East Maui (Pāʻia to Hāna) · Maui

Beaches of East Maui

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Waiʻānapanapa Black Sand Beach (Paʻiloa)

Jet-black sand, sea arches and freshwater caves in a state park — reserve ahead.

The volcanic pebble-sand cove at Waiʻānapanapa State Park is the Road to Hāna's most photographed stop. Out-of-state visitors must reserve timed entry and parking in advance — same-day almost never works. Strong surf; swim cautiously.

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Hāmoa Beach

A perfect grey-gold crescent past Hāna that writers have adored for a century.

Hikes in East Maui

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Pīpīwai Trail

Through a towering bamboo forest to 400-foot Waimoku Falls.

Maui's best short hike: 4 miles round trip in the Kīpahulu district, past a giant banyan, along boardwalks through creaking bamboo, ending beneath Waimoku Falls. Muddy after rain; do not enter the pool below the falls (rockfall).

Time: 2-3 hours

Where to Stay in Hāna

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Hāna-Maui Resort

The quiet luxury of staying overnight where the day-trippers turn around.

Hāna's only resort, low-slung on the sea bluffs. An overnight flips the Road to Hāna experience: empty roads and pools in the golden hours before the daily wave of cars arrives.

Class: 4★
Price: $$$$

Eating from Pāʻia to Hāna

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Mama's Fish House

The famous Polynesian beach-cove restaurant where the menu names the fisherman.

On its own palm cove past Pāʻia, Mama's lists which boat and captain landed each day's fish. It books out months ahead and costs accordingly — for many visitors it's the meal of the trip.

Cuisine: Seafood / Polynesian
Price: $$$$

Sights from Pāʻia to Hāna

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The Road to Hāna (Hāna Highway)

Hawaiʻi's most famous drive — the journey is the destination.

Some 52 miles of jungle switchbacks from Pāʻia to Hāna town, past waterfalls, arboretums and coastal lookouts. Leave at first light, pick a handful of stops rather than all of them, pull over to let locals pass, and never park where signs forbid it — the road is residents' lifeline first.

Time: Full day

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ʻOheʻo Gulch (Pools of ʻOheʻo)

Terraced pools tumbling to the sea in Haleakalā National Park's Kīpahulu district.

Twenty minutes past Hāna town, the Kīpahulu district holds the famous stepped pools and the Pīpīwai trailhead. Swimming access closes whenever flash-flood risk or rockfall demands it — respect closures absolutely; the pools have taken lives.

Time: 1-2 hours