Hāna

Most travelers who find their way to Hāna discover it to be a place of intense beauty, the centerpiece of an exquisite natural garden that stretches along Maui's eastern coast, from the taro farming community of Keanae to the quiet splendor of Kīpahulu's rolling landscape on the southern tip of Maui. It is indeed a mystical place, with an echoing presence of ancient gods and goddesses acting out the dramas that were to form and shape so much of the Hawaiian world view.

Long the favored land of Hawaiian ali`i (royalty), Hāna remains the destination of choice for those seeking the experience of "old Hawaii."

The long and winding, breathtakingly beautiful Hāna Highway seems to shield the tiny community from the fads and fancies of the "outside" world. Let the tourist seeking convention and convenience be forewarned, Hāna is without many, if not most, of the "trappings" of modern civilization.

There are no shopping malls, golf courses, nightclubs or high rise resorts. Instead, visitors, like the local residents, "make do" with the likes of Hasegawa General Store, Hāna Ranch Store, and the Hāna Ranch Restaurant. Make sure to check out the Hāna Farmers Market every Friday afternoon. Hāna is not for everyone, but for those looking romantic seclusion and with a taste for adventure, it can be paradise found.

Overnight guests will find accommodations to suit most needs and budgets, ranging from intimate inns and quiet retreats such as the Bamboo Inn, to the world famous Travassa Hāna. Camping facilities are available at Waianapanapa State Park (permit required) and Haleakalā National Park in Kīpahulu.

Tune in to KOKO FM, our own Hawaiian music radio station featuring many local musicians, at 96.3 FM in Hana Town, and streaming online worldwide at kokolp.org.

--John Romain, Bamboo Inn, Ltd.
© 2000, All rights reserved

All photos by Mitchio Yamamoto