You will certainly find breathtaking natural beauty wherever you look across the Hawaiian Islands, and the best way to witness these incredible views for yourself is to take a drive along one of the best scenic drives in Hawaii. Living in the shadow of Maui’s famous Hana Highway is the island’s Kahekili Highway – a road just as pretty and perhaps even more dangerous than its famous neighbor. This is easily the loneliest road in Hawaii, and it is an absolute must-visit for anyone who loves long, winding drives along the coast.

Meandering along Maui’s northwestern coast, Kahekili Highway, also known as County Route 240, is notoriously narrow and winding, especially on the stretch of highway between mile markers 6.9 and 16.3, where the changeover from state to county maintenance occurs in Maui, Hawaii.
Intiaz Rahim/Flickr
Far less travelled than most highways on Hawaii, Kahekili Highway stretches between Honokohai and Waihe’e, serves as the back door to west Maui, and is home to such points of interest as Honokohau Bay, Nakalele Blowhole and Kahakuloa Head. This is one epic road trip with a stunning array of unforgettable attractions.
Intiaz Rahim/Flickr
The views around every turn are picture-worthy.
David Fulmer/Flickr
The road is marginally maintained, features several blind turns and one-lane bridges, and is often only wide enough for one car to traverse at a time between rock walls on one side and sheer cliff drop-offs on the other. You’ll have to pay close attention as you travel along the Kahekili Highway.
David Fulmer/Flickr
On many tourist maps, Kahekili is marked as though it’s any other state road, but it’s not: the cliff-hugging road with no guardrails may seem like a faster route from Kapalua to Kahului, but it is most certainly not, at least not in terms of drive time. The killer turns encourage a much slower pace than traveling on a larger highway.
Intiaz Rahim/Flickr

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You see, Kahekili is not exactly a highway, as speed limits are often capped at a mere 15 miles per hour. This is for your safety, and we’re grateful for it.
Catchpenny/Flickr
Besides, at 15 miles per hour, you have a chance to really soak in the views you’ll come across on one of the most beautiful drives in Hawaii.
Intiaz Rahim/Flickr
This is about as remote as it gets on Hawaii, and while the views of the rugged and undeveloped west Maui landscapes are second to none, this highway is not for the faint of heart, nor for aggressive and impatient drivers, or those afraid of steep drop-offs and heights.
Intiaz Rahim/Flickr
Some rental car companies won’t even let you drive this road, but if they do, be sure to rent a small vehicle - a truck or van would be a nightmare. It is also advised that you never drive on Kahekili Highway after dark, or when it has been raining, as visibility and road conditions become poor. Make sure to practice common sense when traveling on an unknown road like this one.
David Fulmer/Flickr
The drive is not only treacherous and terrifying, but perhaps one of the most adventurous and picturesque as well - and it’s sure to get your adrenaline pumping. This is one epic adventure that you won’t ever forget!
Intiaz Rahim/Flickr

Do you think this is one of the best scenic drives in Hawaii? What do you think of this road? Would you drive it if you haven’t yet? Let us know in the comments below!

Love Hawaii’s scenic highways? Be sure to add these 15 breathtaking scenic drives across the islands to your Hawaii bucket list.

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More to Explore

Best Scenic Drives In Hawaii

Megan McDonald | July 05, 2021

What is the most dangerous road in Hawaii?

The beautiful Kahekili Highway is the most dangerous road in all of the Hawaiian islands. With steep drop offs, narrow driving, and unpaved, sometimes treacherous driving conditions, rental car companies refuse to rent cars that travel along this beautiful but dangerous road. If you do travel it, it’s advised to do it during excellent weather and with a four wheel drive vehicle.

Are many of Hawaii’s roads in bad condition?

Hawaii is actually known for having the third worst roads in the entire United States of America. This is primarily due to heavy rains and thin asphalt, which can wear down the roads quickly, leading to potholes and washouts. The well maintained roads in Hawaii are frequently congested, and not large enough to handle the amount of traffic that comes through the area. Hawaii has a unique set of circumstances where even rising shorelines can eradicate existing road systems, contributing to the overall problem. 

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Featured Addresses
Kahekili Highway, Kahekili Hwy, Wailuku, HI 96793, USA