 Hana is about as pretty a town as you will find anywhere in Hawaii. The town is built on rolling hills that descend to Hana Bay; much of the surrounding lands are given over to pasture, while trim cottages the town's streets. Before the Europeans arrived, Hana was a stronghold that was conquered and reconquered by the kings of Maui. The most strategic and historically laden spot is Ka'uiki Hill, the remnant of a cinder cone that dominates Hana Bay. The area is steeped in Hawaiian legend, and old stories relate that it was the demigod Maui's favorite spot. It's said that he transformed his daughter's lover into Ka'uiki Hill and turned her into the gentle rains that bathe it to this day.
Kipahulu – Ten miles south of Hana is where Charles Lindbergh is buried in the back yard of the Palapala Hoomau Congregational Church. The highway between Kipahulu and Hana is beautiful. You can stop and swim in the Venus Pool, one of the largest freshwater pools on the island; visit the Paihi, Wailua, and Pua’a-lu’u Falls; and play in the Seven Sacred Pools (‘Ohe’o Gulch). These pools are located where the enormous Kipahulu Valley meets the sea. There are really a few dozen pools, not just seven, and a visitor center. If you want take a walk there is a short one-mile hike to the Bamboo Forest and a longer hike to the upper pools and a fantastic waterfall.
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