Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Mile Marker 3.5:
Turnoff for Door of Faith Road and Kaulanapueo Church
Kaulanapueo Church
Fans of simple and historic churches will enjoy Kaulanapueo Church, 0.2 mile down Door
of Faith Road (the one with all of the mailboxes). Don't be fooled by the modern and
underwhelming Door of Faith Church on your left when you first turn down the road.
Historic Kaulanapueo is around the next bend; you'll notice its green steeple poking out
above the treetops. This Protestant church constructed mostly of coral has held Hawaii-
an language services continuously since its founding in 1853. Riding down this country
road gazing out over the blue Pacific, it's comforting to think that this rural area still looks
much as it did for those who worshipped here during the late 19th century. There's a small
graveyard in the middle of the well-manicured lawn. If you do decide to make a side trip
to Kaulanapueo, be warned that the road can often have some deep potholes; be careful if
it's been raining heavily.
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Mile Marker 4.5:
Huelo Lookout fruit stand
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Mile Marker 4.9:
Your first narrow bridge crossing!
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Mile Marker 6.5:
Na'ili'ili haele hike (aka Bamboo Forest)
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Mile Marker 6.7:
Rainbow eucalyptus trees
Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees
Just past the trailhead for the Na'ili'ili haele hike is a grove of rainbow eucalyptus trees,
silently springing from the green pasturelands. One of the most-photographed sights on
the Road to Hana, these trees have bark which drips with pastel hues of red, pink, orange,
green, and gray, as if a painter had taken a brush directly to the bark, with deliberate strokes
running the length of each narrow tree. Unlike trees which have a cork-like bark, rainbow
eucalyptus have a smooth, hard exterior which is constantly going through stages of re-
growth. As a section of tree undergoes exfoliation and sheds a section of bark, the young
wood exposed has a deep green hue. As the new bark ages in the sun, the wood morphs
from green to blue and from purple to orange, eventually dying off once again to reveal the
green growth below, starting the cycle anew. Parking can be found either at the trailhead
for the Na'ili'ili haele hike or at a small pullout for a hunting road a hundred yards past the
trees.
