ALOHA!
So you are thinking about making a trip to the lush East Maui!
The best areas of East Maui to visit are Hana, Kipahulu, and Keanae.
Top things to do in East Maui
The famous highway of East Maui
The famous town in East Maui is Hana.
THE famous scenic drive on Maui is the Hana Highway aka the Road to Hana!
So doing the Road to Hana means a drive to East Maui!
East Maui has also been called “one of the last unspoiled Hawaiian frontiers.”
Here are some of the quick lists if you’re looking for something specific to do in East Maui:
- East Maui waterfalls
- East Maui beaches
- East Maui food
- East Maui hikes
- Things to do in Hana
- Things to do in Waianapanapa State Park
- Things to do in Haleakala National Park in East Maui
- Road to Hana map (google maps)
Below is the list of things to do in East Maui with these different activities!
Can you take a bus to East Maui?
No, you can’t go to East Maui by public bus.
There is a bus that goes to some places on Maui, but it doesn’t go to East Maui.
Technically the bus does go along a little bit of the Hana Highway.
But the bus goes nowhere near the town of Hana.
The furthest along the bus goes on the Hana Highway is the bus stop at the intersection of Pauwela Road and Hana Highway on the Haiku Islander bus route, which is a little past Paia (aka the unofficial start of the Road to Hana).
This is as far along on the Hana Highway as you can go by bus, and Hana is around 40 miles away from the bus stop.
While there is no public bus that will allow you to truly experience East Maui, there are East Maui tours that you can join if you will be without a car.
More below on what to see in East Maui!
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Now…
Things to do in East Maui
1. Waikamoi Nature Trail
This is a hike through a forest where you’ll get to see different kinds of trees, including bamboo trees.
You’ll also find picnic tables along this trail for what can feel like a private picnic spot! (As long as no one else is hiking this trail and has taken the picnic spot!)
2. Kaumahina State Wayside
This can be a bathroom break or a short stop at a small overlook.
3. Waikamoi Falls
You can get a glimpse of Waikamoi Falls as you’re driving by on the bridge in front of the waterfalls. So you don’t even need to get out of the car to see them.
But to truly appreciate these waterfalls, you’ll want to make a stop here.
There’s a trail that leads to the base of the waterfalls.
And there’s also a trail that leads to the top of the waterfalls so you can see the waterfalls from the top, as well as the Waikamoi Stream that feeds the waterfalls.
4. Honomanu Bay
This is a kind of hidden beach in the sense that it’s not located right off the main road.
It requires a walk or drive on a kind of rough road to get to the beach once you turn off the Hana Highway.
Your destination will be what’s considered to be a black sand beach on Maui, although the black sand may not initially be obvious when you get there.
But there’s a small patch of black sand off to the right of the bay as you’re facing the ocean.
You can park right off the Hana Highway and then walk 5-10 minutes, or you can drive straight down to the beach.
It might be better if you have a jeep or 4wd, but normal cars do the drive all the way down too.
5. Keanae Peninsula
This is a great scenic lookout area.
You can drive down to the end of Keanae Road directly off the Hana Highway.
You’ll come across the first lookout.
And then you can keep driving further down where you’ll pass a famous banana bread stand.
Then drive further to the end of the Keanae Peninsula where you’ll find another lookout.
You can see old lava flows along the coast at Keanae Point.
You’ll also find a cute Hawaiian church on the Keanae Peninsula.
For a minimal East Maui day trip, I think you need to at least make it to the Keanae Peninsula.
Going to Keanae won’t get you all the way to the town of Hana, but it will give you a sense of what East Maui is about!
That said, there are some East Maui waterfalls coming up past the Keanae Peninsula that require minimal effort to see, so you might want to keep driving a little further!
With no stops, Paia to Keanae Peninsula is about a 1.5 hour drive.
Keanae to Hana is about a 1 hour drive.
So if you want to only do part of the Road to Hana, then you want to drive a little beyond the Keanae Peninsula. You can make Makapipi Falls your turnaround point.
6. Upper Waikani Falls
These are waterfalls in East Maui that you can see as you’re driving across the bridge.
7. Wailuaiki Stream
I’m not sure of the name of these falls as it’s not on google maps, but it seems that this might be Wailuaiki Falls.
This is just before mile marker 21 when you’re driving in the direction of Hana.
You could see the upper level of the waterfalls without getting out of the car, and if you get out of the car, then you can see the lower level waterfalls too.
8. Puaa Kaa State Wayside
You can make this a bathroom stop or another waterfalls stop. (Or both!) This is a Hawaii state park site.
9. Hanawi Falls
More waterfalls in East Maui!
You can see these from the bridge as you’re driving by, or you can get out of the car and take a short trail to get a little closer to them too.
10. Makapipi Falls
More waterfalls in East Maui, but these are waterfalls to view from above!
11. Nahiku viewpoint
This is another little side trip on the Hana Highway in the sense that you drive down a road off the highway to get there.
First you’ll drive around 10 minutes down the narrow Nahiku Road.
You can park in front of a cute Hawaiian church and then walk around 10 minutes the rest of the way there.
12. Hana lava tube
This is the only lava tube in Hawaii that’s listed as a part of the National Caves Association. (Although certainly not the only worthy lava cave to visit in Hawaii! There’s a great lava cave hike you can do on the Big Island!)
One of the things that makes the Hana lava tube stop worth it is the educational value.
It’s a self-guided tour through a cave formed by lava flows and there are informational signs along the way.
If you are interested in learning about Maui’s volcanic landscape, then you are sure to find this interesting!
There is an entry fee to the Hana lava tube, and the cost is around $12 and flashlights are provided.
13. Waianapanapa State Park
Waianapanapa State Park is where you go to see THE famous black sand beach of Maui.
This is one of the best Hawaii state parks in Maui!
There’s the black sand beach overlook where you can see the black sand beach from above, then you can take the stairs down to the black sand beach where you can walk across it.
And then, you can start off on the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail!
Also while you are at the black sand beach, right after you get to the bottom of the stairs that takes you to the black sand beach, look directly to the right as you’re facing the ocean.
There’s a lava tube there that you can enter, and it opens up at the other end too! You can watch the waves crash into this lava tube cave.
It’s easy to miss, so don’t forget about it!
IMPORTANT!!! This is NEW as of March 2021. You must now make a reservation in order to visit Waianapanapa State Park, which means you must have a reservation in order to visit the black sand beach! There is a fee for this.
There are also the Waianapanapa State park cabins for a cost of around $100 per night available here. Cabins do book up in advance so it might require a little bit more planning and/or luck!
14. Kaihalulu red sand beach
This beach is the famous red sand beach of Maui. The trail to get to the beach may or may not pass through private property.
Some people also call this trail a bit dangerous.
As with many hiking trails in Hawaii, there’s loose gravel which can be easy to slip on.
And at times the trail is narrow with a steep cliff on one side.
15. Koki Beach
If you’re looking for a “safe” alternative to the famous red sand beach, then Koki Beach can be it.
Although this is listed as a “red beach” on google maps, the beach itself is not really red at all. But walk to the other end of the beach, and you’ll find a short red sand trail so you can see red sand!
Koki Beach is also where you will find the famous huli huli chicken in Maui.
16. Hamoa Beach
If you’re looking for a beach on the road to Hana to hang out at, this might be the beach you’re looking for! It’s said to be one of the best beaches on Maui.
There’s also a great lookout that overlooks Hamoa Beach nearby.
17. Venus Pool aka Waioka Pond
People swim in the ocean here by jumping off a rock (cliff).
There is limited free parking right near the start of this trail. Otherwise, on the other side of the bridge is paid parking for a fee of around $7.
You’ll walk around 5 minutes or so to get to the hidden pools.
IMPORTANT: The boring safety message! Flash flooding during East Maui activities
Flash flooding is a thing in East Maui, and that includes around the Road to Hana.
The Venus Pool is an example of where flash flooding can happen around the Road to Hana.
To be dramatic, there is at least one tourist who has DIED from an unexpected flash flood at this very location.
There are several videos you must watch if you are thinking about cliff jumping on the Road to Hana at this location:
- Watch this video to see the dry rock turn into a flood of water into the ocean.
- Watch this video to see people trying to get out of the way of the flash flood… but were unsuccessful. (But it seems they were okay.)
- Watch this video to see the news story about the tourist who died.
One of the warning signs that flash flooding is possible is if you look towards the mountains and you see dark clouds. Watch the video warning from 1:10.
And then more flash flood precautions from Maui County, notably:
Never cross or swim in streams/ponds when dark clouds are on the mountains.
18. Wailua Falls
You don’t even need to get out of the car to see these magnificent waterfalls. You can see it directly from your car as you pass over the bridge!
Otherwise, if you want to stop and get out of the car to take pictures, this can be a quick stop.
There’s a short trail of a minute or 2 that will get you to the pool of these waterfalls.
People go swimming here.
19. Haleakala National Park, Kipahulu District
There is a part of Haleakala National Park in East Maui, and the Kipahulu District is it!
This is where you will find the Pipiwai Trail to see the famous bamboo forest of Maui.
The Pipiwai Trail will also lead to Waikmoku Falls.
The Pools of Oheo are famous waterfalls that are also a part of the Haleakala national park.
It’s known for being a swimming spot, but it will get closed off if the national park people think there’s more risk than usual to swim here. Even if it’s closed to swimming, you can get a glimpse of the Seven Sacred Pools.
You get here by going on the short Kuloa Point Trail that will also get you to a great scenic point with ocean views.
Since this is a part of the Haleakala National Park, there is an entry fee of $30. This entry fee lasts for 3 days, so if you’re interested in doing both the Kipahulu area and popular Haleakala summit area, keep this in mind.
Or if you have a national park pass or Hawaii tri-park pass will work too.
Kipahulu is the unofficial “end” of the Road to Hana, and this is a common last turnaround spot if they did not turn around before this.
But, if you do keep going, you will end up on the back road to Hana.
20. Alelele Falls
Alelele Falls is on the back road to Hana.
You’ll find a trailhead right along the Hana Highway, and it’s a short walk to see more East Maui waterfalls!
And that’s a bit about East Maui!
See more for your trip to Maui:
HAPPY TRIP TO EAST MAUI!
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