Published by: John C. Derrick
Founder & certified Hawaii travel expert with 20+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.
Recent Road to Hana Congestion
Popular drive on Maui continues to see high volume of visitors
Last Updated: October 2, 2024
The popular Road to Hana on Maui is undisputedly the number one visitor attraction on the island. But as the pandemic restrictions further wind down, with travelers returning to Maui in record numbers, the high volume of visitors on the Hana Highway is causing problems for residents and local authorities, including law enforcement and emergency services.
The high volume of traffic from the influx of visitors has lead the county of Maui and its Mayor to seek various solutions to mitigate the problems, including the possibility of a new shuttle system, imposing new restrictions on the Highway's traffic, the HTA asking travelers to visit the Hana Highway by using a tour company (links included below), and other measures.
This post will be updated with additional information. Below is a summary of the information we've collected so far on this developing issue.
No parking signs installed
The HDOT previously announced in a press release in June 2021, that it had installed approximately 70 "no parking" signs on the Hana Highway, warning drivers about the $35 no parking fine and a $200 surcharge for illegally stopping on a state highway, to reduce illegal parking along the Hana Highway.
The following locations (some of which we do not include on our website for safety reasons or due to the access over/on private property) now have 'No Parking' signs located in areas the county has deemed unacceptable and/or unsafe for road side parking. These locations include:
- Bamboo Forest (located on private property)
- Ching's Pond Bridge (located on private property)
- Hanawi Stream Bridge & Falls
- Pua'a Ka'a State Park
- Twin Falls (parking limits now additionally in effect)
- Waikamoi Stream Bridge
- Waikani Stream Bridge
Mitigating the impacts of high traffic volume on the Hana Highway
In the summer of 2021, as Maui tourism numbers initially rebounded from pandemic lows, the Hawaii Tourism Authority sent out a press release regarding the high volume of traffic currently seen on the Hana Highway (Road to Hana). Below is a portion of their press release we wanted to share, to bring your attention to current conditions.
"The scenic road to Hana, officially known as Hana Highway, is one of the top points of interest for visitors to Maui, which has resulted in traffic congestion caused in part by illegal parking and unsafe pedestrian crossing along the highway. To help alleviate the situation for Hana residents, the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) continues to work with Maui County officials and other state agencies and is also strongly advising visitors to join a tour from a permitted tour company instead of driving on their own or visiting other areas on Maui."
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John De Fries, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority recently said, "We take seriously, the concerns brought forth by the residents of Hana and East Maui surrounding the impact of visitors in their community, especially along this main thoroughfare for which they rely on, and are committed to addressing them through viable solutions."
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HTA, in partnership with the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau, encourages visitors to experience the road to Hana through a permitted tour led by professional guides. HTA has posted a list of tour operators with excursions to Hana on its website via the link directly above.
News & Headlines Related to Recent Congestion
- Shuttle bus service in the works to curb Hana traffic
- DOT suggests buying the Road to Hana in order to control overcrowding
- Maui County mayor working with the state to come up with solutions for Hana Highway congestion
- To alleviate congestion on Hana Highway, HTA asks visitors to travel with tour companies
- East Maui residents overwhelmed by influx of visitors, traffic
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