Explore The Best Of Upcountry Maui On This Hawaii Day Trip That Leads To A National Park, Farms, And A Winery
By Megan Shute|Published February 27, 2023
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
The Valley Isle is a place of uninterrupted natural beauty, and nowhere is that more true than upcountry Maui on the slopes of Mount Haleakala. While it is easy to say that this area of Maui is known for its magic landscapes and stunning vistas, there are some killer attractions to check out while you’re there. From mouthwatering restaurants to unique farms and even a national park, this incredible day trip stops at eight bucket-list-worthy spots and consists of two hours of drive time.
Aloha, my name is Megan, and while I’m not sure I would be considered a local, I did live on the neighboring island of Oahu for seven years and had the pleasure of visiting each of the four main Hawaiian Islands at least once. Maui was my favorite, and while I thoroughly enjoyed driving along the iconic Hana Highway and snorkeling at Molokini Crater, I left my heart on the slopes of Mount Haleakala.
Our adventure begins at Haleakala National Park. If you can snag tickets for sunrise, you're in luck, but the park opens at 7 a.m. for everyone without a reservation. Just 27 square miles short of equaling the entire size of Oahu, Mount Haleakala is a gentle giant — a dormant volcano that has inspired those who make the journey to its summit for centuries.
Translating to "House of the Sun," Haleakala rises more than 10,000 feet above sea level, comprises 75 percent of Maui Island, and is home to desert-like conditions, rainforests, and everything in between. While you could spend weeks exploring this 33,000-acre natural oasis, we did lots of sightseeing during this visit and took a few short hikes. Watching the clouds float by was truly mesmerizing, and while I have been for sunset, I still haven't seen a sunrise from the summit. It's on my bucket list, for sure!
Next up, is one of my favorite farms on the island. Surfing Goat Dairy, an incredible 42-acre farm founded in 1998, produces award-winning goat cheeses and offers casual tours to visitors. Goats are one of my favorite animals, and I loved hanging out with these adorable creatures and watching them play. The grounds are stunning, plus, there's little tastier than sampling the incredible goat cheeses and other products made here.
Our next stop might seem a little unconventional for the morning hours, but Ocean Vodka Organic Farm & Distillery is a can't-miss. Crafted using sustainable practices and state-of-the-art technology, Ocean Vodka utilizes desalinated deep ocean mineral water and is my husband's favorite vodka. We loved learning about the distilling process, sampling products, and soaking in that signature Maui sunshine.
We were getting hungry, so decided to stop at Kula Lodge Restaurant. This rustic, natural-wood lodge was built as a private residence and while it features only five rooms, the restaurant serves mouthwatering American and Hawaiian cuisine. We enjoyed a scrumptious wood-fired pizza and incredible views: the perfect pit-stop.
Upcountry Maui gets a great deal of rain, resulting in lush, green scenery, and flourishing lavender at the Kula Lavender Farm.
Stroll through the rows and rows of fragrant lavender as well as a variety of succulents and other flora, and take in panoramic views of the entire western half of the island.
You'll find countless incredible lavender products for sale in the gift shop, and I love the lavender lemonade. The lavender amber essential oil roller is still one of my favorite bath and body products of all time.
In the land of umbrella drinks, it can be tough for a wine lover to find a glass of good wine, but in beautiful Kula, MauiWine is truly in a class all it’s own. Located at 1,800 feet above sea level, this unique vineyard is known for its estate wines, rose ranch wines, and pineapple varieties that are handmade by the community that has worked at Ulupalakua Ranch for generations. You can even taste wines in an old jail that was used to contain rowdy party guests in the 1800s.
After sampling wine, it was time to walk across the street and grab an early dinner at Ulupalakua Ranch Store -- the restaurant closes at 5 p.m., so it's important to stay on track time-wise during your adventure. The burgers are incredible and come in four unique varieties: beef, elk, lamb, and venison. The perfect ending to a memorable day, especially before a long drive back to your hotel (we had three hours of driving round trip to get from Lahaina to the Haleakala Visitors Center and from Ulupalakua Ranch Store back to Lahaina).
Did we convince you? Are you dreaming of a trip to Maui just like we are? Where else would you like to visit on this gorgeous Hawaiian island?
To discover more incredible boots-on-the-ground adventures across America from our team of local travel experts, check out all of the articles in OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers series. What destinations would you like to see featured next on OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers? Tell us where we should go on our nominations page.
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