The Road to Hana

Yesterday's drive went really well.  We left at 8:15am and arrived back at our condo by 8:30pm - this included a stop for lunch in Hana at the Hana Ranch Restaurant and a stop in Lahaina at Outback Steakhouse for supper.

The drive is quite remarkable.  The journey is only 75 miles (one way) but takes you 2.5 hrs to drive as most of the drive on the Hana highway is limited to 15-20 mph.  There are over 600 "hairpin turns" and over 50 bridges that you cross - many of these bridges are one lane bridges and you have to yield to on coming traffic.  My shoulders are pretty sore today from all of the two-handed driving.  The drive would have been even better if we had a sports car or convertible - driving a minivan just didn't give the same awesomeness to the drive.

Along the way we made multiple stops at roadside waysides and state parks and saw many cool things:

Twin Falls

Upper Falls at Twin Falls

The girls swimming at the Upper Falls

Da Boyz swimming at the Upper Falls

Taking a shower (at the Upper Falls)

One of the over 600 hairpin turns

At Black Sand Beach looking towards the mountains
and stream emptying into the Ocean

A snail at Keanae Arboretum

Two cars that didn't quite make that turn...

A one-lane bridge

Hana Bay

Another one lane bride with a remarkable view

Once in Hana, there really isn't much to do.  After we ate lunch we walked the beach in Hana Bay and then headed back.  This was expected as what we read was "the drive to Hana isn't about the destination but the journey".

Once back at the condo, I lied down on the bed and fell asleep - I must have been worn out from being so focused on the drive.




Today's itinerary: relaxing (possibly the beach) and the gals want to do some shopping...  Devin and I have some beer to finish off today as we are leaving tomorrow evening for Kauai.