before Ke’anae.
Lush botanical gardens set on 26 acres, with trails, picnic spots, waterfalls & coastal views.
Puohokomoa Falls is known as one of the most accessible waterfalls on the Hana highway. It's a two hundred feet cascading waterfall and is located between mile markers 10 and 11 on the Hana Highway.
Kaumahina State Wayside is a scenic area rest area where you can picnic where you can see the Maui coastline.
Honomanu Bay is a picturesque bay located between mile markers 13 and 14 along the Hana highway.
Pull over to view sheer cliffs and crashing surf at Nua’ailua Bay.
Perhaps you’ve heard of the rainbow eucalyptus trees on the Road to Hana. If you’re looking to see these colorful trees up close, here’s the spot! The Ke’anae Arboretum is free and open to the public. You can also visit this stop on the way back if there’s time. We’ll mention it again on the return trip.
A nice place to stop by for their famous Banana Bread and beautiful ocean views.6
As you’re leaving the Ke'anae Peninsula, you’ll spot Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread on the left side of the road. Aunty Sandy’s serves up warm loaves of banana bread that are made fresh daily. We highly recommend you stop for a bite. Plus, at this point, you’re probably starting to feel a bit hungry, and we still have a ways to go before we make it to the next major food stop.
Now, pull over for an amazing overlook of the Ke’anae Peninsula that we drove down. You will see a large shoulder on the left that you can pull in for a great bird's-eye view of the peninsula. Notice the many taro patches that dot the landscape.
The halfway point along your journey to Hana! A nice place to stop and get some fruits from some local fruit stands.
Wailua Valley State Wayside offers a view of Ke‘anae Valley and Ko‘olau Gap in Haleakala’s rim, and of Wailua Village.
Also known as "Three Bears Falls", Waikani Falls is a very popular and picturesque waterfall along the Road to Hana. It is easily spotted and is a definite must visit when driving this awesome road.
Located just past mile marker #45 on Honolewa Stream, we highly recommend a stop at Wailua Falls, known as Maui's 'most photographed waterfall'.
Pua'a Ka'a State park consists of 5 acres of rainforest with waterfalls and pools
Also known as "Three Bears Falls", Waikani Falls is a very popular and picturesque waterfall along the Road to Hana. It is easily spotted and is a definite must visit when driving this awesome road.
After mile marker 25, you will find Makapipi Falls, one of the most interesting falls on the Hana Highway. The Makapipi Stream flows within the lava streambed into a pristine blue pool.
Nahiku viewpoint boasts a great coastline view with waves crashing against the shore. This is a fine picnic spot and a good place to stretch your legs.
Just six miles before Hāna Town, (near mile marker 29), you’ll find the Nahiku Marketplace, located here is some awesome places to stop and grab a bite to eat.
Kahanu Garden is a beautiful botanical garden along the Hana Highway.
A fun, family-friendly adventure through a fascinating cave created by molten lava approximately 960 years ago.
Also known for the state park with Black Sand Beach, this place is a definite must-visit while tackling the Road to Hana.
Located within Hana Bay is Hana Beach Park, which has a long black-sand beach and a grassy area with picnic tables.
Red Sand Beach is a dramatic and beautiful hidden cove unlike any other. It is one of the most picturesque beaches on this entire drive.
A nice place to stock up on food/snacks/drinks before heading back to Paia.
Koki Beach on Maui is located south of the small village of Hana. The dark reddish sand of the beach comes from the large red cinder hill, named Ka Iwi o Pele.
Hamoa Beach is located near the little town on Hana on the east side of Maui. Hamoa Beach is consistently named as one of the top beaches on Maui.
As you continue driving towards Kipahulu (Haleakala National Park), look out for Wailua Falls along the road. Up to this point you have already seen a ton of waterfalls. But this one is the largest of them all at 80 feet tall. The best view is from the right of the bridge. No need to stop here; there's no parking. Just peek out your window, but be mindful of other drivers on the road as you keep an eye out.
See a majestic banyan tree, stroll through a bamboo forest and arrive at a 400 ft waterfall.
Ohe'o Gulch is one of the most popular stops along the Hana Highway. It is also known as "Seven Sacred Pools" and is a must-visit along this windy drive.
Waioka Pond, also commonly called the Venus Pool, is a beautiful swimming hole with the added bonus of having various rock ledges that are perfect for cliff jumping.
Your tour will end in Pa'ia Town, close to where we began. At this point, it’s probably late in the evening and you’re looking for some grub. We recommend you have dinner in Pa'ia, especially if you have to make the 45-minute drive back to West Maui. Check out the tour highlights for recommendations!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Start the tour in Kahului near the airport and end in Kipahulu (Haleakala National Park - past Hana). The tour then guides you back to Pa'ia Town (near the airport) the same way you came with even more stories to keep you entertained on the way back.
- If you’re staying in West Maui in the resort towns of Ka'anapali or Lahaina, plan to spend 45 minutes driving to the start of the tour in Kahului.
- Parking at Twin Falls is limited, and there is a $10 per vehicle parking fee. There is no parking or walking allowed along the road. So if the lot is full, you can try again another time or come back another day.
- If you visited Haleakala summit within the past three days, you can show your receipt to enter for free.
- IMPORTANT: Reservations are required to visit Wai'anapanapa State Park (black sand beach). Book up to 30 days in advance, no same-day reservations are allowed,.
- Hana Lava Tube and Garden of Eden close at 4 pm and Kahanu Garden closes at 3 pm. (They all have entrance fees.)
- There are many stops on the Road to Hana that you SHOULDN’T make. These might be dangerous or on private property. We recommend you stick to the itinerary we’ve laid out.
- Proper etiquette on the Road to Hana is extremely important. Remember, there are locals who must take this road every day.
- This tour has one stop on the way back. Other than that, the return trip is all stories and music so you can focus on the drive, especially if it’s getting dark. The return drive will take about 3 hours back to the start.
- Some places are cash only, so be sure to bring cash
- As of April 2026, Hana Lava Tube is closed until further notice.
- Travelers must have a smartphone compatible with the Shaka Guide app.
- The app must be downloaded and the tour redeemed before arrival.
- Strong Wi-Fi or cellular data is required to download the tour in advance.
- Location services (GPS) must be enabled on the device
- Travelers are responsible for securing any required entrance passes, reservations, or permits before starting
Reviews(250)
Very informative and helpful along the route, especially when we lost cell service. They could upgrade the music in between stories/stops but overall very satisfied.
Aloha Michael, Glad the guide kept you company even after cell service disappeared. That's one of those things you don't really appreciate until you're out on Hāna. And thanks for the note on the music. It won't be everyone's taste, and feedback like yours helps us keep refining the experience. Mahalo for exploring with Shaka Guide 🤙
The guide was very accurate and helpful. The narrator was easy to understand. The music during downtime was enjoyable. highly recommend this!
Aloha Kim, Navigating all those famous twists and turns is no easy feat, so we're so glad you found the guide accurate and helpful. We'll definitely pass your kind words along to our narrator, too! Mahalo for letting us ride shotgun with you on Maui, and we can't wait to hit the road with you again on your next big adventure! Mahalo, Shaka Guide Support 🤙
This is an extremely helpful guide to explore the road to Hana. We loved learning more about the history of the islands too. Definitely take a charging cable with you.
Aloha 4avacation, The Road to Hana is packed with so much rich culture and storytelling, so it’s wonderful to know you loved learning more about the history of the islands along the way. Also, a massive thank you for dropping that excellent pro-tip about bringing a charging cable! Since our app uses GPS to trigger the audio automatically, it can definitely give your phone battery a workout. Mahalo for letting us join you on such an iconic drive, and we hope to ride shotgun with you again on your next trip! With warm aloha, Shaka Guide Team 🤙
Great guide that provides both audio and gps map view on car screen. Well narrated. Had a wonderful time and filled our day for myself, wife and 2 sons 20 and 17. Highly recommend!
Aloha Tom, Keeping a whole crew entertained for a full day—especially young adults aged 17 and 20—is the ultimate road trip win, and we're absolutely thrilled everyone had such a great time together! Mahalo to your family for letting us ride shotgun on your big day out, and we can't wait to join you all on the next one! With warm aloha, Shaka Guide Team 🤙
This was invaluable on the drive to Hana. Great suggestions, updating timing for Black Sands reservation and lots of interesting history on the return trip.
Aloha Jennifer, Timing that Black Sand Beach reservation perfectly can be one of the trickiest parts of the planning process, so we’re so glad our updates and reminders kept you right on schedule! Mahalo for letting us ride shotgun with you on the road to Hana, and we can't wait to join you on your next big adventure! With warm aloha, Shaka Guide Team 🤙
This was, by far, the best audio tour I have ever utilized. Literally everyone in my family, from age 6 to age 70, could not get over how entertaining and informative it was. Taking the Road to Hana was a life-changing experience, and to be quite honest, the audio tour by Shaka Guide truly was the spice that made it stand out. It is so very much worth the money. They should be charging more! You will learn, you will laugh, you will be a different person by the end of it.
Aloha Matthew, We are absolutely thrilled that literally everyone in your crew—from age 6 all the way to 70—was entertained, learning, and laughing together. Keeping a multi-generational family smiling through all those winding island curves is the ultimate road trip victory! Mahalo to you and your beautiful family for letting us ride shotgun on such a meaningful, life-changing adventure. We can't wait to join you all on your next big journey! With warm aloha, Shaka Guide Team 🤙
Accurate navigation, helpful commentary, informative and entertaining -- what more could you want for $24.99? Skip the expensive tours, pile the family into a rental car for less than $100 (one-day rental), download the app and enjoy the day. By the end of the trip you will be amazed by how much you learned about Hawaii.
Aloha Michael, Piling everyone into a rental car and exploring the Road to Hana at your own pace is truly the best way to experience the magic of Maui. We are so thrilled to hear that you loved the commentary and walked away amazed by how much you learned about Hawaii's beautiful culture and history! Mahalo to you and your family for letting us ride shotgun, and we can't wait to hit the road with you on your next big journey! With warm aloha, Shaka Guide Team 🤙
This is an audio guided tour of the whole drive to Hana. The guide share interesting facts, stories, and music as you drive to Hana. This guided tour was also very helpful in navigating the drive.
Aloha Kristia, The Road to Hana can definitely be a tricky drive to navigate, so we're so glad the app gave you peace of mind and kept you on the right track. Mahalo for letting us ride shotgun with you on Maui, and we hope to explore with you again on your next big adventure! With warm aloha, Shaka Guide Team 🤙
Where was this in 2004 when we were in Hawaii! the Road to hāna has no internet but somehow this app works! i did not think it was cheesy. great historic info. my kids were like not king k again. but we learned about atrocities and sugar cane development and a story of a princess. i dont know who the voice is but he reminds me of Casey Kasey and top 40 songs. 8 hour guided audio tour with music. love that it tells you if you are short in time to skip an attraction. the app alerts you what is coming and you can decide if you want to do it or skip it. buyer be ware, the parking lot for these attractions is tiny. the first waterfall had about 10 cars in it for the twin peaks and there was a person with a sign “lot full” so we moved on. we never made it back. we started about 8 am and it took us 8 hours. we skipped the towns. there is plenty of food along the way- shave ice, banana bread. definitely you need a full tank of gas . don’t forget your car insurance. the road to hāna is often one lane only. super tight squeezes and be patient. locals drive crazy. they have no problem passing around a curve or tiny straight away. the app also lets you know where the food is. road to hāna has few bathrooms! go when you can. bring hand sanitizer!!! public bathrooms are hit and miss. vendors take apple pay, venmo, etc. don’t forget you need a park pass for black sand beach. you need to schedule this at the start of the trip. the seven pools park fee is pricey!!! we did not enter the park. it was per car and per person. at one waterfall. the voice says there is a “trail” to the largest waterfall. this “trail” is less than a foot wide rocks, over a cliff and uneven. and the “hike” to the waterfall is short and filled with boulders that you maneuver down and up them. the waterfalls are lined with slippery rocks. wear the right shoes for this trip. this is not a flip flop kind of thing. another waterfall had paved route and signs everywhere to not jump and a bunch of tourists jumped from the the top. before this app, we just drove and parked when other cars parked. this app just makes so much sense. we didn’t know what was coming or what to expect. this is really how you should do this your first time. i will probably use this again when we cool e back. again there is no cell service. when you are driving to the next place, the app provides a lot of hawaiian music. get this!!! worth it.
Aloha Rosalind, Wow, thank you for this absolute goldmine of a review! We love hearing how much of a game-changer the app was compared to your 2004 trip! First off, the comparison of our narrator to Casey Kasem is brilliant, and we are totally embracing it! Tell the kids we apologize for the "King K" history overload, but we're so glad you appreciated digging into the real history, culture, and stories of the island. You also dropped some incredible insider tips that future travelers. Mahalo for letting us ride shotgun and bring structure to your Maui adventure this time around. We can't wait to hit the road with you again on your next trip! With warm aloha, Shaka Guide Team 🤙
Not only was it a turn by turn while still adhering to local rules but it was also a pretty cool digital history book. It was a really cool experience. Would highly recommend.
Aloha Daniel, Mahalo so much for this awesome review! The Road to Hana requires a lot of care and respect for the local community, so helping our travelers navigate it safely and responsibly is incredibly important to us. Mahalo for letting us ride shotgun with you on this legendary drive, and we look forward to exploring with you again on your next big adventure! Mahalo, Shaka Guide Support 🤙
