Kahului, Maui: Road to Hana, Haleakalā Sunrise, and Fresh Pacific Tuna

The Road to Hana is a 64-km two-lane highway that winds along Maui's northeastern coastline through rainforest, past waterfalls, and across dozens of one-lane bridges. The destination — Hana town — is quiet and unremarkable. The road is the experience. Pull-offs at Twin Falls, Waikamoi Ridge Trail, Pua'a Ka'a State Park, and Wailua Falls break up the drive in useful increments. The full round trip from Kahului takes seven to eight hours; an organized excursion covers the highlights without requiring you to navigate. The road is narrow and can be stressful to drive independently in rental traffic.

Haleakalā National Park encompasses the summit crater of the dormant volcano that forms the eastern half of Maui. The summit is at 3,055 meters; the crater itself is 11 km wide and 800 meters deep. Watching sunrise from the summit rim — above the cloud layer, in temperatures that can drop near freezing even in summer — is one of the more otherworldly experiences available in Hawaii. The drive from Kahului to the summit takes about 90 minutes; reservations for the sunrise viewing area are now required and must be booked in advance through the National Park Service.

Maui's west coast, reached by a 45-minute drive from Kahului through the pineapple fields, has the calmer, clearer water and the beach towns most people associate with Maui — Lahaina, Ka'anapali, Wailea. Lahaina is a historic whaling town that was devastated by wildfire in August 2023; reconstruction and reopening is ongoing and the situation continues to evolve.

The Maui Tropical Plantation, between Kahului and the west coast, is a working agricultural property with a tram tour through banana, papaya, and sugarcane plots. It is a reasonable half-hour stop if you are heading west and want context for what grows on the island.

Fresh ahi tuna is the local food worth seeking. Maui Brewing Company's original brewery is in Kahului and has good poke and fish dishes alongside its beers. The Kahului open air market near the port has local produce, plate lunch, and shave ice; it is the closest thing to genuine local food near the pier.