Road and Track, May 1st, 2006
Most people visiting Maui hear of the legendary drive to Hana along scenic Highway 360, which in its 35-plus miles from Pa'ia to Hana encompasses 600 curves and 50-some one-lane bridges.
Volvo decided the best way to show off its new C70 retractable hardtop coupe was with a drive on this legendary piece of asphalt--backward. It was a brilliant plan. Not only did the retractable hardtop get a workout (although the 30-second cycle time did seem a bit lengthy when showers quickly turned into downpours), by starting the drive in the morning from Hana, we managed to miss the tourist traffic coming in from the other side of the island. Rather than being trapped in long lines of rental cars, there was ample opportunity for low-speed carving of the tarmac, while keeping eyes sharply peeled for oncoming traffic.
Once in the middle of the island, we were treated to the long sweepers up the Haleakala Volcano and the spectacular (and chilly) vistas that awaited us at 10,000 ft. The downhill run was a bit less spirited--you must keep an eye out for the strings of bicyclists coasting down the mountain.
We were treated to a lazy lunch at one of the best restaurants in Hawaii--Mama's Fish House in Pa'ia--before attacking the 35-mile ribbon of asphalt that wends its away through tropical rainforest and abundant waterfalls back to the hotel, again against the grain of traffic. This turned what would have been a two-hour ordeal into a spirited hour-and-a-quarter dash. That trip is almost as quick as the locals who make the commute regularly and who, through some Zenlike state of which we know nothing, are able to weave their way through the seemingly unending train of rental vehicles. Our reward at the end of the trip was not only an invigorating drive in a fun vehicle, but the peaceful pleasures of the Hotel Hana-Maui that awaited us.
