Sunday, May 30, 2026
We were up early this morning due to the time change so we took advantage of this and headed out super early on the Road to Hana so we would have plenty of time to see everything we wanted. When D and I did this trip the last time (a decade ago) we think we stopped too many times and missed really digging into some of the great spots. So this time through we stopped at fewer places, but spent a little more time at most of them. We made a couple of early stops (without getting out of the car to see a few waterfalls and a cool rainbow eucalyptus tree). We also made a quick stop at Kaumahina State Wayside Park. It was beautiful!
Our first real stop was supposed to be at the infamous banana bread stand. But when we got there, things were strangely quiet. We quickly discovered that they were closed on Sundays! Oh no! We were so sad. Luckily we quickly found a cute little farm stand at the halfway to Hana road marker that had banana bread and it was terrific! The perfect substitute! It also claims to have the "original" banana bread - whatever that means.
Our next stop was Pua'a Kaa State Wayside Park. This time we got to see a cool waterfall really up close...and there were actually people jumping off of it into the pool below! To be clear, we were NOT those people.
Our next stop was actually timed to a reservation at Waiʻānapanapa State Park and we arrived just in time. Ironically, we realized after we got there that there was no cell service so we had to drive back out and up a hill to a local pizza place that had WiFi, download our tickets and go back. It was annoying but not super inconvenient. The beach was lovely (though not soft like most beaches) and we took a while just walking around and admiring all the amazing views. Crazy to think that this looks like this 365 days a year. So beautiful!
After our beach time, it was time to head to lunch. D identified a great stop for us along the way this year and it worked out perfectly. The restaurant had this cool wall of ukuleles.
The next stop on our trip made me nervous. I am not much of a hiker, but everyone says if you get the chance to hike the Pipiwai Trail, you should do it. It is about a 4 mile round trip hike and it takes you to a beautiful waterfall at the end. It was listed as moderately difficult, but I was determined to do it. The first thing we saw on the trail was the Makahiku Falls (about 185 feet high). Then we continued along the trail and came to a HUGE Banyan tree. I think this was about the halfway point.
We continued the hike deeper into the trail and came upon a bamboo forest. It was so cool and the best part was that it had a boardwalk through parts of it making the trek a bit easier at times. It was soo cool to hear the bamboo creaking and bumping against each other. It made the coolest sounds.
Then we crossed over a small stream and looked up. And there it was - Waimoku Falls. The trail ended at the base of this spectacular 400-foot waterfall. Waimoku Falls cascades down a sheer lava rock wall and is maybe the most amazing thing I have ever seen. This ended up being my favorite thing we did on the whole trip. The hike was not bad (though it was hot at points) and it was absolutely worth it.
On our way out, we swung around and tried to see the seven sacred pools. I kind of remembered this from our last visit, but this time it seemed like the trees had really grown over a big section of the places that we had looked to see the pools. So we kinda really only saw one sacred pool. But, it was still cool.
That was pretty much the end of our Road to Hana adventure. We wrapped up the night with dinner at Duke's Beach House...and a well deserved drink for Dad. He more than earned it.
