Travel

Upcountry Maui, Haleakala, Kula, Makawao, Hawaii

How would you like to start your day at sunrise on the top of a volcano on the island of Maui in Hawaii? We are at the summit of Haleakala, 10,000 feet above sea level on the rim of a dormant volcano, watching the dazzling display of the sun rising up out of the ocean. It's a great way to begin our visit to the towns and countryside of upcountry Maui. We continue our upland adventure visiting those high towns of Kula and Makawao, enjoying their peaceful and historic atmosphere, their art galleries, shops and restaurants, driving through beautiful landscapes. And we'll take a couple nature walks in a botanical garden and a flower farm. You'll also see a tiny hamlet at the end of the road, Keokea. Driving along, if you notice some horses in the field, it's a sure sign that you are heading to Makawao, a charming, upcountry town famous for its history of cowboys and ranching, which has become one of the island's most attractive villages. These rustic, old wooden buildings now contain a whole variety of lovely shops, but it looks like something out of the Wild West with front porches and false fronts in the facades. Look for free parking in one of those old-fashioned diagonal spaces and then drop anchor for a while. Why don't you do a little strolling and kick back, have a snack or a full meal? The small History Museum showcases exhibits about the cowboy culture and the old sugar plantation days. Makawao is a quaint and walkable town with a rustic old Hawaiian charm, with modern shops. The architecture is a mix of plantation style buildings and wooden storefronts, many of which have been transformed into boutique shops, restaurants and art galleries. Next, we're moving along to another famous place, the hamlet of Kula. You'll drive about ten miles to get there from Makawao along this beautiful stretch of the Kula Highway, passing green fields and an occasional food truck or farmer's produce stand, and lovely houses set up on the hillside back from the road, a very nice place to live if you enjoy the peaceful countryside with a pleasant climate due to its 2000 foot elevation. The real treasure of town is the Kula Bistro. It's a wonderful restaurant. This would be reason enough to come visit Kula, very popular with the locals, a sure sign you're getting quality food at a fair price. There are several other restaurants in the area, including Kula Lodge, about three miles away, which is also a hotel. From Kula, we're taking a short three-mile drive, passing more of these lovely houses out in the suburbs of town, heading to the flower farm at Ali’i Kula Lavender, at 4000 foot elevation with breathtaking views and beautiful walking paths. This flower farm is a perfect place to wander. It's a 13-acre farm with 55,000 lavender plants in 20 different varieties. You pay a small admission fee and then walk around in your own self-guided tour. At this altitude, they enjoy Mediterranean climate, with flowers blooming all year round. They've also got some olive trees, hydrangea, protea and a variety of other plants. The farm's goal is to enrich the quality of life by evoking joy, rejuvenation, comfort and serenity. We soon arrive at the nearby Kula Botanical Garden, which contains nearly 2000 plant varieties, including Protea, Orchids, Brazilians, native Hawaiian plants and trees, including Koa and Kukui. And it's a beautiful garden. It's been open since 1971. We're now approaching the end of our upcountry Maui journey, going about as far as you can get on this country road. There seems to be just two little rustic buildings here. But it's a tiny village called Keokea. One building has an all-purpose general store with some food and sundries. It even has an art gallery on the side, displaying some vintage surfboards, and a coffee shop next door. What's the name of the place? Grandma's Coffee House. Okay. Okay. And then tell me about Keokea. What do we see here? Nothing. Nothing. It's a gas station, a market and a restaurant. And this is it. This is Keokea. Okay. While there might not be a lot to see here, this one coffee shop makes Keokea a place worth visiting. more travel videos & photos at: https://townsofeurope.com/ with text, maps & links.