Every trip to Maui should include a Land Tour to Hana.

When I first visited Maui in the 1970's, I was told that I "might enjoy the area of the island known as Hana. There are waterfalls, it's very pretty..."

What an unbelievable understatement that turned out to be!

In all my world travels I have yet to see a spot that rivals Hana in sheer beauty and power of nature. Each bend of the narrow, winding road carved along the Hana coastline curves into a valley of waterfalls and fresh water pools. Dense jungle and rainforest are so thick in places you wonder how anyone could have made the trek before the Hana Highway.

The forest appears in layer upon layer of higher and higher canopies of overgrowth and spreading trees. The African Tulip tree stands out against the emerald green as beautiful plumes of brilliant orange high above the forest dome. The pale green of Kukui trees, which produce the Kukui nut used in ancient Hawaii as a source of oil for night lanterns, softens the dark forests of Koa and mahogany. The air is fragrant with the sweet aroma of ginger blossoms and everywhere you look are tropical flowers of all colors and shapes. Tropical fruit trees line the road - and sometimes cover the road - with mango, papaya, guava, passion fruit, mountain apple, breadfruit and wild berries.

Hana is heaven on Earth and should not be missed.

• Take a mini-van land tour. That way, you won't miss a single view or wonder what the name of that huge tree is. You'll learn all about the place names, the plants, flowers, and the Hawaiian stories and legends of the area.
• Drive yourself in a rental car, but pay close attention to the road and the traffic. Hundreds of curves, narrow bridges and very wet areas will keep you within the speed limit. You'll want to stop at lots of the turnouts to get good photos of waterfalls and valleys, old bridges and tiny villages.
• Hire a private land tour guide who will travel in your rental car with you. We've had some of the best luck with these services lately, and they're not half as expensive as you might think.

Helpful Tips from Tom Barefoot - Maui Land Tours and Maui Land Trips

• The trip to Hana is a full day. Don't make the mistake of planning something else for later.
• Take along a bathing suit. You'll find lots of cold, refreshing pools and streams that just beg you to jump right in. Guaranteed to change your life.
• Bring your camera and lots of film.

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