Hana
The town centers on its lovely circular bay, dominated on the right-hand shore by a pu'u called Ka'uiki. A short trail here leads to a cave, the birthplace of Queen Ka'ahumanu. Two miles beyond town another pu'u presides over a loop road that passes Hana's two best beaches -- Koki and Hamoa. The hill is called Ka Iwi O Pele (Pele's Bone). This area is rich in Hawaiian history and legend. Offshore here, at tiny 'Alau Island, the demigod Maui supposedly fished up the Hawaiian islands.
Although sugar was once the mainstay of Hana's economy, the last plantation shut down in the '40s. In 1946 rancher Paul Fagan built the Hotel Hana-Maui and stocked the surrounding pastureland with cattle. Suddenly, it was the ranch and its hotel that were putting food on most tables. The cross you'll see on the hill above the hotel was put there in memory of Fagan.
For many years, the Hotel Hana-Maui was the only attraction for diners and shoppers determined to spend some time and money in Hana after their long drive. Now, the Hana Cultural Center Museum (Ukea St.PHONE: 808/248-8622) also helps to meet that need. Besides operating a well-stocked gift shop, it displays artifacts, quilts, a replica of an authentic kauhale (an ancient Hawaiian living complex, with thatch huts and food gardens), and other Hawaiiana. The knowledgeable staff can explain it all to you.
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Maui. You can tell from the trucks parked every which way alongside the road that this is a favorite local surf spot. more ›
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Maui. Be humbled as you trek down into Haleakala National Park's massive bowl and see proof of how very powerful the earth's exhalations can be. more ›
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Maui. Guided tours with Maui Cave Adventures lead amateur spelunkers into a system of gigantic lava tubes, accentuated by colorful underworld formations. more ›
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Maui. Windsurfers, kiteboarders, joggers, and picnicking families like this long, golden strip of sand bordered by a wide grassy area with lots of shade. more ›
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Maui. Kapalua was once named the "world's nicest beach." more ›
Island: Maui
Address: Hana Hwy., mile marker 35, HI
Source: Fodor's