Driving the Road to Hana vs. flying: Which Maui option is right for you?
Editor's Note
- The Road to Hana is a spectacular drive with amazing views, but it can be scary when you're behind the wheel.
- Flying to Hana is also an option, with flights via Mokulele Airlines starting at just $110 round-trip.
- The Hana-Maui Resort also offers private air transfers on a 10-seat Cessna with a minimum four-night stay.
The Road to Hana is one of the most popular — and some would say treacherous — tourist activities on the island of Maui in Hawaii.
Having driven it myself, I can tell you it's not for the faint of heart (or those who regularly deal with motion sickness). I'd always wanted to visit Hana but failed when I tried to drive there on my own back in 2021. After an hour of driving on one-way roads and taking hairpin turn after hairpin turn, it started pouring rain. With no ocean views to be seen, I decided to turn back, giving up about three-quarters of the way to Hana.
The Road to Hana had won that round, but while I was disappointed, I hadn't given up on it forever.
That's why I jumped at an opportunity to take a short flight to Hana while on a recent trip to Maui. It's not every day you get to fly a small plane into the tiny hamlet, and it offered a chance for a do-over of sorts on the Road to Hana.
Here's what it was like flying versus driving to Hana and why the trek is worth the trip — especially now as the island recovers from the devastating Maui wildfires of 2023 — no matter which mode of transportation you choose.
Related: Save money: How you can book flights to Hawaii using points and miles
Driving the Road to Hana
The Road to Hana connects the city of Kahului to the town of Hana on the eastern side of Maui. According to Google Maps, the drive should take roughly two hours from Maui's Kahului Airport (OGG) to the town of Hana, but you'll want to build in lots of extra time for stops ... and traffic.
It's a twisty, curvy road that goes up and down steep hills, occasionally turning into a one-lane road with single-lane bridges in several spots.
Along the way, you'll be competing for the road not only with oncoming traffic but with local residents who don't always love the slow pace of tourists. You'll need to stop or even pull over for traffic coming from the other direction at some points during the journey.
Frankly, the road can be terrifying. When I tried to do it solo a few years ago, I gave up once it started pouring rain.
There are also lots of no-trespassing signs put up by residents who aren't amused the local transportation system gets bogged down with tourists.
This whole experience may not sound like fun to most drivers, but the reward of spectacular views can make it worth the effort. You'll see incredible vistas from the oceanside parts of the road, along with stunning tropical foliage. There are also fruit stands and other places to stop along the way, including waterfalls galore.
During my latest journey, my brother drove while I played the part of a chauffeured cameraman. We had a Jeep rental from the Hana-Maui Resort and planned a leisurely day driving to see some of the sites on the Road to Hana that are closest to the little town.
My brother and I spent some time at Waianapanapa State Park, which has epic waterfalls and spectacular ocean views, along with several hiking trails. I'd recommend making entry reservations, though the day we arrived, we lucked out and didn't end up needing them. It cost $30 for me and my brother to park our Jeep and enter.
Flying to Hana
While there are ways to make driving the Road to Hana more enjoyable by having the right person in the driver seat, the right vehicle and the right amount of time, there is another way to get there.
Having now done it myself, I can confidently say that flying to Hana is an entirely different experience. The short flight from Maui's airport to Hana was on a 10-seat Cessna plane courtesy of the Hana-Maui Resort.
The flights leave from a separate terminal at Kahului Airport in central Maui.
Our pilot met us at the commuter air terminal and walked us to our Cessna. After just a few minutes of getting settled, we were off.
On the journey, my brother and I got to see sea cliffs, waterfalls, rainforests and more. The whole flight time was just about 14 minutes, but we were able to take in some pretty epic sights and create lifelong memories along the way.
Once we arrived at the tiny Hana Airport (HNM), a shuttle from the Hana-Maui Resort picked us up for the short drive to the hotel.
On the way home, we got an up-close and personal look at Haleakala, a massive active volcano that covers the majority of Maui. It was such a magical way to see Hawaii.
You may think the journey is only for the wealthy (or lucky travel writers), but some of the longer resort packages at Hana-Maui Resort include private plane transportation.
For example, the hotel offers a Plane to Paradise Package for bookings lasting at least four nights. It includes round-trip service from Kahului Airport (OGG), Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) or Lahaina's Kapalua Airport (JHM) with no baggage fees, plus a resort credit and a Jeep rental. Prices depend on room rates but start at around $900 per night.
The Hana-Maui Resort is also a great destination in its own right. There are stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, and with just 66 rooms and suites, it always feels like you have the place to yourself. Our room had an epic view of the coastline, and the sound of the waves lulled us to sleep at night. The hotel is also part of the World of Hyatt program, so you can even earn and use Hyatt points.
Regional carrier Mokulele Airlines also offers regular service to Hana on one of its Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX planes that starts at just $110 round-trip. The airline also flies to Hana from cities like Honolulu with a connection at the main Maui airport.
That's an amazing price I'd happily pay for a sightseeing trip, let alone a getaway to this remote paradise.
Bottom line
Flying from Kahului Airport to Hana takes less than 20 minutes, yet it's among the most spectacular flights I've taken. Best of all, it's reasonably priced, so everyone from aviation geeks to everyday travelers interested in seeing Maui from a whole new vantage point can enjoy the experience, whether they have ample cash or are on a tight budget.
Hana itself is one of the most alluring places that I've ever visited. It has an undiscovered quality about it that makes it super compelling and enjoyable, perhaps due to how hard it is to get to. I can't recommend spending a few days here enough, especially as Lahaina continues to rebuild after the devastating fires of 2023.
If you are considering a trip to Maui, take a break from the popular Kaanapali and Wailea areas and try Hana. Whether you drive the Road to Hana or you fly, it's a phenomenal experience you'll never forget. I can't wait to go back now that I've found a more enjoyable way to the end.
Related reading:
- Ocean oasis: A review of The Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort in Hawaii
- The 18 best hotels in Maui, from luxury vacations to family-friendly resorts
- These Four Seasons hotels are the real main characters of 'The White Lotus'
- These are the best islands in Hawaii, according to frequent visitors
- The 8 best Hawaii cruises
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.