The Road to Hana is world famous for the natural beauty of its unblemished landscapes and towering waterfalls. Maui is understandably proud of Heavenly Hana's successful fight against overdevelopment and the destruction of their Hawaiian culture. When you make the trip over to Hana, you'll see why it's referred to as The Land That Time Forgot.

Road to Hana Driving Tips

1. Bring bug spray! Hana is packed with mosquitoes and other unfriendly buggers. They tend to congregate near streams and still water as well as near fruit trees. If you see fruit rotting on the ground, you can be assured that hundreds of mosquitoes are having a good old time on them.

2. Stay on paths. If you're hiking, remain on the regular paths. Follow them for your own safety and to keep away from the bugs. You'll get more bites walking through grass and shrubs than you would on a flat dirt path. You also are less likely to trespass or run into a spider web.

3. Grab lunch, supplies, and water. Your dining choices in Hana are limited. The best thing to do is stop along the Road to Hana and have a picnic with your friends and family. Stop at Anthony's Coffee Company and grab their Hana picnic lunches. They also have great ice cream for when you come back. This is the least expensive way to enjoy the trip. Otherwise, you'll be buying lunch with very little options and (depending on where you go) will be expensive. Paia is the last stop to grab food and supplies. Make sure to stock up on water too. You'd be surprised how much water is pulled from you in humid climates.

4. Bring or rent a camera with plenty of memory card space (or film). You'll no doubtedly get some incredible pictures along the way. It's the worst getting to a great spot and running out of disc space, having to delete other good images, or realize your battery is too low.

5. Rent a convertible car. Maui is great for convertibles, but the Road to Hana is the best part. If you drive with the top down, be prepared for a better viewing experience, a few more bugs, and a 99% chance of having to pull over at one point or another for rain. When you do pull over, get off of the road completely. Also, do it slowly and safely. Getting a little wet is worth your not going off a cliff or hitting another car around a bend. Wait till it's safe to pull over. If you don't think you are willing to get a little wet, keep the top up.

6. Bring hiking shoes. All of the hiking is superb in and around Hana. Bring hiking shoes that you don't care much about. You may find yourself traversing streams or walking through thick mud. If you're prone to bug bites, wear high socks and bug repellent. Decide ahead of time where the best places are to go and pick one of the hikes. The best way to find a hiking trail that you'll never forget is to ask a Maui local to recommend one to you.

7. Don't leave valuables in the car. This goes for anywhere in Maui. You may notice when you park in the dirt at certain sights that there's broken glass on the ground. The vast deep vegetation of your surroundings is the perfect place for Maui thieves to sit and wait for unsuspecting tourists to pull up. Leave your valuables at home. Even the trunk of your car is not safe from a determined thief. Remember that Maui rental cars are easy to spot, and make for obvious prey. Don't take any risk of being a victim by leaving your valuables at home or taking them with you from the car.