This was an amazing guided audio tour. The GPS navigation works in such a fashion that it knows exactly where you are. The turn directions were precise, and we especially loved the narrator. It made it seem like you had a Guide right there in the vehicle with you. I strongly recommend paying the nominal fee for this app. It made it well worth it and you can go at your own pace. Highly recommend.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Take the tour when you want
- Tours NEVER expire
- Freedom to explore at your own pace
- Tour Start is Customizable
- Offline map (no wifi or data needed)
- Tour highlights with activity and restaurant recommendations
- Turn-by-turn directions using GPS
- Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music
- Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive
Excludes
- Parking fees
- Meals
- Car rental
- Crowded tour bus
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Start the tour in Kula Town in Upcountry Maui.
Return
- The tour ends in Paia Town.
Itinerary
Begin the day with a scenic site and geologic wonder! As you drive along this country road, you’ll soon spot a rock formation in the ocean. This sea arch was created by an ancient dried lava flow that has carved out a hole by the ocean’s unrelenting waves.
Next is a visit to Huakini Beach. After a short walk to the shore, you’ll notice this beach is covered with rocks. Although you won't feel sand between your toes, stop and listen as the waves crash onto these rocks. You’ll hear a loud rumbling if the conditions are right.
This is the first of many beautiful views that the tour has to offer! From this windy spot, you can see Nu’u Bay and Mount Haleakala.
Alelele Falls is one of nine waterfalls you'll visit on on your adventure today! Visiting the falls requires a short hike that crosses a stream, but other than that, it’s pretty accessible.
Just before Haleakala in a remote graveyard is the final resting place of Charles Lindbergh, the famous aviator known for being the first to fly nonstop across the Atlantic from New York to Paris.
This is by far one of the most popular stops on the Road to Hana. 'Ohe'o Gulch, also known as Pools of ‘Ohe’o and Seven Sacred Pools, is a series of cascading waterfalls that lead to pristine rock pools. This is the perfect place to spend some time, especially since you’ll arrive before the crowds.
While you are at Haleakala National Park at Kipahulu, we highly recommend you check out the Pipiwai Trail. This 3.5-mile rainforest trail offers beautiful views of two waterfalls and a bamboo forest. The hike is rated moderate and takes about 2 hours to complete.
As you’re driving, look out for Wailua Falls along the road. It’s a breathtaking, 80-foot waterfall. The best view is from the left of the bridge. Be mindful of other drivers on the road as you keep an eye out.
Want to sit back and relax for a little? This is a perfect family beach because of the protected cove and the large sandy area. If the waves aren’t too strong, there is some pretty decent snorkeling on the far left side of the cove.
Koki Beach is another great spot to kick back and relax. One interesting feature of this spot is the large hill beside it. Hawaiians have a name for this spot – it’s called Ka Iwi o Pele, which means "the bones of Pele." This hill is a cinder cone that erupted lava just before Mount Haleakala went dormant.
This general store has been owned and operated by the same family since 1910. It has everything from snacks to souvenirs. It’s a great place to stop to pick up food and drinks for the road. Note the only gas station in Hana is next door to the general store. This is a good spot to fill the tank for the road ahead.
We recommend you grab a bite to eat here in Hana. There are loads of options to choose from.
Visit one of Maui’s only black-sand beaches. Created when hot lava shattered in contact with the ocean, this beach is unlike any others on the Road to Hana.
Kahanu Garden is a National Tropical Botanical Garden outside of Hana featuring native plants of value to Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
Makapipi Falls is one of the most interesting falls on the tour. Not only does the highway cross over the cascades, but the waterf flows from a lava streambed into a beautiful pool below.
This cave was formed when hot lava from an eruption cooled and hardened on the exterior, while it continued flowing in the inner core. After the lava drained out, the hardened exterior shell remained, forming a cave.
Waikani Falls is actually a series of three waterfalls, also known by its nickname -- the Three Bears Falls. The falls likely got this nickname because the three falls have varying heights: short, medium, and tall, just like the family of bears in the children’s story Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
Wailua Valley State Wayside offers an excellent view of little Wailua Town and a famous church called the "Coral Miracle Church." From the overlook, you can also see the Haleakala Volcano behind you. You may even get lucky and see a waterfall or two cascading down in the distance.
Looking to grab a snack for the road? Stop at Halfway to Hana Food Stand. This snack shop also has fresh banana bread, shave ice, lunch items like burgers and sandwiches, and small bites like fruits and chips.
Pull over for an amazing overlook of the Ke’anae Peninsula. You will see a large shoulder on the right that provides a great bird's-eye view of the peninsula.
The Ke'anae Peninsula is a short detour off of Hana Highway, but it’s well worth the time for its stunning views of the ocean ripping through jagged lava rock. There are also public restrooms by the softball field at Ke'anae Park.
Aunty Sandy’s serves up warm loaves of banana bread that are made fresh daily. We highly recommend you stop for a bite.
Perhaps you’ve heard of the rainbow eucalyptus trees on the Road to Hana? If you’re hoping to see these colorful trees up close, here’s the spot! And even better, the Ke’anae Arboretum is free and open to the public.
Pull over to view sheer cliffs and crashing surf at Nua’ailua Bay.
Park in the pullout for a view of Honomanu Bay.
This scenic rest stop offers a nice view of the Ke'anae Peninsula and is a great place to stretch your legs.
The Garden of Eden is a family-friendly spot with a variety of exotic plants from tropical rainforests throughout the world. While you’re there, you’ll see stunning coastal views and catch a glimpse of the Keopuka Rock, which was featured in the opening scene of Jurassic Park.
This family-friendly trail is a short, three-quarter-mile loop that takes you through a forest of giant eucalyptus and mahogany trees.
Unbeknownst to most, there are actually three different falls in the area -- Twin Falls, the most easily accessible, and Rope Swing and Caves.
During the months between December and March, when the wind and ocean conditions are just right, Jaws can produce waves as high as 70 feet! There are many big wave competitions held here every year that attract the best surfers from around the world.
The consistent strong winds and good waves here, make Ho’okipa a world-famous beach for windsurfing and kite surfing. You can stop here briefly to check out the surfers and watch the sunset!
You made it! You conquered the Road to Hana! Now that you’re in Pa'ia, we suggest you unwind with dinner at one of this seaside town’s quaint restaurants.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
The road is about 120 miles but it takes all day!! We did not make anywhere near the possible stops that were mentioned. We thoroughly enjoyed the ride! I drove a rental minivan so that my 4 travel would not miss out. The weather was perfect and it was a great learning experience!
Road is closed. Reverse tour is impossible to use it . I end up buying the classic road but need to pay again . Should not be sold mean while the road is closed .
I love Shaka!!! it is a great app. We learned so much about the area and history of the Hana side!! Did some great hiking up the Bamboo Forest and such. I will say this..... IF YOU HAVE a large vehicle stay off of the Road to Hana. We were pushed off (on the cliff side) by someone in a Suburban because they didn't want to move over. Learn the rules of the road. Mountain side moves over, not the cliff side. AND...The person climbing up the hill always has right away, the person coming down the hill will need to pull over the side or reverse should it be necessary.
This was so helpful! "You will turn left at the next turn" is so clear and the guide was funny and we loved the stories and details shared! We would have missed so much without this app!
The Shaka guide was great on the road to Hana! I loved the music, stories, and humor injected throughout. Would highly recommend!
Great directions, easy to use, but our favorite part was the Hawaii stories! The guide explained the history and legends associated with the island and all the best stops!
We had a $200 pp tour booked, when we found this app through a google search, we canceled our tour. We have a rental vehicle. I loved that we could pick and choose what we wanted to do. We did the 4 mile hike through Haleakala National Forest to see the 400 ft waterfall, rainbow eucalyptus trees, and a bamboo forest. We would have never been able to do that with a group tour! I highly, highly recommend! The stories and Hawaiian music was a tremendous plus for the day! We were able to start and stop when we want. Given info on local stops, a heads up to get tickets before our day for the Black Sand Beach. I could go on and on! Well worth the $20!!!
The reverse road to Hana tour is definitely the way to go! Navigation in app was awesome. Cool facts and stories shared. It is definitely an all day commitment even starting early. We were at starting point by 8:30 am and wrapped around 4:30. We only did about an hours worth of stopping.
Shaka App showed us a bunch of great places we never would have found on our own, including swim holes and cliff dives. The stories were also neat to learn about. Recommend it!!
If you are going on a car trip in the islands of Hawaii, be sure to find one the Shaka has an online driving plan. We had a blast going from Kula to Hana on the backside of the volcano, and then hiked the Pikiwai Trail to see the wonderful waterfalls. It’s 2 miles in and 2 miles out, so be prepared to do some climbing. I’m a 75 year old female, and my husband and I loved the hike. The road from there to Hana is a little difficult at times. Just take your time going around the curves that don’t have any guard rails, and honk before going around any blind turns. We had already done the other side of the Road to Hana last year, so we didn’t make any stops at the waterfalls. My perfect way of doing this trip would be to get to Hana from the backside, stay the night and then have a full day to explore the waterfalls on the front side. Hoe you have a wonderful time on the Road to Hana!
I loved this app and well worth the 10$ download. I thought it would be excessively cheesy but it was a fun and very informative guide that helped so much along the way especially when there was no service in the mountains. The attention to the narrator’s guide was spot on and really helped never have been to Maui before. RECOMMEND Shaka Guide FOR DAYS!!! 🤙
Driving the road to Hana now my 7th time There is nothing better than continuing around and arriving at the Winery makes ONE FULL DAY TRIP. The Road to Hana has so many stops and things to see it really takes at least 3 trips to see almost everything. The Waterfalls the caves the fruits and all the citrus. Pleasetry to stay a night in Hana Great rates for rentals and or camping. After seeing the & Pools (turn left) KEEP GOING drive around to the winery (Closes at 4pm) need to leave the Pools by 1:30. I suggest at least 2 trips and you will see about 80%. Look at good maps for your adventure.
Fantastic great I am at a loss for words the best day trip we have taken Four hours with stops going reverse Several stops four wheel drive a must we had a Jeep Five hours coming back with d stops regular way Net time will take 12 hours Best if done on a Sunday as we did Thank you trip advisor best $9.99 I have ever spent Will recommend to all my wife is a travel agent 20 plus places wow
The Shaka Guide was absolutely amazing and made our Road to Hana day perfect. The directions, sights and off the map stops were so much fun. The history of Hawaii and the music kept everyone engaged on a very long day. I can’t say enough about how awesome this app was. I would not make this trip without the Shaka Guide leading the way.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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