The Highway to Heaven!

Although the Road to Hana is often called the Highway to Heaven, the name didn’t always fit.  The road was first built in 1926 from volcanic rock cinder by the Keanae prison gang, but the loose cinder was too weak for the heavy rains of the North Shore.  For a long time when locals would reach a washed out portion of the road, they would simply wade through and switch with a friend on the other side!  However, since the road was the only way to reach the rest of Maui from Hana, consistent improvements were made over the years until 1962 when the Road to Hana was finally paved with asphalt.  After a few more improvements, it was officially the Highway to Heaven! Check with Hana Picnic Co for more information on this and other interesting stories about the Road to Hana!