When planning our honeymoon in Hawai’i a couple of years ago, I had such a hard time deciding which islands to visit even though we were able to spend two weeks there. We decided on three islands total to give a good amount of time on each island; O’ahu was a given since we were flying in and out of Honolulu from the mainland. I had a hard time choosing between the Big Island and Kaua’i but ultimately decided on the Big Island because of my desire to visit Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. I also decided I’d save Kaua’i for a future trip. Since it was my first time visiting, Maui also quickly made the list because it’s my husband’s favorite island (side note: Hawai’i is his favorite place in the world- he’s been five times)! But in all the times he visited he’d never been to Hana, so we planned to stay the last couple of nights of our trip on the Eastern part of the island. Here are five reasons to stay in Hana on Maui based on the fabulous experience with our Hawaiian stay:
- Hana is most well known because of the Road to Hana, which twists and turns alongside the Cliffside road. Depending on the time of year you’re visiting, the road can get crowded so staying overnight in Hana allows you more time for stops along the way without feeling rushed and limited by needing to turn around and head back.
2. Hana has some pretty colorful beaches to visit. Waianapanapa State Park has a black sand beach and freshwater caves to explore. Kaihalulu Beach takes a little more effort to find – a bit of a walk and climbing on rocks- but you’re rewarded with a gorgeous and unique red sand beach. If you want a more traditional beach that’s good for bodyboarding, Hamoa Beach shouldn’t be missed!
3. I loved the authenticity of the small town of Hana. We enjoyed exploring the lushness of the countryside. I also liked strolling around Hana, especially the grounds of Travaasa hotel and its gallery shop. We found a Thai restaurant that I still remember being delicious but sadly discovered on TripAdvisor that it has since closed.
4. A short drive south of Hana town you’ll find part of Haleakala National Park, with parking and swimming at Ohe’o Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools). There’s also hiking including the Waimoku Falls trail. We loved this hike with its gorge, bamboo forest & eventual waterfall destination. The lushness of the surrounding environment is so refreshing!
5. The final & perhaps best reason to stay in Hana is just to relax. The pace of life feels slower than when staying at a resort on the island. We rented a house for the nights we stayed, and my husband was absolutely thrilled with our porch. It was so peaceful to lay out there and look out to see the green of the forest and blue of the ocean and sky. I tend to be a frenetic traveler who wants to see and do everything but sometimes its nice and necessary to rest and spend quality time with your fellow traveler(s).
If you’ve been to Hana, add your reasons why to visit in the comments below! If you haven’t, tell us if you now want to go!
Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.
