the road less traveled?

Is it possible to drive around the north end of the island from Ka%26#39;anapali to Paia. We are pretty intrepid and do not mind unpaved or less traveled roads. How long does this route take as opposed to taking the highway?

the road less traveled?

Is it possible? Yes. Is it recommended. No. Do residents wish you to do it? No. If you MUST do it, only do it clockwise so you are on the %26#39;inside%26#39; of the road. It will take much longer than the highway because the road is poor and you are traveling a greater distance.

the road less traveled?

First check with your rental car company, most prohibit a number of roads deemed dangerous...and this one is..

The drive will take about 45 min to an hour LONGER than going south and around to Kahalulu....

I took the road once, in my own 4x4...and had to use it to get through mud....and in one place lost traction even in 4x4.....I would never do it again.

It makes the Road to Hana seem like the Garden State parkway....

The road is one lane, very narrow and cam be subject to flash floods and mud and rock slides... it rains most to the time up there due to heavy weather exposure..

This is one of those things that tempts people to discover the secret places and take high risks. There are some extremely dangerous goat paths that tempt visitors try to climb down the cliffs to the rocky shore.... and it normaly kills 3 to 4 persons a year...who feel they just gott%26#39;a push.

Sections of the road and most all the lands are private, and not state or county maintained...because they dont want the liability.

Rental car companies tell you not to do it and its even in the contract, but we%26#39;ve done it both times we%26#39;ve been to Maui and I almost prefer it to the Hana Hwy. We love it and will be doing it again this April. Like a previous poster said, make sure to do it clockwise.

Its a private road bulit by the locals to get to and from some little villages. They pay to maintain it ..They NOT happy to see you. Each car acts to breakdown this fragile road somewhat...

You will be tresspassing at several points on the road, which is a big deal here...but I guess not in Austin TX.

However it is the height of rude behaviour in Hawaii and why more and more places are being totaly closed to all by locals and state

The road should not be taken for fun and as being more fun than the road to Hana. Maui is not all'; an open amusement park ';for the self indulgent self absorbed visitor

On the rental car...if you have a problem, and violated the contract, which this road does, neither your personal, creditcard, or any other insurance is going to pay.. Its all you....and hawaii is an at fault state...so you are 100% on the hook...

I hope in NY mutual respect and manners are still in vogue

Dan - I%26#39;m puzzled. Although this road was too much of a knuckle buster for me, at exactly what point would I be trespassing while driving this road? Who built and pays for the maintenance of the road? The State? The County? The Villages? How is it ';the height of rude behavior'; to drive this road?

I guess when I looked at the map and decided to give the road a whirl, I never considered that it was ';an open amusement park for me as a self indulgent, self obsorbed visitor';. Actually, the people that we stayed with, who are locals, suggested to us that it would be an enjoyable way to spend a day with lots to see along the way.

Dan writes: ';I hope in NY mutual respect and manners are still in vogue.';

Have you got something against NY? I mean, really. The OP asked a simple question about driving a road that is published on every map you%26#39;ll find of Maui and has been talked about by every travel website %26amp; forum I looked at prior to going to Maui?

I don%26#39;t get it.

Such complete and total misinformation !

There is no benefit to doing this road clockwise so as to be on the inside. For a good part of the road it is only one narrow lane so there is no inside or outside.

Rental car companies do not prohibit travel on this road. Such a prohibition is not in any rental car contract.

This road is partly a state highway and partly a county highway. It is not private. It is not built or maintained by locals. It is maintained by the state and the county.

This is a paved road. There is no mud on the highway unless like any other highway on Maui there is very heavy rain and mud is washed onto the highway. The highway is easily passable by an ordinary car. A four wheel drive is not necessary.

No wonder Schmakes doesn%26#39;t get it !

Enjoy the trip but be careful.

I%26#39;m also curious what parts of the Kahekili Highway are private property? Even looking at the Ready Mapbook I can%26#39;t see any mention of the road being private.

Oops, posted at the same time as Bud. Thanks for clearing that up. I was starting to wonder myself.

There is a video of the Kahekili Highway at this location:

ca.video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1439483%26fr=

Nice find. That segment about 1:40 is the worst portion IMHO. Other than that, it%26#39;s not too bad. But if you meet someone on that narrow portion (and I have more than once) it%26#39;s hair raising in places.

get ride of