For more than a century the Koʻolau Ditch has been carrying up to 450 million gallons of water a day through 75 miles of flumes and tunnels from Maui’s rainy interior to the dry central plains. You can get a close-up look by stopping at the small pull-off just before the bridge that comes up immediately after the 8-mile marker. Just 30ft above the road you’ll see water flowing through a hand-hewn, stone-block section of the ditch before tunneling into the mountain.
Koʻolau Ditch
The Road to Hana
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Piʻilanihale Heiau & Kahanu Garden
11.62 MILES
Probably the most significant stop on the entire Road to Hana, this site combines a 294-acre ethnobotanical garden with the magnificent Piʻilanihale Heiau…
19.89 MILES
From break of day to twilight, this sparkling stretch of sand is a showstopper. Extending from south Kihei to Wailea’s Mokapu Beach, Keawakapu is set back…
14.25 MILES
Wai'anapanapa means 'glistening waters', and the clear mineral waters in the cave pools here will leave you feeling squeaky clean. There's a natural lava…
20.65 MILES
Sunbathe like a celebrity at this sparkling strand, which fronts the swish Grand Wailea and ever-posh Four Seasons resorts and offers a full menu of water…
17.56 MILES
With its clear water, white sand and hala-tree backdrop, this famous crescent is a little gem; author James Michener once called it the only beach in the…
5.08 MILES
Got your camera? This beauty takes its name from the triple cascade that flows down a steep rock face on the inland side of the road, 0.5 miles past the…
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23.25 MILES
The crowning glory of Makena State Park, this untouched beach is arguably the finest on Maui. In Hawaiian it’s called Oneloa, literally ‘Long Sand.’ And…
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Puʻuʻulaʻula (Red Hill) Overlook
12.02 MILES
You may find yourself standing above the clouds while exploring Puʻuʻulaʻula (10,023ft), Maui’s highest point. The summit building provides a top-of-the…
Nearby The Road to Hana attractions
0.95 MILES
There’s only space for a few cars before the bridge at the 10-mile marker, but unless it’s been raining recently don’t worry about missing this one. The…
1.38 MILES
Why pay a steep $15 per person – not per carload, mind you – to visit an arboretum when the entire Road to Hana is a garden? Well, the garden does offer a…
1.62 MILES
Immediately after the 11-mile marker you’ll pass Puohokamoa Falls. This waterfall no longer has public access, but you can get a glimpse of it from the…
1.76 MILES
For a secluded dip, Haipuaʻena Falls, 0.5 miles past the 11-mile marker, provides a deep and serene pool. Since you can’t see the pool from the road, few…
5. Kaumahina State Wayside Park
2.03 MILES
Clean restrooms and a grassy lawn with picnic tables make this roadside park a family-friendly stop. The park comes up 350yd after the 12-mile marker…
2.5 MILES
Honomanu Bay’s rocky black-sand beach is usually empty or being used by local surfers and fishers. Surfable waves form during big swells, but the rocky…
2.55 MILES
Constructed in 1853 of coral blocks and surrounded by a manicured green lawn, this tidy church remains the heart of the village. It was built in early…
2.64 MILES
For a fascinating view of the coast, stop at the pull-off on the ocean side of the highway, 0.6 miles past the 14-mile marker. From the point you can look…