Again, no trespassing just for a photo! The other reviewers are right - the scenery (when you stop and take it in) is SPECTACULAR. I read about the road and of what I understand, il seems to be a very beautifull road to discover if we're carefull and we take our time. These cookies do not store any personal information. I knew you had to hike to it, and luckily at one of my roadside stops for a picture, I met a guy from Wisconsin who knew where it was. I rode this road with my ex-husband who had one hand on the steering wheel and one pointing out everything.. needless to say I was closed eyed crying the whole way lol.. Ive never heard of such a thing. So be extremely careful. There are hairpin turns, scenic lookouts, and narrow one-lane bridges. I had scooted up on the edge of my seat, hands at 2 and 10, knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel intensely, and my nose was practically on the front window trying to peer over the cars hood. We drove this road during one of our Maui trips and it is gorgeous! please advice. I enjoy road trips and with its hair pin bends and turns, it does sound like an exciting one. We started out driving to the Nakele Blowhole, and ended up following Highway 340 to Wailuku. Many people, ourselves included, consider the Hana Highway to continue beyond Hana to the Oheo Gulch, or even beyond that to Upcountry Maui via Hwy. And we lived to tell the story. Makes the crazy drives in the Eastern Sierras (California) seem like a cake walk. Its perfection, really! This ones really for the adventurous soul. Welcome to The Van Escape! Kahekili Highway is less known and less touristic than Mauis famous Road to Hana. The Kahekili Highway is no different in this respect, giving very little room for two cars and if you see a car coming the other direction, even if it has a ways to go yet, it's best to just pull over as soon as you find some wider spots and just sit there. The drive Kahekili Highway is more exciting, but it is also scarier at the same time. If you are less experienced in driving on mountain serpentines, we also suggest you give up this route. Seriously though, Kahekili Hwy should not be confused with "The Road to Hana," a popular tourist activity on the island of Maui. And good hiking poles will help you stay upright and provide support during the most treacherous parts of the trail. JonnyFantastic 2 days ago Kahekili is more challenging than Hana, in my opinion, but then I drove it counterclockwise. Maui Snorkeling Molokini Crater Uncrowded, Unhurried. Large rocks line the coast and it can be hard to keep steady while standing or swimming in the water. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm Sherry, a corporate cube dweller turned nomadic traveler. I think I would find that one lane road a bit stressful! Be careful because the water hits full force if you want to get closer.The rocks are very slippery. The water level fluctuates depending on the weather of the previous days, with waves filling the small cavities more or less. Scary!! This drive was hands down my favorite part of our visit to Maui. Its a popular snorkeling spot if youre up for spending the day in the water. I did the road to Hana but never heard of Kahekili Highway. Privacy Policy. Road closures in place for King's Runner 10k in Honolulu However, a big wave can come at any moment, and you will find yourself underwater. Kahekili Highway: Makes the road to Hana look like child's play - See 216 traveller reviews, 135 candid photos, and great deals for Maui, HI, at Tripadvisor. We are travelers, photographers, and bloggers. To complete the full West Maui loop, take Highway 30 back. But if youre confident (and safe) while driving, the Kahekili Highway and Maui Highway 340 road trip might just be for you! We nearly scraped the rental car on the rocks on the hairpin turns and ultimately make a sketchy u-turn. Eventually, West Maui chief Kahekili surrounded him and forced Kalani'opu'u forcing retreat to defenses on Ka'uiki Hill. Watch for oncoming traffic and give as much as you can. Honokohau Bay is located where the Honoapiilani Highway (Highway 30) ends, and the actual Route 340 (Kahekili Highway) begins. The Ohai Loop Trail is an excellent short hike on the north side of West Maui. The county reported the road open at about 1:15 p.m. Around 8 a.m., police reported that Kahekili Highway in the area of Mile Marker 7 was impassible due to flooding. I would call me a bit of a timid snorkeler. The hike passes several eroded rocks along the sea cliffs. It is a special road to be sure lots of dips to catch air on too. The gorgeous Maui waterfall is nestled amidst lush tropical foliage and cascades 80 ft in two streams, making it the most photographed waterfall on Maui. Hi Sherry, I truly enjoyed reading this in-depth blog and gained valuable insights from it. Road to Hana, Black Sand Beach, Waterfalls 2-Hour Whale Watching Experience! I later read this warning about the blowhole so do be careful if you go visit it: While it may seen tempting to approach the blowhole for a great photo opportunity, dont do it. However, this highway along Mauis North shore was no Road to Hana, because it was 10 times better than the Road to Hana. These are my favorite water shoes that travel with me every time I go to Hawaiior anywhere else for that matter! It is no prettier than what you already saw. Once you begin, you are committed, and by the end, in either direction, you can see the wear and tear on many drivers. Did you stop and have some shave ice too?! When my family and I got back to Ka'anapali to grab dinner (we didn't find anything edible for breakfast or lunch on the Kahekili Hwy, shocker), we couldn't even eat it we were so strung out from the drive. Oh, and the roads are still very narrow the next 5 miles or so. It can be so peaceful and wild if you are lucky. When I did it there were no restrictions with the rental car. The Kahekili Highway provides incredible views of Maui, but travelers must be wary of the risk and challenges associated with driving this highway first and plan accordingly. So for those who like to live on the edge and are willing to risk everything, this is probably one of those places you will just have to try and most of you will probably think it was no big deal.But for me it was a big deal and I just can't recommend it for normal people!! It's a dangerous one lane road for about 12 miles with blind corners! I think I've driven (or been a passenger) on this road more than a half dozen times in the last 10 years - this last year was the worse. can yu on the map show which is the safer drive? These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Enjoy! The community of Kahakuloa Village is one of the most isolated spots in Maui. Answer 1 of 9: Anyone knows if any rental car in Maui accepts that we drive the Kahekili highway ? I did see this adorable church. . Labyrinths are tools for walking meditation and spiritual growth. ENJOY THIS AWESOME ROAD!!! Can you imagine if theres no automatic car when driving this road? Born on Maui in the 1700s, he ruled all of Maui Nui, and then went onto conquer Oahu, Lanai and Kauai, according to legend. It's simply stunning! Large trucks dont dare drive this stretch and inexperienced drivers shouldnt either. A: The scenic drive is located on the northeast coastline of Maui. This road reminds me of some of the cliff roads I have been on in Italy and the Alps. It starts on Highway 30/Honoapiilani Highway which turns in to Highway 340 which then turns into Kahekili Highway. I need relatively calm with easy entry. Cheers! Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Hi, we are Agnes & Chris! C'est magnifique. I grabbed my DSLR and was ready for a little Maui road trip off the beaten path. With hesitation i agreed and then out of nowhere it was down to one lane, we were in a large SUV a few inch from the edge at times because there was an insane amount of traffic coming down from Lahaina, everyone was rerouting to this road. And whats not to love this part of Maui was certainly unique and it felt untouched. Before you head down Kahekili Highway to Waihee, youll pass several small fruit and artist stalls. Its scenery is quite literally to die for. It is worth stopping here for a moment because the rugged mountain serpentine ride is about to begin. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. We did run into many people traveling in the opposite direction and had to back up several times. My Wife (Rose) and I rented a Harley and drove on this road back in 2011, I was 49 years old then, what a Great ExperienceWe went the same route from West to North (Mauis Head), (The recommended route since cliffs are on your right instead of the ocean also it was easier with the motorcycle to find places in the cliffs to squeeze our bike in for passing traffic. Affiliate Disclaimer. You can see the natural pools easily, and all along the coast. Live aloha. We just got back from Maui and I wish I saw your review before we did it. Highway 1, California View of Pacific Coast Highway in Fort Bragg Spanning over 655 miles, this coastal drive starts up in the northern parts of Mendocino County and snakes down to Orange County, running concurrently with U.S. 101 along the way including in a stretch across San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. Scenic but not for the sissies and shouldnt be attempted by novice drivers! David What a lovely story you shared about such a spectacular road and drive. The trail is easy and flat. Patience is a key and you need to be willing to backup from time to time to find a place for both vehicles can pass each other. Not for the faint of heart. This is certainly the case for the road down to the Waipio Valley on the Big Island. With my vacation coming to an end it was my last chance to say I drove around the whoe island so I took the plunge and went. Gah! MISERABLE; thought I was going to die every time I saw a cross driven into the dirt inches before a steep, possibly 100+ foot drop into the ocean. The 51 miles of Hana Highway start in Kahului (where the airport is) and travel past the hippie surf town of Paia, . There are several food stands, a studio, a ranch and many hillside homes along the way. Yayyy! I honestly cannot tell you where it was, because I was too busy fearing for my life! Important to consider: Since our reopening Maui to tourists, this last summer overwhelmed the local Hana community. In our. I love the strong greens and blues. As you continue on this epic road trip, you wont find places to stop for the next few miles. None of them compare to the intense ride (both shear fright and beauty) that this road provides. No room for more than one car. Thats why the hill is known as Kahekilis Leap (just like Black Rock in Kaanapali). But if you already had the opportunity to drive the Road to Hana and were tired of that route, it was exhausting for you, to give up the Kahekili Highway. thevanescape.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. So we share our tips on what to do and how to prepare for this scenic and thrilling drive. Tourists should not be allowed on this road. We purchased the Shaka audio download guide which has a driving tour for "West Maui Coastline Tour" which takes you on this road. Courtyard by Marriott Maui Kahului Airport, View all hotels near Kahekili Highway on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Kahekili Highway on Tripadvisor, Hotels near Haleakala Highway (Crater Road), Hotels near Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve, Hana Highway - Road to Hana: Tickets & Tours, Haleakala Highway (Crater Road): Tickets & Tours, Coral Island Half-day Tour from Pattaya including Lunch, Punta Cana (PUJ) TRANSFER to FINEST PUNTA CANA EXCELLENCE COLLECTION ROUND TRIP, Traditional Private Geisha Experience/Dinner Show in Tokyo, Fukagawa District, Kauai's Ultimate South Island Zodiac Boat Snorkel Adventure, Spanish Flamenco Show in Puerto de la Cruz. This drive is not recommended for the faint of heart, on rainy days or at nightfall. Honopiilani Highway from High Street to Honokohau Bridge (Route 30) 11. Ha! Kahekili Highway is different from the Road to Hana. There is also a great lil' place with shave ice (Ululani's) where you can also buy cds of Grammy award winning Ho'ipi'i Brothers. It traverses a remote area in Maui. So cool Rachel! A beautiful drive -if you have the right driver. A beautiful drive with several noteworthy stops (the Blowhole, the Olivine pools, Karen's's Lei Gallery, banana bread). are easily reached taking the western rou one of the dozens of blind hairpin turns on a one. It will take you about 30 minutes. Both you and your camera can get wet. There is a lookout point here thats quite beautiful! As the nickname suggests, the lava rocks resemble the mouth of a dragon. As a reminder, a small stele by the path mourns Steven, a 34-year-old young man who was swept away by a wave in 2017 and whose body was never found. Officially, the road is named the Hana Highway and on maps will be listed as Hwy. Thanks for sharing. 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