Best Things to Do in Hana, Maui: Hang Gliding, Waiʻānapanapa, Beaches and More

Choosing what to do in Hana? Make the most of the journey without overscheduling it. Hang Gliding Maui offers powered hang glider and gyrocopter experiences from Hana Airport for eligible visitors aged 12 and older. These are individual flights with an instructor, not cliff-launch hang gliding or simultaneous group flights. Explore our Maui activities guide and flight pricing and options before planning stops along the road.

The best things to do in Hana are easier to enjoy when you treat the day as more than a quick drive. Hana is a small, remote community, and the stops below are all in or near Hana town, so you can build a day around a few meaningful plans instead of racing between roadside pullouts. Rain, road conditions, and ocean conditions can change a schedule quickly, so we suggest starting early and keeping some room to adjust. For the drive itself, see our Road to Hana drive and timing guide.

Powered Hang Gliding From Hana Airport

Important distinction: Hang Gliding Maui’s experience is powered hang gliding, departing from the runway at Hana Airport with an instructor and one guest. It does not involve a cliff launch or an unpowered flight. Gyrocopter flights are another available option.

Practical reservation tip: If you also want to visit Waiʻānapanapa State Park, arrange its nonresident parking and entry reservations independently through the official state reservation website. Book the flight first, then fit roadside stops around your confirmed departure and the park’s reserved time window.

For a view the highway cannot give you, book a flight with us at Hang Gliding Maui. Our flights take off and land at Hana Airport, at 700 Alalele Pl, about three miles northwest of Hana town. You fly in tandem with an instructor, no experience is needed, and we are led by Armin Engert, an FAA Certified Flight Instructor and certified tandem hang gliding pilot. Each aircraft carries one guest and one instructor, so couples fly separately. Flights run 30, 45, or 60 minutes.

Here is what to plan around:

• Weather: We fly in fair weather only, and flights may be rescheduled early on the morning of your flight. Book early in your Hana visit and keep the rest of that day flexible.

• Cameras: Personal cameras and GoPros are not allowed onboard because the propellers are behind you. Photo and video packages are available.

• Details: The aircraft, requirements, and what to wear are in our first-time flyer guide.

Book your flight online or call (808) 264-3287.

Visit Waiʻānapanapa State Park (Reservations Required)

Waiʻānapanapa is known for its black sand, lava rock, and coastal views. The state requires reservations for non-residents, and visitors without one are turned away. According to the state’s official FAQ and park page, Hawaiʻi residents with a valid state ID are exempt, reservations are released 30 days ahead at midnight Hawaiʻi time, and the park opens at 7:00 am. The last reservation is at 6:00 pm, and you must enter by 5:30 pm. Non-residents pay $5 per person for entry (children 3 and under are free) and $10 per vehicle for parking, charged per time slot.

Book atgostateparks.hawaii.gov/waianapanapa, and check the state’sPark Notices page before you go. Park closures and construction updates are listed there. Because the state does not refund for weather unless the park officially closes, think carefully about pairing a timed slot with a same-day flight. Our drive and timing guide covers that.

Explore the Hana Lava Tube (Kaʻeleku Caverns)

The Hana Lava Tube is a self-guided walk through a lava cave on private property, at 205 Ulaino Road. Travel guides place it just past mile marker 31 on Hāna Highway, with a turn onto Ulaino Road. A community business directory lists daily hours of 10:30 am to 4:00 pm, and guides describe the walk as about 30 to 40 minutes. Admission is commonly listed at about $15 per person with a flashlight included. Wear sturdy shoes, since the cave floor is rough. Call (808) 248-7308 to confirm hours and pricing before you visit.

Spend Time at Hana Bay, Hamoa Beach, and Koki Beach

The beaches near Hana can look calm from shore and behave very differently in the water. Lifeguard coverage in East Maui is minimal, so plan as if none is on duty.

• Hana Bay (Hana Beach Park): A black-sand beach on Keawa Place in a protected bay, generally considered the calmest swimming on this coast when the ocean is quiet.

• Hamoa Beach: A gray-sand crescent on Haneoo Road with restrooms, showers, and roadside parking. Swimming and bodysurfing can be good in calm conditions, but strong surf and currents occur. When the ocean says no, it is still a beautiful place to sit on the sand.

• Koki Beach: A scenic red-sand beach on Haneoo Road. Guides advise against swimming here because of rip currents, shorebreak, and high waves.

Heed posted signs, never swim alone, and skip the water if you are unsure.

Slow Down in Hana Town

Hana town rewards an unhurried stop.

• Hasegawa General Store: A family-run Hana institution at 5165 Hana Highway, operating since 1910. It is a handy place for snacks and supplies. Call (808) 248-8231 to confirm current hours.

• Hana Cultural Center & Museum: At 4974 Uakea Road, with local artifacts and an 1871 courthouse. The center is volunteer-run, so hours are limited and can shift. Call (808) 248-8622 before you go. Admission is by donation, according to local guides.

Going Farther? Kīpahulu and the Pīpīwai Trail

Kīpahulu, in Haleakalā National Park, is roughly 10 to 12 miles past Hana town, so treat it as its own half day. Entry is $30 per private vehicle, valid for three days, according to the National Park Service. The 4-mile round-trip Pīpīwai Trail leads through a bamboo forest to 400-foot Waimoku Falls, and the Kūloa Point Trail overlooks the pools at ʻOheʻo Gulch. Swimming in the pools is not allowed, so plan on viewing them. CheckNPS alerts for trail status before the long drive, because heavy rain has closed parts of the trail in the past.

How Should You Plan for Rain and Changing Conditions?

Hana sits on Maui’s windward side, where trade-wind showers occur year-round. Rain is generally heavier from November through March, and it can make trails muddy and stream crossings hazardous. Hāna Highway has also been restricted to local traffic during storms and landslides, so check theCounty of Maui road closures page before you drive out.

Keep one lower-impact option in mind for rainy stretches. The lava tube and the Hana Cultural Center are good candidates.

What Does a Flexible Hana Day Look Like?

• Fly first, while you have the most flexibility if your flight needs to move.

• Add lower-pressure stops afterward, such as the lava tube and Hana Town.

• Visit a beach only if the ocean looks calm and the signs allow it.

• Book Waiʻānapanapa for a different day, or choose a slot with real margin.

Book Your Flight From Hana Airport

If you want a Hana plan that is memorable and not rushed, start with the flight and build the day around it. Book your flight online, call (808) 264-3287, or contact us with questions about timing and availability.

Questions About Things to Do in Hana

What are the best things to do in Hana, Maui?

Popular choices include a tandem hang gliding flight from Hana Airport, Waiʻānapanapa State Park, the Hana Lava Tube, Hana Bay and Hamoa Beach in calm conditions, and Hana Town. Kīpahulu and the Pīpīwai Trail are a longer add-on past town.

Do you need reservations in Hana?

Non-residents need a reservation for Waiʻānapanapa State Park. Check ahead for everything else, and confirm flight times with us.

Can you swim near Hana?

Sometimes. Hana Bay and Hamoa Beach can be good in calm conditions, but lifeguard coverage is minimal, and Koki Beach is not recommended for swimming. The pools at ʻOheʻo Gulch are closed to swimming.

Where does the hang gliding flight take off?

All of our flights take off and land at Hana Airport, at 700 Alalele Pl, Hana, HI 96713.