Maui's Kahekili Highway - The Forbidden Road

[RSWBADGER]

We traveled this forbidden route to Kapalua on our Pride of Aloha cruise last month, has anyone else done this drive?

 

It wasn't until sometime in the 1990s that this road was completely paved, and open to travel for rental cars (though some companies may still place it off-limits, so visitors should check their rental contracts). Even now, it remains a little-used "back door" into west Maui (for good reason, as shown below).

 

[rjscott]

Badger, yes, we've done this drive. A bit hairy in parts, but very scenic.

[jerseyjk]

We did it, but had no idea it was called forbidden anything. Loved it.

 

What struck me most was what a view the cows have everyday!

 

[lambs2]

We drove it early last June... and went all the way to Kaanapali and Lahaina. Wow! What a gorgeous trip! They were doing some road work the day we drove it, but no real delays at all. It was a gorgeous clear sunny day and we have photos that are absolutely stunning, as well.

[ROCruiser]

No, we were in Hana last week and the locals told us that we can't get through, with rocks blocking etc.

[cruisin24]

Lambs2,

 

As I mentioned before...you're trip to Hawaii is a mirror image of what we have planned and you have been soooo helpful. I have that same highway mapped out for us so we can hit Kaanapali and Lahaina but I had noticed in the Revealed book that it looked like an unpaved/unkempt road but I am glad to hear that you were able to drive that way.

 

If that road is inaccessible, would we have to travel all the way south on the 330 and loop back up the 30 on the northwest shore to get to Lahaina & Kaanapali?

 

ROCruiser,

 

You mentioned that you were on the Road to Hana...do you think this highway is along the Road to Hana in the East? The Kahekili Hwy is in the North heading toward the Northwest edge of the island. If this is the highway that you are talking about then I am going to have to map out a different way to get to Kaanapali.

 

Debbie

[rjscott]

ROCruiser, yes, part of the Road to Hana is closed, but that is not the road referred to in this thread.

 

Cruisin24, you are trying to get to Kaanapali from where? Kahului?

[ROCruiser]

Oops, sorry!

[lambs2]

Lambs2,

 

As I mentioned before...you're trip to Hawaii is a mirror image of what we have planned and you have been soooo helpful. I have that same highway mapped out for us so we can hit Kaanapali and Lahaina but I had noticed in the Revealed book that it looked like an unpaved/unkempt road but I am glad to hear that you were able to drive that way.

 

If that road is inaccessible, would we have to travel all the way south on the 330 and loop back up the 30 on the northwest shore to get to Lahaina & Kaanapali?

 

ROCruiser,

 

You mentioned that you were on the Road to Hana...do you think this highway is along the Road to Hana in the East? The Kahekili Hwy is in the North heading toward the Northwest edge of the island. If this is the highway that you are talking about then I am going to have to map out a different way to get to Kaanapali.

 

Debbie

 

 

This highway has nothing at all to do with the road to Hana. We actually started our day 1 on Maui (after picking up our rental car) by going to Iao Valley and the Iao Needle, then we headed over to Highway 350 on the coast and followed the entire route, including the part called The Kahakili Hwy, all the way into Lahaina. We then had several hours to walk around the great town of Lahaina and many shops,etc. before heading back to Kaanapali for the Royal Lahaina Luau which we really enjoyed! After the luau we took Hwy 30 back to Kahalui and our ship. This route took MUCH less time. The next day we drove the Road to Hana and back.

[cruisin24]

Lambs2,

 

Did you mean Hwy 360 on the coast in Maui and not 350? I have looked all over my Revealed book and don't see 350 anywhere.. When you left the luau and took the 30 back to the port did you go north all the way around or did you take it south..or does that even get you back to the Kahului port? I didn't think so..but I am all about making our driving the shortest possible!

 

Would you mind if I sent you an email of my complete itinerary and routes we are taking to see if it looks accurate? It is 10 pages (but easy reading:rolleyes:)!As I mentioned..you did alot of the same activities as we are!!

 

I completely understand if you are not interested!

 

Thanks,

Debbie

[cruisin24]

rjscott,

 

Yes, we are driving from the Kahului port to Kaanapali/Lahaina and back.

 

Oops, I am sorry I am not sure how to copy part of the discussion and post it inside of my response!

 

Debbie

[RSWBADGER]

I called it the "Forbidden Highway" because about halfway through our trip I referred to the map given to us by the rental agency and it said it was "Forbidden" to drive this stretch of road due to it being a one lane road for quite a stretch.

 

There are incredible views from this highway.

(Click to Enlarge)

[/img]

[lambs2]

Lambs2,

 

Did you mean Hwy 360 on the coast in Maui and not 350? I have looked all over my Revealed book and don't see 350 anywhere.. When you left the luau and took the 30 back to the port did you go north all the way around or did you take it south..or does that even get you back to the Kahului port? I didn't think so..but I am all about making our driving the shortest possible!

 

Would you mind if I sent you an email of my complete itinerary and routes we are taking to see if it looks accurate? It is 10 pages (but easy reading:rolleyes:)!As I mentioned..you did alot of the same activities as we are!!

 

I completely understand if you are not interested!

 

Thanks,

Debbie

 

That would be fine. I will go over all my notes so I can be of help. You may be right about the road number in Maui. I thought it was 350 but could have been 360! My email is: lambs4jc@earthlink.net. Hope I recognize your email. if not remind me here 'cause I have my email blocked to addresses it doesn't recognize.

[sceptic]

"If that road is inaccessible, would we have to travel all the way south on the 330 and loop back up the 30 on the northwest shore to get to Lahaina & Kaanapali?"

 

cruisin24, the way via "the 30" and "the 330" is about 3X faster than going via the forbidden road, aka 340. It's a matter of wide, smooth, and reasonably fast vs. remarkably narrow and twisty.

 

and I love that use of "the" before highway numbers. You gotta be from LA!

[beachchick]

"If that road is inaccessible, would we have to travel all the way south on the 330 and loop back up the 30 on the northwest shore to get to Lahaina & Kaanapali?"

 

cruisin24, the way via "the 30" and "the 330" is about 3X faster than going via the forbidden road, aka 340. It's a matter of wide, smooth, and reasonably fast vs. remarkably narrow and twisty.

 

and I love that use of "the" before highway numbers. You gotta be from LA!

 

 

:D Exactly my response. We can always tell the southern CA transplants to the central coast by their use of "the" before highway numbers.

 

beachchick

[beachchick]

In response to the original question. Yes, DH and I did that drive in 2005 (west to east). It was stunning. However, I think we need to define "paved" a bit better because there are parts of the road where "paved" is a generous term. It's still narrow, winding, and challenging with blind corners and the need to check the road ahead for oncoming traffic in the one-lane sections because someone's going to have to find a spot to pull over.

 

I think we need to make sure that it's understood that it is much more difficult than the road to Hana (and beyond) and that it should not be undertaken by anyone who is not familiar with that kind of driving. And it should never, ever be driven at night by anyone who is not very familiar with it.

 

beachchick

[jerseyjk]

And it should never, ever be driven at night by anyone who is not very familiar with it.

 

Amen to that.

[cruisin24]

Sceptic & Beachchick,

 

HaHa! You are both wrong!! Sometimes I wish I was from the sunny California area but no I live in Southern Ontario Canada!! We live very close to the Buffalo NY border! Now you probably are thinking why did I not say 30 eh! or 330 eh!

 

Anyways, we do refer to the highways in our area as 'the 406' instead of Hwy 406...just habit!

 

Debbie

[cruisin24]

Lambs2,

 

Thank you so much for allowing me to send my itinerary to you. If there is anything I can do for you....let me know.

 

My email is dgoch@cogeco.ca..so you will be aware when you see it. I will have the subject as "Hawaiian cruise itinerary".

 

Thanks again,

Debbie

[sceptic]

cruisin24-

 

LOL! LA steals everything - including, I suspect, the use of 'the' to describe roads; after all, Ontario was settled long before El Ay. Probably some Toronto citizen, pining for the CCN Tower, said it over lattes in Santa Monica about 20 years ago and someone overheard it and thought, "Hey, way cool, dude."

 

It's always funny when TV show writers put that bit of SoCal culture into the mouths of New Englanders: "Ay-uh, we'll be goin' to the Madison's barn tonight, we'll take the 210 to the 5." Or Southerners: "Y'all goin to the NASCAR? Bubba 'n I are takin the kids in the RV up the 20 to the 110."

 

In 24 last week, a Chinese government official told Jack Bauer to take "the 180." I cracked up.

 

And I love Ontario, eh?

[beachchick]

Sceptic & Beachchick,

 

HaHa! You are both wrong!! Sometimes I wish I was from the sunny California area but no I live in Southern Ontario Canada!! We live very close to the Buffalo NY border! Now you probably are thinking why did I not say 30 eh! or 330 eh!

 

Anyways, we do refer to the highways in our area as 'the 406' instead of Hwy 406...just habit!

 

Debbie

 

:D Gotta love that Canadian humor. (I humbly beg pardon for assuming...we all know why that's bad.)

 

beachchick

 

p.s., Sunny CA isn't always all that sunny or warm. And we've certainly got our share of challenges. DH and I love visiting your beautiful country--but yes, we always visit between late, late spring and early fall. You know, we coasties in CA just have "issues" with all that snow!:p