Maui: Small Group Road to Hāna Tour 6 to 8 passengers

We arrive in Kahului after picking you up from your accommodations/meeting location. Located in the valley between the Kahalawai (the West Maui mountains) and Haleakala, Kahului is the most populated city on Maui and the commercial and financial hub. It is also the starting point for our tour.

Drive through the eclectic town of Paia an old plantation era town

World famous Ho`okipa Beach Park is a breath-taking white sand beach boasts perfect windsurfing conditions and windsurfers from around the globe travel here to challenge themselves against the ever-changing waves. Stop for photos on the overlook.

Visiting the small community of Keanae will be like stepping into the past. Located on a peninsula which is an old lava flow, it is graced by Keanae Congregational Church, built in 1860 of lava rocks and coral mortar. Don’t miss an opportunity to feast on the best banana bread in the Hawaiian islands and possibly catch a view of the honu, Hawaiian sea turtles.

Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread Stand Is a must stop destination for hot, fresh baked banana bread that was featured on Gordon Ramsay’s uncharted show “road to Hana” episode.

An idyllic area with two small scenic waterfalls and pools. Swimming opportunity.

Hanawi Falls cascades 200 feet into a freshwater pool next to the Hanawi Falls Bridge completed in 1926.

Experience Honokalani Beach, a gorgeous black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park. This magnificent beach is set among lava cliffs and the sand is actually small, smooth lava pebbles. A small sea arch, sea caves, and seaside lava tubes are located right on the beach. An ancient Hawaiian footpath leads to the beach area which appears like a vivid dream, with bright green jungle foliage on three sides and cobalt blue water lapping at its feet. Spectacular! Swimming opportunity.

Hana Bay (Uakea), is a beautiful black sand beach, On any given day you’ll likely see local Hana outrigger canoe clubs practicing.

At Koki Beach overlook, you will see a red hill (which is actually an eroding cinder cone) known as Ka Iwi o Pele, meaning “the bones of Pele”. From this vantage point, you can also get an excellent view directly offshore of `Alau Island, a seabird sanctuary with a 150-foot summit, topped by swaying coconut palms from the small red sand beach is a great photo stop.

We will stop at the tropical flowers of Maui to rest, use the bathrooms and a little shopping opportunity before getting back on the road.

****Our tour does go “all the way around” when the road is open. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, the road is closed to commercial vehicles at Alelele Point. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the loop at this time. If the road is still closed at the time of your tour, we will need to turn around after Hana. You will still see the main stops of the black sand beach and waterfalls (including swimming opportunities). The stops that we will not be able to go to would be: Lindbergh’s Grave, going over the bridge that crosses the Pools of Oʻheʻo [which is permanently closed], and the stop for photos across from Wailua Falls (we do not hike to the falls).****

**CURRENTLY CLOSED BY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE** O`heo Gulch, also incorrectly known as “The Seven Sacred Pools”, is located in the Kipahulu area of Haleakala National Park. In reality, there are more like twenty-four pools. A one mile long loop trail goes down to the pools and ocean, then up and around, back to the parking area. NOTE: The National Park Service has closed access to the Pools indefinitely. Please see the NPS website. Weather, safety, timing and unexpected closure permitting.

Kipahulu is a photographers paradise of rainforests, waterfalls, pools, mountain valleys and sweeping ocean views. We will make photo opportunities stops.

Wailua Falls is an 80-foot cascading waterfall and plunge pool considered the most photographed beautiful waterfalls on Maui,

Driving through the Kaupo district, with its rugged coastline, and unpaved roads you will think you are in the latest Indiana Jones adventure! We will make photo opportunities stops.

Kula district is a quaint, rustic area on the slopes of Haleakala, that stretches across the "up-country", from 500 m to 1,100 m (1,600 ft to 3,600 ft) in elevation of the western-facing slopes of Haleakalā, from Makawao to Ulupalakua. Kula’s most notable landmark, the brilliant white, octagonal Holy Ghost Church. A gift from the king and queen of Portugal to the island’s Portuguese plantation workers in 1894, it has been recently restored. Kula also offers the best views in Upcountry Maui, with sweeping views of Maui and the Pacific Ocean. This will be a bathroom stop and to take in the views.

Visit Charles A. Lindbergh’s grave. The famed aviator lived his last days on this lush Hana coast. Today, he lies at rest on the serene grounds of the Palapala Ho’omau Church in lovely Kipahulu. The adjacent limestone coral church was built in 1857. NOTE: This is an actual church which can be unavailable when a service is being conducted or the caretaker is not available. Weather, safety, timing and unexpected closure permitting.

Finally we have come full circle around Haleakala on our Road to Hana Tour. After an epic day, we now we return you to your hotel/condo or meeting location.

**Please note that all stops are weather, safety, timing, and unexpected closure permitting. **CURRENTLY, THE ROAD IS CLOSED TO COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AT ALELELE POINT. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND. WE WILL RETURN IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS WE STARTED.**

Located on the rural northwest slope of Haleakala on Maui, the community is known for being the hub of the "Upcountry Maui", a part of the island dominated by mostly agriculture and ranch land. Makawao is an old, Paniolo town. A Paniolo is a Hawaiian Cowboy.

St. Joseph Catholic Church one of Maui’s oldest churches was established in 1862 by the missionary Catholic priests served a thriving community of Native Hawaiians, ranchers, fishermen, and farmers.