| Hana (literally Work), is set in rolling hills
descending to Hana Bay. Many Pastures surround the town,
these belong to Hana Ranch. (with Perhaps the happiest
cows on earth). In the 1800's Hana was a plantation
town with a small Sugar Plantation, As sugar became a
failing crop in the 1940's the San Francisco
Industrialist Paul Fagan purchased the Hana Ranch
consisting of 14,000 acres of prime cattle pasture. Fagan
built the Hotel Hana Maui which opened in 1946. On April
1, 1946 and earthquake in Alaska sent huge tidal waves
into the Hana coast, wiping out villages and washing away
many people. Hana recovered but never forgot the tragedy.
The world famous Hasegawa General Store is in Hana
town, although not the original, (the store was set
ablaze in the fall of 1990), it still has much of the
charm and funky feel that the original had. Hasegawa's
has been in operation since 1910. The store even had a
famous song written about it.. Harry knows exactly where
everything is without using fancy computers he just knows
every item in the store. I marvel at his use of shelf
space...right next to the Johnnie Walker red is the Motor
oil and Grease. you can find anything from Machete's to
T-Shirts, Ukulele's to computer discs.
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Across from the Hotel Hana Maui is a stone cross
erected in memory of Paul Fagan who died in 1960. It is
possible to hike to the top of Lyon's hill as long as the
gate is open.
Hana although small has a Cultural
Center, Art galleries, Historical Churches, and
many beaches and waterfalls to explore. Most Visitors
simply drive through on their way to the pools of Ohe`o
also known as the "Seven Sacred Pools". Just
before Hana is the National Tropical Botanical garden,
with the Piilanihale heiau, Hawaii's largest,
and one of the oldest heiau's on the Islands.
Hana also has a small airport just outside of town,
complete with car rentals.
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