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Upcountry Maui is my favorite place on the island and is a region that is not to be missed on a visit to Maui! I might be a little biased because it’s where I grew up, but I always recommend taking time away from the resort areas to experience a different perspective on island living. Upcountry Maui is the perfect place for that!
Located on the slopes of Haleakala, the landscape of Upcountry Maui offers something much different than the arid regions near the beach: greenery! Thanks to the cooler, moist climate, plant life thrives – along with farming and agriculture. In fact, many of the activities you’ll see on this list of the best things to do in Upcountry Maui include farm visits.
Upcountry Maui consists of the small towns of Haiku (my hometown), Makawao, Pukalani, and Kula. In these towns, you’ll find quaint, rustic homes and storefronts with plantation-era roots and cowboy culture (Upcountry Maui happens to be home of the paniolo – Hawaiian cowboys), along with sweeping island views!
Getting to Upcountry Maui
From Kihei, give yourself about 30 to 40 minutes to get to your first destination. If you’re driving up to Haleakala Crater, give yourself about an hour and a half to reach the summit.
From Lahaina and Ka’anapali, plan for about an hour to two hours.
How Much Time to Spend Upcountry
With all the different things to see, dedicating a whole day to visiting Upcountry Maui is not an unreasonable plan. Start at Haleakala National Park and work your way back down the mountain with farm visits, lunch, more farm visits, and even dinner!
Here are some of the best things to do in Upcountry Maui.
1. Visit Haleakala National Park
Visiting Haleakala National Park is probably the most popular activity to do in Upcountry Maui, and for good reason! The landscape once you get up to the crater is unreal. Haleakala is also home to endemic Hawaiian species such as Nene Geese, Hawaiian Honeycreeper birds, and the Haleakala Silversword plant. Plus, you get to check off a visit to a United States National Park.
Unless you plan on hiking, once you’re up at the crater, some main things to do would be to stop in at the Visitors Center, check out the plant life, and get photos of the cool landscape.
If bird watching is your thing, your best bet is to hike the Hosmer Grove trail, located around the 7,000 ft. elevation mark.
Sunrise Visits
If you’re an early riser (like 2:00 a.m. early), visiting Haleakala at sunrise is a bucket list activity! Due it’s popularity, they do require vehicle reservations to prevent overcrowding for arrivals from 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance, with a small handful of additional slots released 48 hours ahead of time at 7:00 a.m. HST. The cost to reserve your sunrise slot is only $1.00 per vehicle.
Do note that temps can be freezing at the crater for sunrise. Dress warmly and bring blankets!
Haleakala Visit Tips
- Cost for vehicle entry to the park is $30.00, unless you have an annual National Parks Pass. If you plan to do the Road to Hana, this pass will also get you into the Seven Sacred Pools at Oheo Gulch in Kipahulu (pass is good for 72 hours from time of first entry).
- Don’t speed! The winding road has many tight turns and can be foggy at times. You’ll also need to keep an eye out for Nene Geese crossing.
- If you are prone to car sickness, be sure to take some non-drowsy Dramamine and pack some ginger candies (my personal favorite).
- Dress in layers. Even at peak afternoon, it can be cold and windy at the top. I would highly suggest long pants and a jacket at a minimum.
- Please take care not to touch any of the plant life and do not take any lava rocks as souvenirs (not just for the superstition of bad luck, but also because this is illegal).
- For more planning info, visit the NPS site.
2. Go Wine Tasting at MauiWine
Did you know you can go wine tasting on Maui?! There are only three wineries in the whole state of Hawaii, with MauiWine being the oldest (formerly known as Tedeschi Winery). I highly suggest making a reservation for a tasting as they have limited seating to accommodate walk-ins.
Wine flights are a reasonable $12 each, and you can choose from two different flight options that include three wines. My favorites are the Pineapple Sparkling and Mele Red Blend! Wines are also available by the glass, along with specialty wine cocktails.
If you’re in need of a snack, they have a limited selection of small bites. I recommend the goat cheese with lilikoi pineapple wine syrup and black sea salt! If you want a bit more for lunch, the Ulupalakua Ranch Store across the street makes some killer-looking burgers.
3. Stop by the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm
On your way up or down from Haleakala National Park, Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm is a serene stop if you enjoy lavender, gardens, and want some good island views on a clear day. It’s not an elaborate attraction, but you could spend about an hour or so here taking a self-guided tour of the gardens and visiting the gift shop for some lavender-themed goodies.
Admission to the farm is $3.00 for adults or you can bring a donation for the Maui Food Bank of one non-perishable item per person for free entry.
Also note that the farm is only open Fridays – Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., so plan accordingly.
4. Grab a Flight at Mahalo Aleworks
Mahalo Aleworks is the latest brewery to pop up on Maui and its location right off Kula Hwy makes it easy to add this to any Upcountry itinerary! I recommend getting a flight of their latest releases to try multiple beers. When I visited, I thought all their IPAs and sours were delish.
They also have Upcountry Sausage Co. on site cooking up some hearty sausage sandwiches and burgers, or you can visit nearby Marlow for some wood-fired pizzas.
5. See Baby Goats at Surfing Goat Dairy
Want to see some goats climbing all over a surfboard playground? Come to Surfing Goat Dairy! This is a cute little stop for animal lovers when visiting Upcountry Maui. You can take dairy tours, try your hand at evening chores (including milking), or just stop in at the shop to taste goat cheese and chocolate truffles.
I absolutely love to see the goats playing in the pen – especially the babies! And while I haven’t tried the tasting flight of goat cheeses yet (it’s on my to-do list), I have had their chocolate truffles and they are delicious.
Goat cheese tasting flights can sell out early in the day. If that is on your wish list, be sure to stop in early (or reserve a tour and tasting flight ahead of time).
6. Take a Tour at Ocean Vodka Farm
If you’re into learning about spirits (the kind you can drink), I recommend taking a tour of the Ocean Vodka Farm to learn about the unique and sustainable ways their products are made.
Not only do they process their vodka with deep ocean water, it is also distilled using locally-grown sugarcane. Part of the tour is to examine the different types of sugarcane they experiment with that are grown on the property (I had no idea there were so many varieties). At the end of the tour, they’ll also walk you through a tasting!
There is also now a café at the distillery! After your tour and tasting, you can grab some food and cocktails, and enjoy the beautiful views of the island.
7. Taste Spirits at Hali’imaile Distillery
Ocean Vodka isn’t the only distillery located in Upcountry Maui! For those looking for more variety in their spirits, take a tour with Hali’imaile Distilling Company.
The current lineup of spirits distilled at Hali’imaile includes Pau Maui Vodka (distilled from pineapples); Paniolo Whiskey; Mahina Rum; and Fid Street Gin. When I originally visited, Sammy Hagar even had his rum distilled here!
Note that the only way to get a tasting at Hali’imaile is to take the tour, which you can book via their website. Tours cost $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for those under age 20 (of course, tasting is not included for the youngins).
Hali’imaile Distilling is only open for tours Monday through Friday.
8. Maui Alpaca Farm Picnic
This one is for all the families with kids out there – you can visit an alpaca farm and have a picnic lunch! I personally haven’t done this yet, but I love that there is another animal farm-themed activity in Upcountry Maui. Picnic lunches are priced at $139 for adults and $99 for those 18 and under. A bit pricey in my opinion, but again, something very unique on the island!
9. Visit Kula Country Farms
Kula Country Farms is a year-round farm stand selling locally-grown produce and also hosts u-pick events and seasonal activities like a fall pumpkin patch! Visitors can also pick up some Maui-made goodies like jams, honey, and fresh-baked goods.
Every third Saturday, Kula Country Farms also hosts a pop up market where other artisans and vendors are able to showcase their crafts.
10. O’o Farms Tour & Lunch
Another activity on my Upcountry bucket list that has eluded me thus far is to take a lunch farm tour at O’o Farms. This includes a farm tour followed by lunch prepared with ingredients grown right on the property. So why haven’t I done it yet? Well, it is a steep $150 per person for the lunch tour ($75 for those under 12). I do like to splurge on good food experiences though, so I’m definitely not taking it off the list.
They also have a coffee and brunch tour if you’re a coffee buff – offered at $135 per person.
11. Find Something Delicious to Eat
Upcountry Maui isn’t filled with foodie spots, but there are some great finds for a delicious meal. Here are some of my favs:
- Kula Bistro: My personal favorite spot to eat Upcountry for café-style food breakfast through dinner. They also have an amazing bakery section (be on the lookout for the lilikoi cheesecake).
- Kula Lodge: Recently under new ownership, the restaurant at Kula Lodge has some amazing views. Ask to sit out on the patio! Last time I ate there, the food was good (not great). However, I hear that the new owners have revamped the menu and are making delicious eats, especially for dinner.
- Pukalani Superette: This will be a quick convenience store stop for some local staples (like chow fun and poke) to take with you while you ride around upcountry.
- Upcountry Sausages: If you end up over at Mahalo Aleworks for a beer flight, these sausages are delish and will fill you up!
- Hali’imaile General Store: HGS is probably the nicest restaurant in the Upcountry area with consistently delicious food. I would definitely recommend making a reservation for a nice dinner here (although, they do serve lunch as well).
- Nuka: For some delicious sushi, head down to Haiku (my hometown). Note that this spot gets pretty busy. They open at 4:30 p.m. and there can be a line!
- Komoda Bakery: Stop in at this bakery in Makawao Town for some sweet treats that filled the years of my childhood, namely their famous cream puffs, stick donuts, and malasadas!
- Marlow: For savory wood-fired pizzas that pair well with the beer from their neighbors at Mahalo Aleworks.
- Wish List Eats: I haven’t personally eaten at these, but they are on my wish list: La Provence for French bakery treats; Ulupalakua Ranch Store for hearty burgers (across from MauiWine); and the Café at Ocean Vodka for delicious eats and cocktails with a view.
Have you visited Upcountry Maui? Is there anything else you would recommend for a visit to this part of the island?
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