Tacos & Thai near Kahanu Garden & Hāna AirportBig heiau, big appetite.
The red truck is in Hāna town near the Hana Ranch Store: 19 minutes to Kahanu Garden by Ulaino Road, 12 minutes to the airport by Alalele Road.
Photo: Piʻilanihale Heiau: Joel Bradshaw, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
From Kaʻeleku & airport to the truck
Kahanu Garden & Hāna Airport to lunch.
Kaʻeleku is the district that holds both Kahanu Garden and Hāna Airport.
The red taco truck sits back in Hāna town, near the Hana Ranch Store at 5124 Hana Hwy.
Order at the window, then eat at the picnic tables under the big shade trees.
Tacos and burritos come from the taco side, and pad thai, curries and coconut shrimp plates come from Ae’s Thai Kitchen.
Drive to the truck
12–19 min4.3–5.2 mi
Route
Hāna Highway, Alalele Road, Ulaino Road
The trucks
5124 Hana HwyNear the Hana Ranch Store
Crispy pork belly basil stir-fry with long beansAbout Kaʻeleku & airport
Know the place before you go.
Kahanu Garden and Preserve is one of five gardens of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, established in 1972.
Piʻilanihale Heiau, about 3 acres, is a National Historic Landmark believed to be the largest heiau in the Hawaiian Islands.
The garden holds the world’s largest breadfruit collection, about 150 varieties, inside one of Hawaiʻi’s last undisturbed hala forests.
It is open to visitors and charges an admission fee.
Hāna Highway bridge: Jonathanking, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Lunch before the heiau
Kahanu Garden is on the Hāna Highway close to the 31-mile marker.
From the truck it is Hāna Highway for 3.7 miles, then Ulaino Road for 1.5 miles to the garden access road.
Eat first.
The combo plate of crispy pork belly, green papaya salad and a scoop of rice is a solid meal before a walk past the heiau and the breadfruit trees.
Tacos after the garden
Coming back along Ulaino Road, order two mahi-mahi tacos with chipotle sauce, or coconut shrimp with rice and green papaya salad.
For a cold drink there is lemonade, hibiscus tea or Thai iced tea.
Lunch for an airport run
Hāna Airport is a state public-use airport, three nautical miles northwest of Hāna town.
It opened in 1950 and sees mostly air taxi and general aviation traffic.
Alalele Road is the first of Hāna’s turnoffs when you arrive from the west.
Meeting a plane or heading out? Pick up a burrito, quesadilla or pad thai on the way.
Call (808) 446-1502 to ask what is on the chalkboards.
This was the best food we had on Maui. The Mahi Mahi nachos were incredible.
The menus
What’s on the boards.
Five menus from three family trucks in one Hāna lot.
Fish Tacos & Mexican FoodMahi-mahi and shrimp tacos, nachos, burritos and taco salad bowls.
Thai FoodPad thai, curries, tom yum, stir-fries with rice and coconut plates.
Mahi-Mahi & Fresh FishMahi-mahi tacos and plates, plus grilled, garlic and coconut shrimp.
Burgers & Hot DogsHand-pressed burgers, the Hanadog, chicken sandwiches, fries and shakes.
Vegan & Veggie PlatesVeggie curry, veggie egg rolls, tofu veggie stir-fry and veggie drunken noodles.
Other stops near Hāna
Coming from somewhere else?
Hāna town2 min from the truck · Two minutes from Hāna Bay, near the Hana Ranch Store.
Hāmoa & Kōkī Beach6–9 min from the truck · Six minutes to Kōkī, nine to Hāmoa, by Haneoo Road.
Waiʻānapanapa State Park11 min from the truck · 11 minutes from the black sand, near the Hana Ranch Store.
Kīpahulu & Pipiwai Trail35–45 min from the truck · The food stop on the way to or from Kīpahulu, about 35 to 45 minutes out.
Good to know
Kaʻeleku & airport questions.
How far is the truck from Kahanu Garden and the airport?
Kahanu Garden is 19 minutes and 5.2 miles: Hāna Highway for 3.7 miles, then Ulaino Road for 1.5.
The airport is 12 minutes and just over four miles: Hāna Highway for 3.3 miles, then Alalele Road for 0.9.
Does Kahanu Garden charge to get in?
Yes, the garden is open to visitors and charges an admission fee.
Check with the garden for current details before you go, then come to the truck for lunch.
What is Piʻilanihale Heiau?
A National Historic Landmark of about 3 acres (341 by 415 feet), believed to be the largest heiau in the Hawaiian Islands.
It is 21 minutes and 5.6 miles from the truck.
Groups, pans & questions
Feeding a whole crew?
Beef broccoli stir-fry comes by the full pan or the half pan. Send a note or call, and the family will sort out the details with you.
- Party pans and group orders: ask what fits your crowd
- Questions about the menus, the vegan board or what is on today
- Fastest answer: call or text (808) 446-1502