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The Road to Hana- The second Half

Even more exciting than the first half is the second half of the road to Hana. You'll pass fruit stands offering fruits and homemade goodies as you approach the town of Wailua. If you are hungry for a snack, this is the place to stop.

The first stop on this second half of this journey is Our Lady of Fatima Shrine. The little blue and white chapel was built back in the 1860s. This church has an existing congregation, but they no longer use this chapel as the current sanctuary.

The caverns of Ka'eleku is another site you can't miss. Lava eruptions from ancient volcanoes formed underground caves that you can actually explore in. You will probably need a four wheel drive vehicle to access this one. The Kahanu garden is a botanical garden located on the road to Hana. It is maintained by National Conservation. Just past the botanical garden are the sacred pools for your next stop. They offer a natural water park of sorts. The spectacular view will be unlike anything that you've ever seen before.

The Wai'anapanapa State Park is near the top of the mountain almost to Hana. The park has two caves that you can walk through through and is set on an impressive black sand beach. Be careful because they lead to the ocean. Supposedly, the snorkeling opportunities are good here, but I wouldn't know. There are several signs warning would be swimmers of unusually large man of war, strong rip currents and sharks. Hmm, maybe I'll sit this one out!

Now get back in your car, for the next stop, Hana. Considering all the gorgeous stops along the way, Hana isn't particularly spectacular, but it's still worth a stop. There are a couple of little caf 's that make for a good place to have lunch. There is a pier on the beach that's worth a quick stroll. Hana even has an airport. Most people would head back to the resort areas, though you do have the option to stay in one of Hana's few lodging areas.

Most people will drive back the way the came, perhaps stopping at a few of the places that they might have missed along the way. If you're brave, you may continue onward. This will require a four wheel drive vehicle. You will drive along a dirt path that could be called a road, but it's extremely winding and curvy, along the top of a cliff with no guard rails to protect motorist from falling hundreds of feet into the ocean below.

This is a one-lane road, so signs instruct drivers to honk in case there is oncoming traffic. It is a little bit scary, but thrilling at the same time and the view is unbelievable. You'll be treated to cow pastures on one side and ocean views on the other for a few miles before you're back to civilization.

You can get a detailed map complete with a C.D. from your concierge or even the gas station. The map will give specific mile marker indications, allowing even the most lost prone driver to find these breathtaking sights.

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