The drive around the north side of West Maui is absolutely breathtaking - in some ways more impressive than the Hana Highway, which gets much more publicity.
From Kapalua to Wailuku you pass some of the most rugged coastline in the world and view lovely beaches and bays which are not well known or frequented. Read more about West Maui's Rugged North Shore.
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West side Maui is a lot prettier drive to me – because you can see a whole lot more. It’s much more open and you can see down into the small bays and even little towns.
The road to Hana is just filled with green. In fact, that’s all I remember the entire trip… looking at the amazing greenery… and occasional glimpses of the ocean far below the road.
I strongly recommend a drive around the west side of the island – Jeep not necessary, but it’s more enjoyable!