From our archives: Our Hāna group tour in May 2013 brought 13 Maui social media friends together for a day on the road. This is a memory of that outing, with updates below for anyone planning a visit today. It isn’t a current tour itinerary.
A lookout stop during our 2013 Hāna group trip. Original archive photo.
We took a pretty amazing trip to Hāna. A handful of active Maui social media influencers who had expressed interest in a trip were invited to travel aboard Road to Hana Tours. We visited some of our favorite places along the Road to Hāna, including stops that weren’t on the regular tour.
Our Hāna Group Tour Started With Breakfast
We began our trip at the Maui Lani Golf Course for a quick breakfast and some coffee. The view was spectacular, and it made for a great way to start the day. Then 13 of us made our way to Hāna!
We made an unusual stop at Wailele Farm, at Twin Falls. I wanted the crew to see what they do at the farm and understand the effort behind maintaining trails, toilets and parking. That work helped make visitor access possible.
Our original story described the area as free to the public. That needs context now: Twin Falls is a privately owned farm with paid, limited parking. Its current visitor information lists $10 per car, designated parking requirements and resident-only access on the first Saturday of each month. Groups larger than 12 and commercial or photography groups must request approval before visiting.
The Stops We Remember From 2013
We then visited many memorable places along the road. Our Hāna group tour included:
- Kaumahina State Wayside Park
- Keʻanae Peninsula
- Upper Waikani Falls
- Waiʻānapanapa State Park
- Hāna Town
- Wailua Falls
- ʻOheʻo Gulch, often called the Seven Sacred Pools
- Palapala Hoʻomau Church
These stops record where our group went. They don’t promise that every place will be open, accessible or included on a tour you book today. Choose a manageable route and leave room for changing weather and road conditions.
Keʻanae during the 2013 group trip. Original archive photo.
Lunch and a Resort Visit in Hāna
We also stopped at Travaasa Resort for a tour of the property and spa, as well as a delicious meal at Kaʻuiki Restaurant. Those are the names from our 2013 visit, and the links remain part of that account.
Lunch together at Kaʻuiki during the 2013 trip, when the resort was Travaasa Hāna.
The resort is now Hana-Maui Resort. Check directly for current dining, spa services and visitor arrangements. Our earlier property tour doesn’t mean you can walk into every area without an appointment.
Planning a Hāna Group Tour Today
Waiʻānapanapa now requires advance entry and parking reservations for out-of-state visitors. Use the official reservation system and confirm whether your tour operator arranges admission. Don’t assume an older trip report includes today’s booking requirements.
At ʻOheʻo, swimming access is closed. The National Park Service’s current conditions page says you can view the pools from the Kūloa Point Trail. Respect barriers and stay in designated visitor areas.
For a broader planning resource, see our Road to Hāna guide. This archive focuses on our group’s experience, while that guide helps you plan your own day.
It was an incredible trip! Our original #HanaTrip hashtag on Twitter and Instagram helped the group share its experience. You can also visit the Hāna Trip account for more about the group and the results from our outing. Mahalo to everyone who helped us have such a great day in Hāna!
Some of Our Readers’ Thoughts
Selected comments from the original article. These reflect readers’ experiences at the time, rather than current offers or advice. Longer comments are excerpted below.
Sure was a great trip!! Love the places we visited and enjoyed the company! Superb service by Valley Isle Excursions and the Travaasa Hana Resort was spectacular! Aloha
Erik Blair, 2013-05-25
We’re a small group of full-time Maui residents that LOVE exploring and writing about what we think is the best place on Earth: The Island of Maui, Hawaii! Expect many more articles, reviews, photos and videos of Maui and all of the Hawaiian Islands. ALOHA!
0 Comments