Hana Highway - The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips - page 227

2. Twin Falls
About two miles beyond the point where Rte. 36 becomes Rte. 360, a short trail leads to a
pool fed by this pair of waterfalls. It is in this area, too, that the highway begins to curve
crazily, snaking along the lower slopes of the sleeping giant Haleakala, a volcano whose
highest point crests at 10,023 feet.
The Hana Highway follows a narrow trail blazed by ancient Hawaiians. Later, convicts
used shovels to widen the route, and some decades after that, it was finally paved. Despite
these improvements, the road retains a well-deserved reputation for being challen-
ging—indeed, about three hours are required to navigate its 52 serpentine miles.
From Twin Falls onward, a technicolor world lines the highway, which enters an en-
chanted realm adorned with vibrant greenery, misty waterfalls, and pristine pools. More
than 50 bridges—many just one lane wide—span the terrain's many gorges, and the views
occasionally open to reveal seascapes of the blue Pacific Ocean and dark sand beaches that
lie below. Wild orchids and fragrant yellow ginger blossoms are among the plants that em-
blazon the roadside. The jungle grows so dense that in places a green canopy arches above
the roadway.
3. Huelo
Serene save for a few squawking roosters, the small community of Huelo, with its tiny
Kaulanapueo Church, stands brightly against the blue backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Con-
structed of coral in 1853, the New England-style church features an austere interior, com-
plete with the original pews.
TheHanaHighwaythenleadstoWaikomoiRidge,whereanaturetrailzigzagsthrough
a forest of bamboo. Just down the road at Puohokamoa Falls, you can picnic beside a
30-foot casacade that tumbles into a rock-lined pool. Yet another waterfall and swimming
hole lie nearby, but the unmarked trail that leads to them is precarious and often slippery.
4. Kaumahina State Wayside Park
Thiswaysideparkisnotonlypractical,offeringrestroomsandpicnictables,butalsobeau-
tiful, with a lush tangle of native plants. Dazzling, too, is the overlook, which provides a
panorama of the rugged coastline and Honomanu Bay.