Visit Maui's Waterfalls in Hana

By Kenneth Rothman

If you think the cascading waterfalls in the Maui postcards are an exaggeration of the beauty to be found here, think again! Take the long journey to East Maui from our Kaanapali accommodations, and you may find it difficult to count the number of waterfalls that will be plainly visible even from your vehicle. They come in all shapes and sizes from towering cascades to messy trickles, all nestled in the lush jungle.

Bring your camera, some snacks, and a full tank of gas, because the winding road through Hana is a long and glorious journey. While we don't recommend it to those who get carsick, we do recommend it to those who want to see and photograph some of Maui's richest beauty.

Hana is basically on the opposite side of the island from our Kaanapali condos, but the rainforest is full of wonderful stops where you can explore hiking trails of various difficulty levels, or swim in numerous waterfall pools. To add to all this, sprawling vistas of the sparkling Pacific Ocean are usually in sight. The photo opportunities are endless, but be careful of humidity, pesky rainbows formed by waterfall spray, or simply dropping your camera into a pool or puddle. Despite the quantity of water you'll find running through Hana, there are plenty of sunny days. It's not always pouring out there. Check the weather report and get your trip underway early, because as a general Maui rule, conditions are calmest in the morning.

If you are looking for some nice places to stop, Wainapanapa State Park has some partially submerged lava tubes, ocean caves and black-sand beaches. If you feel like spelunking, Hana Lava tube offers self-led flashlight tours and is really interesting, especially if you are interested in geology and the odd environments to be found in nature. Check out some of their lava tube photos for reference.

As our parting tips, we recommend that you bring some bug spray with you, especially if you plan to venture out from your vehicle. You should also wear sunscreen, and that stands for pretty much any time you will be out of doors. You will sunburn faster in Hawaii than on the mainland, or other higher latitudes. You wouldn't want a sunburn putting a damper on your vacation, and more importantly, your health.

Mahalo for reading, and we hope you have an unforgettable Maui vacation!