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Famed as one of the world’s most scenic drives, Hāna Highway follows the coastline from Kahului, winding through rain forests dotted with the bright orange blossoms of African tulip trees and huge bamboo thickets waving in the breeze. The route passes waterfalls tumbling into pools and wends among trees laden with banana, mango, and mountain apple. Keep your windows open to experience the heady fragrances. (see The Road to Hāna)

Roadside fruit stand

The Garden of Eden is filled with native and indigenous species as well as exotic plants, trees, and birds from the South Pacific and tropical rain forests of the world. Botanical labels identify more than 500 plants, including the most extensive collection of ti plants in Hawai’i. Visitors can picnic, stroll, hike, or just breathe in the flowers’ aromas in these 26 acres of gardens and arboretum.

Marked out by its lo’i kalo (taro patches), the village of Wailua is just over halfway along the road to Hāna. Native Hawaiians raise and tend the precious plants in the traditional way of their ancestors. At mile marker 18, you can turn left onto Wailua Road, go past St. Gabriel’s Church and the Miracle of Fatima Shrine, and reach an easily accessible and highly refreshing waterfall.

Thanks to an extensive restoration, many stone walls and platforms of this heiau (temple) are complete and provide a fascinating look at one of the largest of these traditional religious sites in Hawai’i. The platforms and huge stone walls, some more than 50 ft high, are surrounded by Kahanu Gardens. The gardens contain culturally important plants including the world’s largest collection of breadfruit trees (120 varieties), one of Hawai’i’s last undisturbed native hala (pandanus) forests, and varieties of coconut, banana, vanilla, and ’awa (kava).

The natural features of this park include freshwater springfed caves, a magnificent black sand beach, heiau (temples), blowholes, the King’s Trail (see Wai’ānapanapa Beach Trail), and a fascinating natural stone arch traversing towering peaks of lava.

The Hāna Cultural Center and its museum has displays of artifacts from the district, including stone implements, kapa cloth, quilts, and an extensive shell collection. (see Hāna Cultural Center)

This large cinder cone, which in ancient Hawai’i provided fortification against invaders, today guards Hāna Bay. The hill and its beach are deep red in color due to the iron-rich lava that forms the cone. A cave at its base was the birthplace of Queen Ka’ahumanu (see Kau’iki Hill).

One of Maui’s tallest, Waimoku Falls cascades more than 400 ft into ’Ohe’o Gulch in the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park. Hikers can reach the falls by taking the Waimoku Falls Trail (see Waimoku Falls).

The Palapala Ho’omau Church stands eight miles past Hāna town on the makai (ocean) side of the road. Famed American aviator Charles Lindbergh helped repair the church, following its decline into a state of dilapidation. Lindbergh also chose the church for his final resting place. He designed his own grave, which can be seen behind the church marked with river stones.

Standing next to Mokulau Beach on a desolate and beautiful stretch of coast, Huialoha Church was saved from ruin by members of the communities of Hāna, Kīpahulu, and Kaupō. It was built in 1859 in a style reminiscent of New England churches, with white walls and a prim steeple.