People say Hawaii is paradise.  I’m here to second that emotion.

I was fortunate enough to visit Maui over the holidays and if waking up to majestic views and the lapping sounds of the ocean wasn’t enough, The Road To Hana sealed the deal and marked a place for Maui in my heart forever.

The Road To Hanna is a winding drive up a barely two lane roadway through the rainforest.  It is said to take two and a half hours but with all of the stops we took, it was more like 6.  We started in the quaint and beautiful town of Pai’a where we had an early lunch (and I bought the cutest bikini at best little bikini shop EVER – leave it to people who deem swimwear as appropriate clothing to know where it’s at, I LOVE MAUI)

I obviously can’t be in a new place more than 24hours without sampling some of their pizza…

The drive on the road to Hana was one of those experiences that is so true to life; it’s more about the getting there than the actual destination.  Hana isn’t much but a tiny collection of houses, some food stands and an Inn, that if you weren’t paying great attention to, you would probably drive right past.  The magic on this trip are all of the of stops you can make.  Just pull your car to the side of the road and hike; sometimes short distances, others long, to see some incredible waterfalls and breathtaking beaches.

There are so many things to see and do in Maui, but this drive will stick with me forever.  Winding and curvy, with serious peaks and beautiful valleys, The Road to Hana is just as much a lesson in life as it is a way to see nature at it’s purest.

xo,

coco

p.s. if you’re ever taking the trip, I highly recommend not wearing flip flops.  Almost broke my ankle 100 times….  AND if you rent a car, stop at one of the local shops in Pai’a to get a CD that will give you a great historical background and directions.

1. travel: road tripin’!
2. travel: big sur
3. cake: the road to millions
4. adventures of coco & lowe: motor city!
5. tuned in: revolutionary road, the wrestler.