A Day in Upcountry Maui

When most people think about Maui, their mind immediately goes to pristine beaches and the infamous Road to Hana lined with lush landscape and cascading waterfalls. Don't worry Maui without a doubt offers all these things (and more) but there's a whole other side to the island that many people don't get to explore. Upcountry Maui is located in the central mountainous side of the island and offers miles of rolling hills through farmland with really only one major road to get around. This is also where the must-see Haleakala Crater lies which draws thousands of tourists to its summit each year to view sunrise and sunset above the clouds. We didn't have a chance to experience upcountry on our first trip to the island so it was a must see this time around. I've included each of our stops for the day below but feel free to pick and choose what interests you most. 

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

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Maui Swap Meet

Technically not located in upcountry but it was relatively on the way to the start of our journey and definitely worth the stop. The swap meet only happens on Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. so we chose our upcountry day based on that. Located on the grounds of University of Hawaii Maui College, this event is a shopper's paradise and seriously has something for everyone. Multiple vendors line the sidewalks so you can easily hop from one to the next and find everything from handmade jewelry, soaps, clothing, and authentic Hawaiian goods. This was by far the best prices I found for souvenirs on the island (and believe me I like to shop)! It also only costs 50 cents to get in. We went first thing in the morning but if you're there closer to lunch time they do have some awesome food trucks on site and many of the booths sell local produce or snack time items. Don't worry I still got my mac nut banana bread from the cutest little stand I can't remember the name but it's red and you can't miss it.

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Makawao Town 

Next up on our journey was exploring this cute town known for its cowboy vibes. It's basically one main street with shops lining both sides so we parked in the public parking lot a little ways down the road and then walked into town. It happened to be Chinese New Year while we were there and there were celebrations happening all throughout the town which was so fun to watch. We also got to witness the authentic Chinese Lion Dance and watch as it would go from shop to shop and eat the lettuce hanging in the doorway which I learned was a symbol for wealth. 

Makawao town is also home to T. Komodo's Bakery which is famous for their donuts on a stick and cream puffs. I'm not exaggerating when I say this is one of the main reasons I wanted to visit here.  Sadly by the time we got to the shop looking for an after lunch snack they were already sold out. So go early! We also stopped by Hot Island Glass and got to witness a live glass blowing demonstration. So many cute shops to wander through and some serious boutique vibes which I wasn't expecting. We also had lunch at Casanova Deli which was recommended by a local and had a good selection of traditional deli sandwiches. Another popular location for authentic Hawaiian fare is Hali'imaile General Store which is located on the pineapple plantation. 

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Surfing Goat Dairy 

Just as the name implies - this is exactly what you'll expect to see here - goats on surfboards! When you arrive at this working goat farm you'll see what I mean. The owners use surfboards as part of the decor and also in the play area for the baby goats. Does it get any cuter?! Goat cheese is popular on menus throughout the island and this farm is known for crafting some of the best. They offer flights so you are able to try a variety of different types of their nationally awarded cheeses. They also have other delicious items on the menu including their goat cheese truffles. 

Unfortunately this stop was a last minute addition to our trip so we didn't book a tour in advance. If you want to get the real experience I would recommend doing so. The tours are $12 per person and give you an inside look into the workings of the farm including how they milk the goats and how the cheese is made. You get to interact with both adult and baby goats including petting and feeding them hay. I definitely wish we would have done the tour so it's on our list next time we're there. 

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Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm 

Once you get back on the main road you'll continue south for about 15 minutes until the next stop on the upcountry adventure - the famous Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm. We didn't have the best weather this day and the farm is naturally higher in elevation so it was a bit cloudy but thankfully no rain. Once you reach the farm it does cost $3 to get in but there are coupons in just about any of the tourism magazines you find at the airport or visitor's centers so make sure to pick one up. You can walk around the gardens by yourself or choose to go on a guided tour for $12. We chose to just explore on our own and while there wasn't much of the iconic purple in bloom (peak season is July-September) we still were able to see a variety of beautiful flowers and trees and even found a chameleon. There is a small gift shop on the grounds which features variety of lavender-based products as well as lavender tea and scones. 

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Kula Country Farms

Once you get back on the main road, almost directly across the street, is Kula Country Farms a cute little farm market featuring local fruits, flowers, jams and baked goods. It was strawberry season when we were there in February and they had a u-pick strawberry patch as well as ones that were already picked in the store ready for purchase. Don't miss trying their homemade strawberry lemonade. They have a children's garden as well as mini golf and lawn games you can play. In the fall, their pumpkin patch is a huge hit along with their insta-worthy sunflower swing (go check it out ASAP). This was a quick stop for us but still worth it since it doesn't require any extra driving. 

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Maui Wine

Next up and my personal favorite of the whole day was Maui Wine - the only winery on the island located on the rolling hills of Ulupalakua Ranch. I had heard so many great things about their pineapple wine and had to try it for myself. Upon arriving to the quaint tasting room we decided to start with a tasting flight which featured four wines including Maui Blanc, Maui Splash, and Hula O Maui which were all made with handpicked Maui Gold pineapples.

​Hula O Maui - a sparkling wine with floral and fruity flavors - was my husband's favorite. I enjoyed Maui Blanc which was a tropical, crisp and semi-dry flavor. After the tasting we ended up getting a glass of each to drink on the porch and a bottle of the Maui Blanc to take home with us. *See below for my #1 recommended product for traveling with wine* The winery is also located across the street from Ulupalakua Ranch Store which is known for it's delicious grass-fed burgers if you're looking for somewhere to grab dinner. 

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Haleakala Crater

One of the main reasons many people end up in Upcountry is to experience Haleakala Crater and now I understand why. It's absolutely breathtaking being above the clouds at over 10,000 feet above sea level. The most popular time to visit is for sunrise (which does require an advance reservation) but I am just not a wake up at 3:00 a.m. on vacation kind of gal so we opted for going at sunset instead. From Maui Wine it took us about an hour to reach the summit so make sure you leave with enough time.

It does cost $20 to get in but this is good for three days and also gets you in to the Pipiwai Trail on the Road to Hana. A few notes of caution - it gets cold at the top - like I'm talking Michigan winter cold. By the time we reached the summit it was 32 degrees so make sure you pack and dress accordingly. The road is also VERY curvy and you gain elevation quickly. I didn't have a problem as the driver on the way up but got motion sick as the passenger on the way down so plan to take medication in advance if you are affected easily. The day we went was the beginning of a tropical storm arriving the next day and the winds were 30-40 mph which made things interesting. There is a small viewing shelter at the summit which was the only safe place to stand without rocks pelting your face BUT on a nicer day you are able to hike within the crater or book a mountain biking excursion.

​Unfortunately, we ended up arriving a the top with around an hour until sunset and didn't feel like waiting out the wind and freezing temps. The views are still amazing any time you go but we will definitely try and go back again to catch the sun drop below the clouds right before your eyes. There are a few other smaller lookouts which we stopped at the on the way down and got a different view of this majestic landmark. After making the windy drive down we started the journey back toward Lahaina (about a hour and a half drive) stopping for a quick dinner near the airport.

We had a great day exploring Maui's farmland and I highly recommend including a few of these stops on your trip. There are so many other sites to see and experience in Upcountry including: 

• Haliimaile Pineapple/Distilling Tour - only pineapple tour on Maui. Allows you to see how it's grown and taste at a variety of growing stages. You also get to take one home with you. Definitely on my list for our next visit! 
• O'O Farm - locally grown products and "seed to cup" coffee tour.
• Ocean Vodka Organic Farm - offers tours of the grounds and vodka distillery. 
• Piholo Ranch - offers both zipping and horseback riding excursions.

Other blogs you might enjoy:
- A Day in Lahaina Town
- Maui Must Sees: 5-day Itinerary
- Most Insta-worthy Spots on Maui
- 5-day Itinerary on Maui (trip #2)
- Top Eats and Treats on Maui
- What to Pack for 10 Days in Hawaii