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Maui Road to Hana: Rainforest, Black Sand Beach & Waterfalls

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.95 (77 reviews) 96% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationExcellent qualityLikely to sell out

1/11

Duration9h–10h

GroupUp to 14

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Winding roads, waterfalls and a black sand beach on Maui’s wild coast

You’ll wind through Maui’s rainforest along the Road to Hana with a local guide who knows every curve and story. Expect waterfalls you can actually swim in (if you’re brave), fresh banana bread warm from the oven, black sand between your toes at Waiʻanapanapa State Park, plus a picnic lunch under shady trees. It’s less about checking off sights and more about feeling Maui slow down around you.

9h–10h

Step-by-step itinerary

Drive Road to Hana highway
Pass historic town of Pāʻia
Stop at Hoʻokipa Beach Park for breakfast
Pass Twin Falls waterfalls
Pass Haipua'ena Falls
Visit Keanae village and overlook
Stop at Aunty Sandy's banana bread stand
View Upper Waikani Falls (Three Bears)
View Wailua Falls from car
Pass Ka’eleku lava tubes
Stop at Waiʻanapanapa State Park black sand beach
Visit Pua'a Ka'a Falls and swim
Stop at Kaumahina State Wayside Park
View rainbow eucalyptus tree

The Experience

I’ll be honest: I thought I’d just nap through half of the Road to Hana, but you can’t really sleep with all those curves and that green pressing in from every side. The air felt thick with rain even before we hit the first waterfall. Our guide—Kaleo, born and raised here—kept pointing out things I’d never notice, like how the rainbow eucalyptus bark peels in stripes, or why taro patches matter so much in Wailua Valley. He had this way of making even a roadside fruit stand sound like an important stop (and after tasting that banana bread at Aunty Sandy’s… yeah, I get it now).

We stopped at Hoʻokipa Beach Park early on—surfers already out there doing their thing while some turtles just lazed on the sand. The smell of salt and wet earth stuck with me as we wound deeper into the rainforest. At Puaʻa Kaʻa State Wayside Park, I dipped my feet in a pool colder than expected (I yelped; Kaleo just grinned). There was this moment at Waiʻanapanapa State Park where the black sand felt almost soft underfoot, not rough like I imagined. Lunch was simple—sandwiches and fruit under a tree—but honestly, after all those hairpin turns and waterfall stops, it tasted perfect.

The drive itself is kind of hypnotic: 600-something turns, old single-lane bridges where you have to wait your turn (locals are patient but don’t push it). At one point we pulled over near Kaumahina State Wayside Park just for the view—clouds hanging low over green cliffs dropping straight into blue water. I tried taking photos but nothing looked right compared to what my eyes were seeing. Maybe that’s why people keep coming back? Or maybe it’s just because you feel small in a good way out there.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off (if selected), narrated sightseeing by a local guide in an air-conditioned vehicle, snacks like chips and granola bars along the way, plus a picnic-style lunch with homemade sandwiches from a local deli and fresh fruit. You’ll also get plenty of chances to stop for photos or quick swims before heading back in comfort.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for heart conditions

Operated by Stardust Hawaii, LLC