Hana Highway Road Ride...from Kipahulu to Kaupo
These are the lower pools of Ohe'o. They are suitable for swimming.
A view of Ohe'o campground in Haleakala National Park. This is a
great place to stay...up to 10 days for free in this very rural setting.
There is no singletrack in the park but one can get a little dirt road
and path riding while here. The access road to the park is fine for
road bikes but once you turn in here, its all dirt. Warning! The surf
here is frequently very rough. Waves come in in "sets" so stay off
the coastline rocks. If you want to swim, do in the fresh water pools
but as I've said before, don't drink the water.
One mile past the Ohe'o campground area (where ther ranger station
is) and on your left is the entrance to the Palapala Hoomau Church,
final resting place for famed aviator Charles Lindbergh. This is a hard
to find place. Look for the church sign by a metal gate. A fruit stand
is about 75' further down the road on the opposite side from the church entrance.
Drive down the church entrance road a few hundred yards and your here.
A small county park can be found here also. Great ocean overlooks.
A view of the south flank of Haleakala.
This is where the backside road ends is southerly run and turns
east toward Kaupo.
Along this "pali" (cliff), the pavement ends between the 37 and 38 mile
marker. The road is not very rough. Many tourist make the complete circle
drive through this part, though the car rental companies forbid it. It
would be a quite rough for skinny tired road bikes but nothing at all
for mountain bikes. Other than a both, sometimes open, Kaupo Store and Aunty Junes
burger stand at Kaupo, there are no services, food and stuff until
you reach Tedeschi Winery (Ulapalakua Ranch Store) about 30 miles away and no fuel until
Kula(40 miles). You better carry a spare tube, pump and patches just in case.
This view looks down the road toward Kaupo.
Looking back toward the pali.
The Kaupo Gap. This feature was cause by erosion not lava flows
as some believe.
Sometimes the road is blocked by cattle. As you head west the dirt
portion of the road ends between the 32 and 33 mile marker. Some of the
"paved" road is rougher than the dirt.
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