8 Reasons To Stay In Hana

 

Ah, heavenly Hana.

This tiny town on Maui’s eastern shore is remote, hard to reach, and one of the most peaceful places on the island.

While countless visitors drive the road to Hana each year, very few spend the night. But spending the night in this sleepy town offers countless benefits — from having more time to explore to experiencing a different side of Maui.

This is your sign to stay in Hana on your next trip to Maui. Whether you spend two days or ten in this remote coastal town, it will surely be the highlight of your visit.

Here are eight reasons to stay in Hana.

 

 

You can experience everything the road to Hana has to offer.

 

Most people try to cram the road to Hana into one day. This inevitably leads to missing out on stops and an excruciatingly long day spent in the car.

However, when you stay in Hana, you can ditch your tight schedule and explore at your own pace.

Even spending one night in Hana allows you to slow down and fully enjoy your time on the road.

 

Here’s a quick sample itinerary for a one-night stay in Hana:

Day One

• Keʻanae Peninsula
• Puaʻa Kaʻa State Park
• Waiʻanapanapa State Park
• Hana Farms

Day Two

• Pipiwai Trail/Pools of ʻOheʻo
• Hamoa Beach & Koki Beach
• Hana Lava Tube

Some other great attractions in the Hana area include Kahanu Gardens, Hana Gold Cacao Plantation, Hana Bay, Charles Lindberg’s grave, Laulima Farm Fruit Stand, and so much more.

Now, imagine trying to see all that in one day!

 

It’s a great place to unplug.

 

Hana is one of the most isolated communities in the state, only accessible by plane or a two-plus hour drive on the winding Hana Highway.

This is the countryside, through and through. Cell service and Wi-Fi can be spotty. There are no traffic lights, no big box stores, only one gas station, and very few conveniences.

But it’s quiet and stunningly beautiful — making it the ideal place to unplug.

 

You’ll experience a different side of Maui.

 

Hana is much more rugged and raw than some of the other parts of Maui.

Maui’s busy tourism areas are known for their golden beaches, great snorkeling, and consistently dry weather.

Hana is the opposite. The terrain is rugged, with lava rock points, sheer cliffs, and deep valleys. It’s impossibly lush and gets about 80+ inches of rain each year.

Ocean conditions are usually too rough to allow snorkeling, but the beaches are stunning – and come in a variety of colors, ranging from black to grey to rusty red.

 

The sunrise views are incredible.

 

If you’re an early riser, we’ve got good news.

Hana sunrises are out of this world.

Haleakala blocks sunrise views from the rest of the island, so Hana is the only place on Maui where you can see the sun rise out of the ocean.

For the best sunrise views, head to Koki or Hamoa Beach.

 

You’ll have a more local, down-to-earth experience.

 

When you stay in Hana, you’ll leave the quintessential “touristy” things – like snorkel tours and luaus — on the other side of the island.

Instead, you’ll have the opportunity to explore historic sites, hike stunning trails, visit unique beaches, and get to know the local community.

 

You’ll get to try all the best food.

 

It might be a remote town, but Hana has a lot of great places to eat!

Many visitors are limited to trying one or two spots during their Hana visit. But the longer you stay, the more local eats you get to try!

Here are some of our favorite places to eat in Hana:

• Thai Food by Pranee: An outdoor restaurant near Hana Bay with some of the best Thai food on Maui. Proper Thai spice, so be careful when ordering. Get the crispy opakapaka.
• Hana Ranch Restaurant: The only proper “restaurant” in Hana, run by the resort. Great views and great food with local ingredients.
• Koki Beach Huli Huli Chicken: The most famous huli huli chicken stand on Maui. Get there early before they run out.

• Braddah Hutt's: A BBQ food truck located in the front yard of a house just past Hana Town. Great Hawaiian BBQ plates.
• My Tita's Cafe: A tiny coffee food truck with the sweetest service in Hana Town. Located just past the gas station.
• Kilo's Kitchen: The best plate lunches in Hana. Get the chicken katsu or loco moco.

There are so many more great places to eat, like Hana Farms, Hana Bowls, and Troy’s. Try as many as you can!

 

You’ll get to visit the best attractions before the crowds arrive.

 

Want to be the first hiker on the Pipiwai Trail? Easy. Want to get a photo of Wailua Falls with no one else in sight? Done. Want to enjoy Hamoa Beach while it’s nearly empty? No problem.

It takes at least two to three hours to get to Hana from the other side of the island. There is only a trickle of traffic arriving in Hana in the morning, so if you wake up early, you’ll likely be one of the first to the most popular destinations

 

There are some fantastic places to stay in Hana.

 

Despite Hana being a super small town, there are a handful of B&Bs and one luxury oceanfront resort.

Hana Maui Resort can be a great option for a one-night stay. It has several pools, a spa, and excellent views. And it’s located right in the heart of Hana Town, with shops, restaurants, and beaches nearby.

However, if you stay longer than just a night, we recommend staying in a B&B. There are several great options, like Hana Kai, Hale Ulu Lulu, and Hale Manu.

Hana Kai is a small condo complex overlooking Hana Bay. It’s right in the heart of Hana Town, close to Hana Ranch Restaurant, Hasegawa General Store, Pranee’s, and other great food trucks. These condos even have full kitchens, so you don’t have to worry about restaurants and food trucks being open.

Hale Ulu Lulu and Hale Manu are quaint plantation-style cottages located just past Hamoa Beach. The cottages share a large yard and feature ocean views, full kitchens, and a distinct Polynesian feel. It’s the perfect place to settle into Hana’s slow pace.

If you want to experience a different, rugged, and more down-to-earth side of Maui, you can’t go wrong with staying in heavenly Hana.

 

Thanks for reading! Now get out and explore the island!

A hui hou!

 

We recognize the use of diacritical markings of the (modern) Hawaiian language including the ʻokina [ʻ] or glottal stop and the kahakō [ō] or macron (e.g., in place names of Hawaiʻi such as Lānaʻi). However, you may notice these diacritical markings have been omitted on some parts of this website to ensure the best online experience for our visitors. We recognize the importance of using these markings to preserve the language and culture of Hawaii and respectfully use them in all communications beyond the online platform.