10 Reasons to Love Upcountry Maui
Venture up the slopes of Haleakalā and you’ll fall in love with this charming region of the Valley Isle.
Maui is known for its golden shores, from Mākena to Kāʻanapali. But the beauty of the Valley Isle extends beyond its gorgeous beaches, all the way to its tallest mountain.
Upcountry Maui is a peaceful region marked by pastures, rolling hills, a sea of purple jacaranda trees and panoramic views. Among it all, you’ll discover quaint family shops and a bounty of flourishing farms.
Take a day to explore Upcountry Maui—we know you’ll fall in love with it, too. Here are 10 places you don’t want to miss.
1. Pukalani Superette
Pukalani Superette is known for its friendly service and delicious bentos.
Photo: Grace Maeda
This mom and pop shop is near the intersection of Old Haleakalā Highway and Makawao Avenue, where the Upcountry towns of Pukalani, Kula and Makawao meet. Along with its central location, Pukalani Superette maintains an active presence in the community through a flurry of fundraising initiatives, making it the heart of Upcountry. Affectionately nicknamed “Puk Sup” (pronounced pook soup), the family shop is known for its friendly service and delicious bentos. The convenience store, open for nearly 70 years, is a great place to get a sense of the community. Of course, you should also stock up on tasty grab-and-go foods as you start your Upcountry journey.
15 Makawao Ave., Makawao, pukalanisuperette.com
2. Makawao Town
The charming town of Makawao is known for celebrating its paniolo history.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Tommy Lundberg
As you wander the streets of this historic town, you can’t help but notice relics of the island’s paniolo (cowboy) days, from the old architecture to Rodeo General Store. Since the late 19th century, paniolo have wrangled the island’s cattle and today, local cowboy culture still permeates. The Makawao Rodeo, one of the largest events of its kind in Hawaiʻi, is held every Fourth of July. But that’s not the only reason to visit Makawao. The town is home to spots like T. Komoda Store, where you’ll find some of the best cream puffs around, and Maui Cookie Lady, famous for its mammoth-size treats. Makawao Public House is one of the newest restaurants on the block—it opened at the end of 2023—and it’s already a favorite among locals and visitors. Makawao is also home to an eclectic array of shops, from art galleries to trendy boutiques.
3. Mahalo Aleworks
Mahalo Aleworks is known for its sour beers.
Photo: Ryan Siphers
Mahalo Aleworks celebrates Maui’s unique biodiversity and year-round bounty of local fruits by incorporating foraged ingredients in its beers, brewed right on the slopes of Haleakalā. The brewery’s specialty is sour beers and the lilikoʻi and starfruit sours are popular choices at the brewery’s taproom in the Kulamalu Town Center. You can also sample a rotating selection of the brewery’s stouts, lagers and IPAs. To accompany its refreshing beer, the taproom boasts spectacular views of Mauna Kahalawai, also known as the West Maui Mountains.
30 Kūpaoa St., Unit 101, Makawao, mahaloaleworks.com
READ MORE: Say Mahalo for Beer
4. Aliʻi Kula Lavender
Stretching across 13.5 acres, Aliʻi Kula Lavender boasts incredible panoramic views of the Valley Isle.
Photo: Getty Images/Ian Teraoka, IT Productions
As you drive up Waipoli Road, before you even see the farm, you’ll smell the delicate and sweet scents of lavender. Perched about 4,000 feet above sea level, Aliʻi Kula Lavender stretches 13.5 acres and boasts panoramic views of the Valley Isle. The grounds feature more than 20 varieties of lavender, which are planted alongside olive trees, hydrangea, protea and other flora. After strolling along the garden’s meandering paths, visitors can stop by the gift shop for lavender goods or sip on a refreshing lavender lemonade.
1100 Waipoli Road, Kula, aliikulalavender.com
5. Kula Country Farms
Kula Country Farms welcomes visitors to pluck sweet strawberries in the spring.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Ben Ono
This local farm welcomes folks to pick sweet strawberries in the spring and plump pumpkins in the fall, making it a family favorite, especially among keiki. But regardless of the season, any time is a good time to visit Kula Country Farms. The farm stand offers fresh produce and locally made goods like jam and honey.
6240 Kula Highway, Kula, kulacountryfarmsmaui.com
6. Maui Bees
It’s worth a trip to Kula for a jar of honey from Maui Bees.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
Tucked off Lower Kula Road, Maui Bees is a bit of a hidden gem. But with its decadent honey, it’s worth the trip. Along with raw honey, the farm sells fresh breads, pastries, jams and kombucha, all made on the property. If you’re looking for a serene rest stop, swing by Maui Bees to sample honey and enjoy the cool Upcountry climate.
150 Pulehu Nui Road, Kula, mauibees.com
7. Maui Goat Yoga
Maui Goat Yoga invites visitors to stretch, relax and cuddle with friendly and adorable goats.
Photo: David Croxford
As silly as it might seem, you can’t help but smile at the unusual pairing of yoga and goats. Located on a picturesque farm in Kula, Maui Goat Yoga invites visitors to stretch, relax and cuddle with friendly and adorable Nigerian Dwarf goats. Yoga classes run 30 to 40 minutes and are followed by “goat therapy,” which is essentially playtime with the goats. Reservations are required.
936 Keanuhea St., Kula, mauigoatyoga.com
READ MORE: Downward Dog Meets Upright Goat at Maui Goat Yoga
8. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park is a tranquil spot to soak in the grandeur of Upcountry.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
Venture beyond Kula Country Farms and Grandma’s Coffee House and you’ll find Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park. This lesser-known park in Kēōkea is a tranquil spot to soak in the grandeur of Upcountry. Here, you can delight in the views of Kīhei, Wailea and nearby islands of Kahoʻolawe and Lānaʻi.
13434 Kula Highway, Kula; gates to the parking lot are open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. (There are no restrooms at the park.)
9. Hosmer Grover Trail
Hosmer Grove Trail is an easy 0.6-mile loop.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
Beginning close to the entrance of Haleakalā National Park, this easy 0.6-mile trail loops through a diverse forest. First, you’re surrounded by pine trees and eucalyptus, which are nonnative to the Islands. Then, as you continue your stroll, you’ll enter native shrubland with koa and ʻōhiʻa trees. At various lookout points, you might be able to spot the endemic ʻiʻiwi (Hawaiian honeycreeper) and white-rumped ʻapapane.
nps.gov/places/hosmer-grove-trailhead.htm
10. Haleakalā National Park
One of the best ways to learn and explore the Haleakalā is on the park’s hiking trails.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Tor Johnson
Haleakalā is incredible, from its diverse terrain to its important place in Hawaiian culture. Meaning “house of the sun” in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), the summit of the volcano reaches just over 10,000 feet in elevation. Every day, visitors to Haleakalā National Park trek to its upper reaches to witness spectacular sunrises and sunsets. While they’re unforgettable experiences, one of the best ways to learn about the volcano is to explore its hiking trails. The Summit District of the park boasts more than 30 miles of trails, ranging from short nature walks to multiday trips. Here, hikers can explore native shrubland or walk through an otherworldly cinder desert.
