This field of black ʻaʻa (rough, jagged lava) dates from the last volcanic eruption on the island, 400 to 500 years ago. The flow drops down the southeast coast of Haleakalā to the sea at La Perouse Bay.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Piʻilanihale Heiau & Kahanu Garden
23.49 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…
9.18 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…
24.86 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…
8.11 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…
23.92 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…
19.8 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…
-
6.96 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…
-
Puʻuʻulaʻula (Red Hill) Overlook
8.62 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 attractions
1.89 MILES
You can't miss the eight towering turbines rotating gracefully between the highway and the sea near mile marker 22. The turbines are a joint venture…
3. Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area
4.34 MILES
On the upper slopes of Haleakalā, this remote and heavily forested park is the place for solitary forest hiking. Check the park website or call before you…
5.25 MILES
A lava rock monument honoring French explorer Jean Francois de Galaup La Pérouse marks the entrance to La Perouse Bay. La Perouse, who arrived in 1786,…
5.79 MILES
For a time Sun Yat-sen, father of the Chinese nationalist movement, lived in Keokea. He’s honored at Sun Yat-sen Park, found along the Kula Hwy (Hwy 37),…
7. ʻAhihi-Kinaʻu Natural Area Reserve
6.22 MILES
Although scientists haven’t been able to pinpoint the exact date, Maui’s last lava flow probably spilled down to the sea here between 1480 and 1600 CE,…
6.29 MILES
This colorful two-story period building (1907) was constructed to provide services to immigrant Chinese workers. Now on the National Register of Historic…