Road To Hana Tour.Com
Hana Highway, Stretching from Pa'ia to Hana on the Island of Maui
With over 52 miles of roadway, 620 curves and 59 bridges, Hana Highway is one of the most beautiful and distinct roads in the United States. Created to provide access to the numerous sugar cane fields in the growing town of Hana, the road allowed for cars and trucks to travel between Kahului and Hana, allowing workers to easily commute to and from their jobs.
Construction and Early Years
In the 1800’s, Maui was a quiet island that was scarcely developed. George Wilfong came to the island and opened the first sugar can mill in the town of Hana in 1849, changing the island’s economy forever and bringing with him many Chinese immigrants to fill the jobs created by the sugar cane fields.
King Kalakaua then reached a deal with the United States to import sugar to the states duty free; this move greatly increased sugar can production and by 1883 six huge plantations were already in operation in the town of Hana. These major events brought the need for a reliable road to the west coast of the island. The road allowed for cars and trucks to easily travel between Kahului and Hana. It was created as a gravel road and later paved in 1962.
Hana grew quickly, due in large part to the sugar cane fields and the easy transportation of the Hana Highway. In the 1930s-40s, Hana had over 3,500 residents. The town also consisted of 2 movie theaters, 3 barber shops, and over 15 different stores. However, by the mid-1940’s, many of the sugar plantations began to close, due largely to labor costs and the presence of World War II, offering workers higher paying jobs in war-related fields.
Maui’s lone remaining sugar cane plantation is the Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company, operating a 37,000 acre plantation on the island’s southern coast. Known for their brown packets of “Sugar in the Raw”, they produce approximately 200,000 tons of sugar each year.
Hana Highway Today
Today, Maui’s Hana Highway is used as a scenic route, showcasing many scenic lookouts, hidden beaches, tropical rainforests, and an abundance of hidden Hawaiian treasures. Visitor’s from all over the world travel the highway to the Heavenly town of Hana, taking in breathtaking sites and scenery along the way.
As part of the Millennium Trails initiative, President Clinton designated the Road to Hana as the Hana Millennium Legacy Trail in the year 2000. Millennium Trails recognize, promote, and stimulate the creation of trails to "Honor the Past and Imagine the Future” as part of America’s legacy.
