The Drive to Hana

For anyone who has spent more than a couple of days in Maui, it is almost certain that they have made the trip down to Hana, or have at least thought about it. Hana is, after all, one of the most beautiful parts of Maui. And the drive to Hana is one of the most adventurous things to do there as well, especially if you do the actual driving yourself. In fact, it is actually seen as a commendable accomplishment to complete the trek there, which can be stipulated from the countless t-shirts and bumper stickers, amongst other souvenir items, that boldly claim the feat with pride.

In order wear those shirts with pride and to have a great story of adventure and accomplishment, I would advise to do the drive yourself, instead of taking a tour bus or a guide bus that drive people up to Hana. Doing so will take some credit away from you actually doing the drive to Hana. But be forewarned that the drive is definitely not easy and not for the weak. First, the driver must like to drive and drive well too. Second, with all the winding roads, the driver as well as the passengers should have a strong stomach to withstand all the turns and bumps. It is, practically, a 3-hour drive each way. But then again, this test of endurance is what allows an individual to be so proud of completing - the fact that they endured such a long and treacherous drive!

Basically, the drive is through the picturesque scenic route of 52 miles that consists of approximately 617 turns/curves, and 56 bridges, surrounded by ocean, rain forest like greens, and waterfalls. It is like the location shots of Jurassic Park where there are greens in abundance, combined with the oceanic views of Castaway.

What makes the drive more pleasant are the unexpected stops you come across along the way. One that made a lasting impression on me was a small store, more like a tiny one car garage with an extended roof, that was managed by a young woman in the middle of the route, miles away from another human being. The handmade sign of the store, promoting their specialty - "banana bread" and "coconut candy" - and the humble welcoming sign lure you to make that pit stop. Mind you the single serving size of the loaf of banana bread is $5, as is the mini zip lock bag half filled with dried slices of coconut shavings. But they are definitely worth it - they are unbelievably delicious! Plus, consider it a souvenir from Hana...you cannot pass through Hana without getting one. Aside from the fact that your taste buds will appreciate you, the woman working there probably would,as well, since she seems so lonely perched on a stool by her self, manning the store, where only she knows how many of the drivers driving through Hana actually stop by her store.

Of course, you cannot go to Hana without visiting the Hasegawa General Store, arguably the most popular destination in Hana. In fact, it is so popular that there is a song,called " Hasegawa General Store," which was written by Paul Weston who was so awed by the store that it made an impression on him worthy enough of a song. The store is small and is crammed with every type of merchandise you can think of, from groceries to clothes, to tools. You can even rent DVDs there! The random layout of the store caught me by surprise, but its not so clean, unorganized set up of the store may just be the allure. Regardless of what you may think of it, it is definitely worth visiting, if not only for the sole purpose of being able to say you have visited the famous Hasegawa General Store.

As almost everyone would agree, Hana is a must see attraction in Maui and you will not regret the enduring drive there. Just make sure you have snacks to satisfy your hunger and most importantly a camera to capture the gorgeous, picturesque sights of the beautiful tropical paradise of Hana.