The Hana-Maui Resort is a remote luxury property located at the end of the Road to Hana on the windward side of Maui, offering 66 rooms across 66 acres of rainforest and oceanfront land. According to reports from UPROXX, the resort emphasizes a “quiet” experience, eschewing modern distractions like in-room televisions, clocks, and radios to preserve a traditional Hawaiian atmosphere.
Established in 1946 as a working cattle ranch that provided cottages for paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys) and travelers, the property has maintained its historical plantation-style architecture. The resort is situated in the town of Hana, which has a population of approximately 1,600 people. Guests can access the property via the famous scenic drive or through a small-plane shuttle from Kahului.
Accommodations and Room Types
The resort features a variety of lodging options designed to blend with the natural landscape. Garden View Rooms serve as the entry-level option, offering partial views and traditional wood beams. For those seeking more direct access to the coast, Ocean View and Oceanfront Bungalows are detached, plantation-style units. These bungalows feature vaulted wood-beam ceilings, king beds, wet bars, and private lanais. The oceanfront versions are approximately 600 square feet and some include private hot tubs on the lanai, as detailed by UPROXX.
For larger groups or longer stays, the property offers Suites and Waikoloa Villas. While the oceanfront suites provide premium real estate and additional sitting areas, the Waikoloa Villas are condo-style units located upcountry near the property’s pitch-and-putt course, featuring full kitchens. Recent updates to the rooms include refreshed furniture and modern Hawaiian wood touches, though the resort maintains a focus on natural sounds and materials over high-tech amenities.
Dining and Local Cuisine
On-site dining is centered at The Restaurant, an open-air, bayside venue overlooking Kauiki Hill. According to UPROXX, the resort currently focuses its in-house dining on breakfast service. A signature offering is the Mochiko Pancakes, made with sweet glutinous rice flour, which creates a texture described as a “cloud” inside with crispy edges. Other notable breakfast items include the Papaya Boat—filled with granola, yogurt, and berries—and the Hana Breakfast Plate, which includes eggs, kalua pork, and rice.
Because the resort does not currently provide full dinner service, guests typically rely on local establishments in Hana. The Hana Ranch Restaurant is a primary partner for dinner, while a cluster of food carts near the Hasegawa General Store serves as the town’s “restaurant row.” Braddah Hutts BBQ Grill is noted as one of the most popular options in this area.
Resort Amenities and Wellness
The property’s centerpiece is an oceanfront infinity pool situated above the lawn, offering views of the Pacific and ʻĀlau Island. This pool is designed without windbreaks or piped music to keep guests connected to the sound of the surf hitting the black lava rocks below. Additionally, the resort features a whirlpool carved from actual lava rock.
Wellness services are concentrated at The Spa at Travaasa, which includes nine treatment rooms, a eucalyptus steam room, a cold plunge, and a jetted tub overlooking Hana Bay (Kapueokahi). The spa offers traditional lomi-lomi massage. The wellness center also provides daily yoga, meditation, and sound baths using crystal bowls, as well as a fitness room equipped with Peloton bikes.
Recreational facilities include:
- A three-hole pitch-and-putt course overlooking the bay.
- Two tennis courts.
- Guided coastal walks, hiking, and cycling.
- Cultural programming such as lei making, lauhala weaving, hula, coconut painting, and feather flower work.
- A complimentary shuttle for transport around the property and to local beaches.
The resort is pet-friendly, allowing up to two pets with a combined weight of 75 lbs for a $100 fee, according to UPROXX.
Local Attractions and the “Reverse” Road to Hana
Within a short walk of the resort, guests can visit Kapueokahi (Hana Bay Beach Park), known for its gray sand and calmer waters. This area is located near Kauiki Head, recognized as the birthplace of Queen Kaʻahumanu. Another nearby destination is Hamoa Beach, a crescent-shaped stretch of salt-and-pepper sand backed by 30-foot sea cliffs. James Michener once described Hamoa as the most perfect crescent beach in the Pacific.
For those exploring further, Waiʻānapanapa State Park is located ~~~15~~~ minutes from the resort. The park is famous for its black sand beach, lava tubes, sea caves, and a blowhole. It is important to note that out-of-state visitors are required to make reservations for the park, which often sell out in advance.
A strategic recommendation for visiting the area is to “drive the road backward.” According to UPROXX, by flying into Hana and staying at the resort first, travelers can drive the Road to Hana back out the next day. This allows visitors to experience the waterfalls and scenic pullouts in the opposite direction of the primary rental car traffic, which typically peaks around 10 a.m.
Visitor Information and Planning
Because Hana is located in a rainforest pocket, visitors are advised to pack light rain gear.
For those visiting during the winter months, humpback whales can be seen in the channel from December through April. Due to the remote nature of the East Maui coast, cell service is often spotty, and the town’s pace is significantly slower than the resort areas of Wailea or Kapalua.
Travelers should be aware that most non-local goods are imported and can be expensive. The only thing open in town past sundown is the resort’s tiny bar.
Visitors are encouraged to check current reservation requirements for Waiʻānapanapa State Park before arrival to avoid being turned away at the gate.
Share your experiences with the Road to Hana or ask questions about planning your trip in the comments below.
Worth a look