Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ka'eleku Caverns
As you make your way from Nahiku Marketplace, the first set of sights you'll encounter
are a few miles before “downtown” Hana. At mile marker 31 you'll see the signs for
Ka'eleku Caverns
(808/248-7307,
www.mauicave.com
,
10:30am-4pm daily, $12.50/per-
son). Turn down 'Ula'ino Road to visit this subterranean network of lava tubes, the 18th
largest in the world and the only lava tubes on Maui that are navigable and open to the
public. You can walk upright all the way, so no kneeling or crawling is involved, and there
are no mosquitoes or bats! The underground network of tunnels runs for over two miles.
As lava surged through these tubes, it scored the walls. Benches and ledges were left where
lava cooled faster on the periphery than in the middle. Cave explorers are given a flash-
light to examine the stalactite-encrusted surroundings. On your way out, navigate your
way through the maze of red
ti
leaves which create the only such maze found anywhere on
the planet. Walking the caverns at an average pace will take about 30 minutes. There are
no garbage cans or restrooms, so pack out your trash.
MM
Kahanu Garden and Pi'ilanihale
Heiau
On 'Ula'ino Road, the pavement gradually gives way to dirt road leading to
Kahanu
Garden
(808/248-8912,
www.ntbg.org
, 9am-2pm Mon.-Sat., $10). This 464-acre property
is in Honoma'ele, an area ceded in 1848 to Chief Kahanu by King Kamehameha III. The
land has remained largely unchanged since the days of ancient Hawai'i. The sprawling gar-
dens focuses on plant species that are integral parts of Polynesian culture. You're greeted
by a massive grove of
ulu
(breadfruit), which come thundering to earth with a telltale
crash. There are also groves of bananas, coconuts, taro, sweet potato, sugarcane, and 'awa.
A self-guided tour details the history of these plants and the uses they had for native
Polynesians.
Towering
Pi'ilanihale
Heiau
,
a massive, multi-tiered stone structure, is the largest re-
maining
heiau
in the state of Hawai'i. The walls stretch over 50 feet high in some places
and the stone platforms are the size of two professional football fields. Multiple archae-
ological surveys have determined that the temple was most likely built in stages and dates
back as far as the 14th century.
•
Mile Marker 31.2:
Hana Farms banana bread stand and clay-oven pizza
•
Mile Marker 31.4:
Turnoff for Hana Airport
•
Mile Marker 32:
Turnoff for Wai'anapanapa State Park
