Road to Hana Back Side Adventure | Would You Drive This? | Hana to Upcountry Maui

Thanks for watching! If you decide to drive the backside, pull to the side for people behind you and back up if on the one-lane sections. Drive safely as the road is dangerous. If you are looking for the best Road to Hana stops, download our Maui itinerary: thehawaiivacationguide.com/maui/

I’ve been on that road, and the problem isn’t that it’s bumpy. It’s that it is two way, narrow, on a cliff, and you run the risk of oncoming cars!

Too many tour buses starting to go this way - took me 10 minutes to pass bus on narrow cliff section - inch by inch. The best thing I found going this way was Tony's Place food truck just before road to Hamoa beach - Awesome fresh fish and hamburgers, finished my lunch off with a brownie sundae. A must stop!!! Thanks for the great video!

It is the road less traveled. But it is easily driven. I did it in February 2020. It is more uncivilized. But the scenery is beautiful.

I did that road today. Much better way back then Hana Hwy again. It is very well graded road, narrow at times, bumpy and dusty at times but overall quite good. Views are stunning all the way back to Kahului. My car was a rental sedan. Thank you for your video., it made me go there.

My bride and I drove the back side of Haleakala in 1983. I remember it being incredibly interesting. In one spot, the road was unpaved over an old, wide lava flow. You could look toward the mountain and follow the flow all the way up. Came back in 1987, and a storm had washed away a section of the road. A chain-link fence blocked access.

Hands down the better route to Hana. Drove it last week just after that big storm that hit Maui. Leave at 6am so you can be at the Pipiwai trail before 8 am. You’ll have the place on your own till everyone else arrives around 10 or 11. I honestly think it is unnecessary to take that whole Hana route. That winding road to less spectacular falls is not worth the drive. After Pipiwai and the 7 pools, go to Koki beach for some huli huli chicken, then hana’s red beach. Then drive back and experience the sunset at Kaupo before driving back through highway 37.

I drove this road back in 1992. The most important thing to look out for are locals barreling down the road , coming at you pretty fast in their pick up trucks. Be alert and cautious, especially on the really narrow parts. But the beauty of the drive and relative quiet is worth it!

I drive this road every morning to get to Kihei. Such an interesting way to commute everyday. I’m from nyc so this was so new for me

My wife and I married Maui.We took that exact rode. Goosebumps. The volcano erupted and the lava flowed into the sea some 160 years ago? So vast!

traveled this road 3x now... the first 2 was before it was paved. so beautiful on the back side.

Great video, we have done that side several times and the video brought back great memories.

Just completed this trip tonight and it was raining. Not a crazy amount of rain but there were a lot of rocks that had fallen likely in the last few days. It is not worth it driving it at night. It really is very dangerous. I'm here with family discussing how terrifying some of it was. So it's understood, I'm used to bad mountain roads having grown up in Jamaica before the new highways. This is not for the average driver at all.

Went as far as the sacred pools with our 18month old kid at the time back in 2009. Your videos make me want to come back. Love all the content you guys have posted. What a beautiful island. Road to Hana is not a 1 day trip. When we did it we missed a lot and we headed straight to the end and worked our way back.

Took this road back in 2004 on my honeymoon. Did it in a Ford convertible coupe. I seem to remember it was called the Cow Pow or Kow Pow road by locals. It was a bit sketchy at certain points but the views of the coast and the rugged backside of Haleakala were incredible. It was very dry when we did this drive. I wouldn't advise it during rainy conditions. Oh, I was also aware of the rental car policy if you took this road but was told by a friendly local the conditions were good and just go slow. Mahalo.

So a couple of years ago I did the backside drive at around 8pm. One of the scariest things I’ve ever done but it was so beautiful.

Thanks for sharing, planning a Maui trip and found this helpful!

We drove it the reverse way to Hana. Was great. Thank you. Great memories

We go every year and the road to Hana is our favorite place.

Once you get to the transition from two to one lane road it gets hairy. There are blind spots and if you don't see opposing traffic om-coming, you have to back up to the two lanes. On top of that when it transitions, you are probably 300 feet above the ocean with no guard rails.