Is the ROAD to HANA worth it?

We%26#39;re going to Maui to relax and get away. Is the Road to Hana really worth the curves and six hour drive to and back, or is it just tourist-hype? Please rate your experience on a 1-10. Thanks...

Is the ROAD to HANA worth it?

Is it worth it? You will get answers from both extremes. It seems to be a love it or hate trip. The wife and I love it. We have done it 3 times now. There is too many different things to see to list but things you won%26#39;t see elsewhere on the island. If you can%26#39;t relax and go with the flow it may not be for you. You will have to contend with idiots that have no common sence but if you go into it knowing and accepting and just take your time and enjoy the beauty around you you%26#39;ll do fine. Get ideas on certain big things you want to see and don%26#39;t try to see ';everything';. I won%26#39;t happen. And one thing we found that helps is to head back early. Say before 3PM. The traffic coming into Hana has pretty much stopped and the rush back hasn%26#39;t started. Plus we get back in time for a nice dinner near our resort instead of fighting traffic after dark and getting back late.

Is the ROAD to HANA worth it?

Yes- 8+ (start early, stop often, buy the CD)

You will get extremes. For our family of 4 it was nothing we expected. It was a waste of a 12 hour day in Maui better spent at the pool even.

We have traveled extensively and feel Hana didn%26#39;t live up to how people said it was. We never saw a beautiful waterfall. Every waterfall alert was a disappointment. We expected more majestic views.

Others will say it is the most beautiful drive in the US.

Its all in what you are looking for.

Hated it, total waste of our time/energy.....It%26#39;s not even worth rating.....the traffic was horrible, the people drove like idiots, the road was not for the faint of heart (especially the back side route). Couldn%26#39;t even find a place to park to see anything, and when you did you were afraid to let your car out of your sight for all the glass laying around from the car break-ins........

I have done the trip to Hana twice- but one thing to keep in mind is Hana is NOT a destination- the journey is what people rave or rant about. So if you get irritated at the slow pace, rush to %26#39;get there%26#39; you will be disappointed. Start out early, drive as far as you enjoy, and if/when you have had enough, turn around! Some folks love scenery, and enjoy every twist and turn, others enjoy it for a while then hit %26#39;scenery overload';. If you are in the latter category, you can give in, turn around, stop in Paia for lunch, and not feel you may have missed the highlight of your tip. For those who have made the whole trip- at what point could you %26#39; turn around%26#39; and feel you have still had an enjoyable drive?

Do it once and buy the CD 19.95 @ABC stores. It is something to do and see.

I loved it. Stop often, take lots of pictures, enjoy the journey!

Depends how long you are staying. Two weeks? Sure. Spend a day doing this. But the descriptions above are ALL valid. It%26#39;s basically a very long drive through greenery with a lot of other cars. Like Skyline Drive in summer or leaf season if that rings any bells.

An alternative: To see a ';cute'; town, go to Paia and shop, have lunch.

Go to Iao Needle park and walk thru lush rainforest.

Drive north of Lahaina and Kapalua along the shore to see the northern tip of West Maui (you cannot go all the way around) and winding roads. Get back in daylight!!!.

Forgot to rate our trip: 5/10. Low rating because by the time we got past Hana we had to drive BACK!!! One way: 7/10 but you can%26#39;t do that!

I think everyone should do it at least once. The most beautiful area is past hana so don%26#39;t turn around, just keep going all the way around.

vb