Kahakuloa Bay
Kahakuloa Bay
4.5
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4.5
32 reviews
Excellent
20
Very good
8
Average
1
Poor
2
Terrible
1
nsmykowski
Buffalo, NY5 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
Wow...this area is beautiful but the road around to Kalakuloa is treacherous. I recommend to not drive from central Maui to west Maui on the road. We did it today and it was terrifying. It appeared in the guidebooks as an adventurous excursion and we were up for that (had no problem with the Road to Hana or up to Haleakala), but the tiny road and sheer cliff drop offs were actually treacherous. Heading in this direction your car is on the outside of the road and passengers are looking down hundreds of yards of sheer drop offs. There were also sections of road that had washed away so that the drivable portion was only about 8-10 feet wide. Literally I felt like I was going to die on one of those cliffs today. Driving in the opposite direction, slowly, in clear and daylight weather is the only way I think this could be even remotely reasonable.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dean W
Oahu, HI27 contributions
Oct 2019
Please read about Christopher Kunzelman before driving into,and supporting this area.And please look for the YouTube video of the actual incident.
Make your own educated decision on this stop.
Make your own educated decision on this stop.
Written 8 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauren E
Adelaide, Australia13 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
After reading these reviews, I’d almost convinced my husband that we were not doing this drive! I’m so glad we did though because it was stunning and not that bad at all! I’m not sure whether we just went at a good time, but we headed north from Kanaapali around to Kahului and we didn’t encounter too much traffic. There were quite a few cars parked at the viewing spots however we didn’t pass that many cars and we never had an issue with pulling over to let cars pass/other cars letting us pass. It took us just under three hours to get from our hotel in Kanaapali to Kahului, and we stopped for quite a while at the blowhole and also a couple of other times for photo opportunities. The drive is by no means easy, however it was no where near as difficult as the reviews make it sound! As long as you drive carefully and courteously you’ll be fine. We are from Australia and found it fine. Would recommend Julia’s Banana bread at the blowhole stop! We unfortunately didn’t get to do any of the trails as we have a small baby and he wasn’t up for it. The only negative thing was that there was no phone service so make sure you load up your map and stops beforehand, as some aren’t very well signposted! Would 100% recommend doing this drive!
Written 11 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
UK40
Calgary, Canada692 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
We found ourselves on this road before we knew it. I wanted my husband to turn around as I had read about how scary it was. But too late. It is scary and I was driving my husband up the wall with yelling at him to be careful. But we survived. You just take your time and watch in the distance for any cars coming so you can pull to the side so they can squeeze by. Better if you have a very small car. One idiot who was driving a big SUV was coming down the hill when we where nearly ready to come up the other side. We know he was there as we saw him coming down through the bushes. We waited and waited for him to come down but he did not so we started up and he was pulled over but he had 2 cars behind him. We had to squeeze by him which was scary for me and the other two cars had to back up. I was so scared that I forgot to video and take very many pictures.
Written 19 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
foothillstrekker
Sonora, California22 contributions
We drove to this tiny old town on a spur of the moment drive up the northeast coast of Maui from Kahului. We'd never been to this part of the island before and really just took off without researching the area. The coastline was rugged and beautiful. After a few miles the road became a narrow winding one lane cliff-hugger with some white knuckle moments when trying to pass oncoming cars. We debated about going all the way to the Blowhole but decided we would only go as far as Kahakuloa and then turn around. The road switched back down to a beautiful little bay with a very small town that consists of a few scattered homes, two very old historic churches and several banana bread and shaved ice stands along the roadside. We turned around in the parking lot of one of the old churches and got out to check out the church and take pictures. As we headed back we saw a sign by a driveway on the left advertising shaved ice so we turned down this narrow winding drive and ended up at a small creek side home with a garage converted into Lorraine's Shaved Ice. Lorraine and her husband Guy welcomed us to come in and enjoy some shaved ice. Our visit with them became one of the highlights of our trip. Guy invited us out to the backyard which overlooks the bay setting up two lawn chairs for us. Lorraine came out to chat and showed us her yard filled with banana, coconut, and papaya trees. By the end of our visit we were taking pictures and exchanging hugs
like old friends. Don't miss this place. It is worth the drive just to meet these charming people. Be sure to take home some of Lorraine's scrumptious coconut chips, banana bread and Liliko'i (passion fruit jelly).
like old friends. Don't miss this place. It is worth the drive just to meet these charming people. Be sure to take home some of Lorraine's scrumptious coconut chips, banana bread and Liliko'i (passion fruit jelly).
Written 5 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sardrum
Burlington, VT31 contributions
Jan 2017
The north shore of West Maui is gorgeous. A very winding and precarious road. Old Hawaii at its best. Along the way is Kahakuloa Bay, a quintessential old Hawaiian village. Within the village is Lorraine's Bake shop and food to die for.
This is a 2-3 trip and not the full day road to Hana. I much prefer this trip.
This is a 2-3 trip and not the full day road to Hana. I much prefer this trip.
Written 27 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BobWE
Manhattan Beach, CA753 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
Almost everybody who visits Maui and wants a road adventure meanders through the all day drive to Hana BUT for a real adventure of old Maui venture unto Highway 340 on the west side of Maui. Even on a Sunday with perfect weather you will encounter a minimal amount of traffic. Although the drive is almost always within view of the coastline/ocean, the environment is unlike that of the Hana drive which is lush forest--the Kahakuloa drive is green but not lush forest--more low plants and rolling hills. The scenario is fantastic. For us it was just as beautiful as Hana but different. For about two miles on either side of Kahakuola the ancient sometimes unpaved road needs to be driven very carefully as you are traversing down or up a one lane road that requires that drivers be on the alert for drivers coming from the other direction. Pull offs are available infrequently and on several occasions as we drove the route we either had to back up into a pull off or the other driver had to do likewise. Drive scanning about 50 yards ahead to anticipate oncoming traffic. Once you reach Kahakuola Village stop and take a break at Julie's Banana Bread stand (between mile marker 13 and 14) which is staffed by Julie's niece when we stopped (and purchased a loaf of very moist banana bread). Keep you camera handy for the spectacular views of the coastline. Do not drive this route unless you are an experienced driver but you do not need a four wheel vehicle--just nerves of steel and patience. From Kapalua to Waihe'e you can figure on a drive of about 2-3 hours with stops.
Written 12 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bobodobo
Los Angeles, CA24 contributions
Apr 2014 • Family
Overall we found Maui a disappointment compared to Kauai or the Big Island. One of the saving graces was this little spot. The road is challenging (terrifying for those not used to driving narrow mountain roads) - infinitely more difficult than the road to Hana, but on a par with the Piilani Highway (the road past Hana, on the south side of Maui, back to Kula.) There are a couple of little food stands, a rather expansive, modern, but seemingly out-of-place art gallery on top of the hill, and spectacular scenery. That's it. No hotels, no bars, no supermarkets and no traffic signals. (Pay a visit to the tiny Catholic church up a side road; I'm not religious but if I could be convinced this would be the place to do it.) As close to the old Hawaii as you'll find on Maui.
I would have given the place 5 stars if there were public access to the ocean.
I would have given the place 5 stars if there were public access to the ocean.
Written 20 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
getaways
Lahaina, HI4,946 contributions
Dec 2022 • Friends
Much This area is remote and without electricity.
There are residents who make it known that visitors are not welcome to explore this area. There has been violent interaction with people in this area.
Have no interest in ever going back.
There are residents who make it known that visitors are not welcome to explore this area. There has been violent interaction with people in this area.
Have no interest in ever going back.
Written 28 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Duquesadiner
Glasgow, UK1,310 contributions
Feb 2019 • Friends
You have to wonder about the islanders who populate this area. We come from Scotland and have places with low numbers of indigenous residents as well but there are spots along the 340 between Lahaina and Paia that make even us admire their tenacity. We stopped as often as possible, to take photographs, see the local produce that was for sale and immerse ourselves in the beauty of this side of Maui. Simply magnificent.
Written 20 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there any tours that take you around the western tip of Maui . Through kahakuloa. Optimally I would like a driving tour with stops .
Written 12 November 2015
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