Driving the Road to Hana (Hana Highway): Best Stops, Black Sand Beach & Pipiwai Bamboo Trail

Winding for 103 kilometres (64.4 miles) along the emerald northeastern cliffs of East Maui from Pa'ia to Kipahulu, the Road to Hana (Routes 36 and 360) crosses 620 hairpin curves and 59 historic bridges (46 one-lane bridges where you yield to oncoming cars). Before starting, leave your hotel around sunrise, fill your petrol tank in Pa'ia, bring cash for fruit stands, and download the offline GuideAlong Road to Hana App, which uses GPS to highlight key mile markers.

The 6 Key Stops by Mile Marker

1. Mile Marker 2, Twin Falls (Wailele Farm): the first easily accessible waterfall and swimming hole on the drive, with a fresh sugarcane-juice and coconut stand.
2. Mile Marker 16.8, Ke'anae Arboretum & Ke'anae Peninsula (Aunt Sandy's Banana Bread): walk five minutes into the free Ke'anae Arboretum to see Rainbow Eucalyptus trees whose peeling bark reveals neon-green, orange and purple stripes. Then turn left onto the volcanic peninsula of Ke'anae to watch waves crash on black lava rocks while eating warm Aunt Sandy's Banana Bread (open Monday to Saturday).
3. Mile Marker 22.5, Wailua Valley Wayside & Upper Waikani Falls ('Three Bears Falls' at MM 19.5): three side-by-side cascades plunging into a jungle pool beside the bridge.
4. Mile Marker 32, Wai'anapanapa State Park (Black Sand Beach, Mandatory Reservation): pre-book your timed slot up to 30 days ahead at gowaianapanapa.com. Walk down to Pa'iloa Beach, a cove of jet-black volcanic pebbles, lava sea arches, a blowhole and freshwater caves.

5. Mile Marker 34, Hana Town: stop for wood-fired pizza at Hana Farms or plate lunch at Braddah Hutts BBQ.
6. 10 Miles Past Hana (Kipahulu), Pipiwai Bamboo Trail to 120m Waimoku Falls: drive 30 minutes past Hana to the Kipahulu Visitor Center of Haleakala National Park (your summit pass is valid here for three days). Hike the 6.4-kilometre round-trip Pipiwai Trail past a giant banyan tree and a 1-kilometre wooden boardwalk inside a Giant Bamboo Forest to 120-metre Waimoku Falls. Afterwards, return the paved way you came, as car hire contracts prohibit unpaved Highway 31.