Hana Town to West Maui, via the Back Road to Hana and Upcountry Maui

Start the day off right with a proper, sit-down island breakfast at Hana Ranch Restaurant, which features lovely dining room views overlooking the ocean. There's a lot more of that curvaceous road to cover before lunch is anywhere in the picture, so make sure to order something that will keep you tided over — now would be a good time to try a typical Hawaiian "loco moco" plate, or the Hawaiian Ranch Breakfast Plate (with three types of breakfast meat, including grilled Spam) — or what about savory saimin noodles, another Hawaiian specialty?

At Mile Marker #44.8, you can't miss these dramatic falls, cascading through lush jungle landscapes from 80 feet above. For once, there's ample parking — which is a good thing, as Wailua Falls are among the most popular stops along the Road to Hana. If you feel it's too busy, hang out for a few, as you'll be surprised at how quickly crowds move along.

Somewhat incredibly, this stretch of road is another side of the Haleakalā National Park — yes, one and the same as where you watched the sunrise two days ago.
In total, the Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls is four miles round trip, ascending through lush jungle and bamboo forest to the base of the 400-foot Waimoku Falls. It's pretty much guaranteed to be wet and muddy and requires 3 to 4 hours — so make sure you have the right gear if you plan to try for the further falls, and get an earlier start to the day.
That being said, a much more manageable highlight is the Falls at Makahiku at about the 0.5 mile point of the trail — so a 1-mile hike, round trip. There's a beautiful Banyan tree just a bit further, that's worth pressing on to see, as well, and of course the cascading Pools of Oheo are quite lovely to experience. It's a fitting bookend to that sunrise just 52 hours ago.

Presuming travel and aviation is of interest, it's worth a very slight detour to see where one of the great American explorers of the 20th Century is laid to rest. (It's also quite interesting to see how Hawaiian cemeteries are arranged — you won't ever see so much lava rock or lush, tropical foliage back home.) Take a moment to pay regards, and let's move along.

It's not worth stopping, per se, but keep a close eye out, because after you cross over the Alelele Bridge, curve towards the coast, and curve away from the coast again, you're approaching the exit of Haleakalā National Park and have also officially reached the terminus of the Road to Hana, also known as Highway 360.
The transition is marked by the tiny Kalepa Bridge. The next stretch of road, Pi’ilani Highway (Highway 31), is also called "the Back Road to Hana." The terrain will transition quite quickly into something dramatically different than the lush tropical landscapes of the last 30 hours. Drive vigilantly: there are some very narrow, blind curves ahead.

If you need water, cool drinks, snacks, the errant oddity or souvenir — this is your last shot at civilization for a stretch, and a quirky one it is. Make a brief pit-stop at Kaupo General Store if you need to; otherwise, time to cover some ground on what's quite a rugged, windswept, desolate country road. (And a bit thrilling, for all of the same reasons.)

At this point in the day's drive, with all of those harrowing curves and desolate stretches of road in the rearview, it's time for lunch, with a side of cultural lore. Ulupalakua Ranch Store is actually on the property of one of Maui's largest present-day working ranches, and a destination where you can actually learn more about the cultural and historical context of paniolos, Hawaiian cowboys, who actively still work on the Ranch today. (Albeit, their "horses" are now motorized quads.)
Ulupalakua Ranch Store is a treasure of Maui's Upcountry; the fact that you've arrived means you're about halfway back to beachfront civilization. Naturally, the Ranch Grill is committed to serving only Ranch-raised beef and other locally-sourced produce and proteins, which includes lamb, elk, and venison, too. Build your own burger with any number of "Upcountry Additions," like grilled Maui pineapple, caramelized onions, housemade kimchi, or Portuguese sausage. Or else, you can customize your own plate lunch.
Also on Ranch property, the MauiWine tasting room offers a chance to learn about the only working winery on the island of Maui (closed Mondays). Advance reservations are recommended, although you may be able to snag them just by booking while you're across the way at lunch.

A delightful little farm stand in Maui's Upcountry that is always decked out for the different seasons, if you're interested, Kula Country Farms is one last stop to shop all of the wonderful, locally-made food products that you can take home (and agricultural customs won't be upset about it). Otherwise, keep your directions pointed onwards down the mountain.

It would be a shame to drive past such a delicious, homestyle establishment as Leoda's Kitchen and Pie Shop and at least not stop in for a coffee and to sample one of the decadent, individual-serving pies. While availability varies, you're bound to find at least a few of the classics in the case — banana or coconut cream pie, chocolate mac nut pie, guava chiffon pie (to name a few). Indulge here or order to-go for a sweet treat this evening.

The largest plant species endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, koa trees are synonymous with native Hawaiian culture. These same trees are what early Hawaiians used to sculpt their ocean-faring canoes, and for centuries have fashioned into homewares; koa trees even served as the wood for some of the earliest Hawaiian surfboards. Due to invasive species, koa forests occupy just a fraction of the land they once did across the islands—and even then, they're rarely ever so prominently growing just along the roadside.

One of the most resort-concentrated stretches of Maui coastline, there's a reason why hotel options are so plentiful here: Kaanapali Beach is absolutely stunning, and the sunsets are are sublime. Resorts in the area include Westin, Marriott, and Hyatt options, to name a few. Look at booking a resort north of the Whalers Village retail complex for something a little less in the center of it all.
After such a busy few days of exploration, you couldn't land in a better Maui location for a few well-earned beach and leisure days. In addition to some of Maui's most well-known beaches, golf courses, too, are plentiful in and around Kaanapali, as are restaurants and shopping destinations. It's more touristic than some of the sides of Maui you've seen on this road trip, but a perfectly lovely destination to experience Hawaiian resort life at its finest.
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Once you've settled into your resort property and had the chance to freshen up for dinner, a relaxed meal at the Maui outpost of the iconic Duke's Restaurant on Waikiki is definitely a good idea. Slip back into resort vacation mode while recapping your adventures over a glass of wine or a classic Hawaiian cocktail, plus some Hawaiian apps, salads, or entrees. It may already feel like a bit of a dream, but yes, in fact, you just Did It All.