Maui Road to Hana: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour

Drive Maui's Road to Hana on Your Own Schedule, With Stories Playing as You Go

You download the tour to your phone, start driving from Kahului whenever you want, and listen to narration and stories as you navigate 64 miles of curves, waterfalls, and beaches at your own pace. The app includes offline GPS, 60+ stops from Twin Falls to O'he'o Gulch, restaurant and activity tips, and a return route with minimal stops so you can focus on the drive home. Book Waiʻanapanapa State Park in advance and bring cash for local vendors.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each8 stops

1. Hoʻokipa Beach Park10m
2. Kaumahina State Wayside Park10m
3. Puaʻa Kaʻa State Wayside Park30m
4. Road to Hanapassing by
5. Waiʻanapanapa State Park45m
6. Hana30m
7. Haleakalā National Park2h
8. Ohe'o Gulch1h

Drive and explore Road to Hana

• Listen to Hana legends and history
• Fill gas and explore Paia town
• Visit Ho'okipa Beach for sunset
• See Twin Falls waterfalls and pools
• Hike Waikamoi Ridge Trail
• Explore Garden of Eden Arboretum
• View Puohokomoa Falls waterfall
• Picnic at Kaumahina State Wayside
• Stop at Honomanu Bay
• View cliffs and surf at Nua’ailua Bay
• Visit Ke’anae Arboretum and rainbow eucalyptus
• Buy banana bread at Aunty Sandy’s
• Overlook Ke’anae Peninsula
• Shop local fruits at halfway point
• Enjoy Wailua Valley State Wayside views
• See Waikani Falls ("Three Bears Falls")
• Stop at Makapipi Falls
• Relax at Nahiku viewpoint
• Eat at Nahiku Marketplace
• Visit Kahanu Garden botanical garden
• Explore lava cave adventure
• Visit Waiʻanapanapa Black Sand Beach
• Relax at Hana Beach Park
• Discover Red Sand Beach cove
• Stock up food before return
• Visit Koki Beach red sand
• Relax at Hamoa Beach
• View Wailua Falls from road
• Hike Haleakalā National Park waterfall trail
• Visit Ohe'o Gulch Seven Sacred Pools
• Swim and cliff jump at Waioka Pond
• Return to Paia Town for dinner

The experience

You turn onto the Hana Highway from Kahului and the road starts winding almost immediately. The audio kicks in, telling you what's coming before you see it: the first waterfall, the best pullout, where the locals eat. The Road to Hana is 64 miles of curves and one-lane bridges, and without a plan it's easy to miss half of it or waste time at the wrong stops. This self-guided audio tour runs on your phone with offline GPS, so you're not hunting for signal while navigating. You download it before you arrive, start whenever you want, and pause whenever something catches your eye: a black sand beach, a swimming hole, a view that stops you cold.

The tour covers over 60 stops, starting at Twin Falls (where there's a $10 parking fee) and pushing all the way to O'he'o Gulch, also called the Seven Sacred Pools, near Haleakalā National Park. In between you'll pass Waiʻanapanapa State Park with its dramatic black sand, the Ke'anae Arboretum with its rainbow eucalyptus trees, and a string of waterfalls (Wailua Falls at 80 feet, Waikani Falls, Puohokomoa Falls) each one narrated so you know what you're looking at and why it matters. The audio tells you the history, the Hawaiian names, the stories locals know. You stop for Aunty Sandy's banana bread in Ke'anae, grab fruit at the halfway point, eat at Nahiku Marketplace. The return trip from Hana back to Paia takes about three hours, mostly audio and music so you can focus on the road if it's getting dark.

What makes this different from a bus tour is the freedom. You're not locked into a schedule or a group. If Twin Falls is crowded, you skip it and come back. If you want to spend two hours swimming in a pool instead of thirty minutes, you do. If you get hungry at mile marker 20, you eat. The app has turn-by-turn directions, so you're not reading a map or second-guessing which fork to take. Hours of narration play automatically as you drive, but you can pause it anytime. One thing to know: Waiʻanapanapa State Park (the black sand beach) requires a reservation made up to 30 days ahead. Same-day bookings aren't allowed. And a few attractions like the Hana Lava Tube and Garden of Eden close at 3 or 4 pm, so timing matters if you want to see everything. The app tells you all of this upfront.

You'll need a smartphone with the Shaka Guide app downloaded before you arrive, and strong Wi-Fi or cellular data to pull the tour down. Once it's on your phone, you don't need signal again: the GPS works offline. Location services have to stay on. If you're staying in Lahaina or Ka'anapali on West Maui, budget 45 minutes to drive to Kahului where the tour starts. Bring cash. Some stops are cash-only. And stick to the itinerary the tour lays out. There are spots along the road that look inviting but are on private property or unsafe, and the guide keeps you out of trouble.

What’s included

Your day includes the Shaka Guide app with offline GPS navigation, 60+ stops with turn-by-turn directions, hours of audio narration covering history and culture, activity and restaurant recommendations, lifetime access to the tour, and the flexibility to start anytime and explore at your own pace. You're responsible for your rental car, parking fees (Twin Falls is $10), entrance fees at attractions like the Hana Lava Tube and Kahanu Garden, meals and snacks, and advance reservations for Waiʻanapanapa State Park.

Information

Lasts 12h–13h, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 24.99 per group, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate7 group tours ›

Audio guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.9 with pickup ›

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcome

Operated by Shaka Guide Apps

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to see the Road to Hana's main sights without joining a bus tour or hiring a guide. The self-guided format means you set the pace, choose which stops matter to you, and aren't locked into someone else's schedule or group.

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Top questions

How long does the Road to Hana tour take?

The drive to O'he'o Gulch (Haleakalā National Park) takes most of the day depending on how many stops you make. The return trip to Paia is about three hours. Most travelers spend 8–10 hours total.

Do I need a guide or can I really do this alone?

It's fully self-guided. You drive your own rental car and listen to the audio narration on your phone. No guide, no group, no fixed schedule.

What if I don't have cell service on the Road to Hana?

The GPS works offline once you download the tour. You don't need signal while driving, only to download the app and tour before you arrive.

Is parking available at the main stops?

Most stops have parking, but Twin Falls charges $10 per vehicle and the lot fills up. Waiʻanapanapa State Park requires a reservation made up to 30 days in advance. Other stops vary. The tour tells you what to expect.

Can I do the tour over two days instead of one?

Yes. The tour never expires and you can start and stop whenever you want. You can break it into multiple days if you prefer.

What should I bring?

Cash (some vendors are cash-only), a charged phone, your rental car, and a swimsuit if you plan to swim in the pools. Sunscreen and water are essential.

Do I need to book anything in advance?

Yes, Waiʻanapanapa State Park requires a reservation up to 30 days ahead. Same-day bookings aren't allowed. Some attractions like the Hana Lava Tube and Kahanu Garden charge entry fees. Download and redeem the tour before you arrive.

Is the Road to Hana difficult to drive?

It's narrow, winding, and has one-lane bridges. It's not dangerous if you drive slowly and stay alert, but it's not a highway. Plan for slower speeds and take your time.

What if I've already visited Haleakalā summit?

If you visited within the past three days, show your receipt at O'he'o Gulch and you can enter for free.

Can I skip the return trip and fly back from Hana?

No. The tour is a round trip. You drive out to Kipahulu and back to Paia the same way you came.