Best Things to Do in Kula
At a Glance
Most popular on Maui
Central Maui
Maui Snorkeling Adventure to Molokini and Turtle Town
Visit Maui's famous snorkeling and diving destinations Molokini Crater and Turtle Town on a snorkeling catamaran, with visibility of 100 feet or more.
South Maui
Feast at Mokapu Luau in Wailea
Discover Hawai'i's most authentic luxury luau at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort — a curated cultural evening with a three-course plated dinner on Mokapu beach.
South Maui
Gilligans' Island Luau in Kihei
An intimate luau experience and the only luau in Kihei — less than a quarter the size of the average Maui luau, so every seat has a great view of the show.
Road to Hāna
Small-Group Road to Hana Adventure Tour with Pickup & Lunch
Watch the waterfalls, black-sand beaches and rainforest go by without anyone in your group behind the wheel.
Upcountry
Majestic Haleakalā Sunrise Tour with Pick-up
Ride to the summit for sunrise above the clouds, then unwind over a hot breakfast on the way back down.
West Maui
Original Sunset Cruise with Open Bar from Kaʻanapali
Sip an unlimited open bar while the sun drops behind Lānaʻi, with pupus and live music twice a week.
Central Maui
Small Group Waterfall and Rainforest Hiking Adventure
A guided rainforest hike to East Maui waterfalls, with time to swim beneath the falls and a trail lunch included.
South Maui
Two Hour Beginner Group Surf Lesson in Kihei
A two-hour beginner lesson in calm South Maui water — board, gear and instruction all included.
Upcountry
Maui Pineapple Farm Tour in Haliimaile
Tour a working pineapple farm and packing house upcountry, with tastings and a fresh pineapple to take home.
Start With the Market on Saturday
If you are in Kula on Saturday morning, the Upcountry Farmers Market is the easiest place to begin.
- Best for — breakfast, produce + local goods
- Best timing — 7–11 a.m. Saturday
- Best follow-up — one nearby farm
Where: Kulamalu Town Center in Pukalani / lower Kula.
The market brings together more than just produce: local fruits and vegetables, flowers, baked goods, coffee, prepared breakfast, artisan products and plenty of things you can take back to the condo.
Go hungry, walk a lap before buying everything, then decide whether the rest of the morning is a farm, Makawao or a drive higher into Kula.
Lower Kula: Surfing Goat + Ocean Vodka
These two stops sit close enough together to make one of the easiest Upcountry combinations.
- Best with kids — Surfing Goat Dairy
- Best for views — Ocean Vodka
- Best time for Ocean Vodka — later afternoon
Where: Omaopio Road in lower Kula.
Surfing Goat Dairy
The family stop that actually feels like a farm.
Tours and animal interactions make this a better choice with young kids than a scenic farm where the adults do all the looking. The dairy is open Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday, so plan around the day first.
Ocean Vodka Organic Farm + Distillery
Come for the view even if the distillery tour is not the point.
The Café & Lawn has become one of our favorite Kula stops because it asks so little of the day: food, craft drinks, big open views and room to sit. The 80-acre property looks across both sides of Maui, and late afternoon is especially good.
Guided tastings are available, but you do not need to make alcohol the reason for the stop. The lawn and view are enough.
Kula Country Farms
This is our favorite easy farm stop when you do not want a full tour.
- Best for — families, produce + views
- Best seasonal event — October pumpkin patch
- Best quick stop — farm stand + lookout
Where: Kula Highway.
The open-air farm stand sells local produce, flowers and pantry goods, with a broad view across Central and South Maui. There are also family-friendly farm elements on site, so this works even when you only have thirty or forty-five minutes.
October is different. The pumpkin patch is one of Maui’s biggest seasonal family traditions, with pumpkins, fall photo spots and special activities throughout the month.
Oʻo Farm
If food is the reason you came Upcountry, book this instead of trying to piece together three smaller stops.
- Best for — food lovers + couples
- Best experience — coffee + brunch or farm-to-table lunch
- Know before you go — reservation required
Where: Waipoli Road above Kula.
Oʻo Farm combines the actual farm walk with the meal, which makes it much more satisfying than treating the farm and lunch as separate errands. The tours run Monday through Friday and the property is not a drop-in attraction.
Give it the time it deserves and keep the rest of that half-day light.
Aliʻi Kula Lavender + Waipoli Road
The garden is pleasant. The road above it is the part many visitors miss.
- Best easy garden — Aliʻi Kula Lavender
- Best panoramic drive — Waipoli Road
- 4WD required — Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area
Where: upper Kula above Kekaulike Highway.
Aliʻi Kula Lavender is an easy self-guided stop through gardens, cool air and high-elevation plants. It is open Friday through Monday, so check the day before you drive up specifically for it.
Above the farm, Waipoli Road climbs through open pasture with some of our favorite panoramic views in Upcountry. Pull over only where it is safe and legal, enjoy the view, and turn around before the road gets beyond your vehicle or comfort level.
Open pasture, Upcountry
The access road into Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area requires four-wheel drive. A normal rental car should not be your experiment.
Kula Lodge Marketplace
The restaurant is still closed, but the property is useful again.
- Best for — coffee, quick food, gifts + a restroom break
- Current setup — Marketplace + food truck open
Where: Haleakalā Highway in upper Kula.
As of September 2026, Kula Lodge’s main restaurant remains closed after the fire. The Marketplace and food truck are open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Marketplace carries deli food, drinks, groceries, local art and gifts. It is also a practical stop before continuing higher toward Haleakalā.
Continue to Keokea
A Kula day gets even better when you keep driving south instead of immediately heading back down.
- Best breakfast + coffee — Grandma’s Coffee House
- Best easy stroll — Thompson Road
- Best next step — Ulupalakua
Where: south Kula / Keokea.
Grandma’s Coffee House is a longtime Upcountry staple and a good reason to be in Keokea earlier in the day. Nearby Thompson Road is one of our favorite simple walks on Maui: quiet, scenic and easy to shorten.
If you still want more, continue south to the Ulupalakua Ranch Store and MauiWine rather than turning the whole day into another farm circuit.
Pair Kula With Haleakalā
Kula is the natural lower-mountain half of a Haleakalā day.
For sunset, spend the morning and early afternoon in Kula, eat before heading up and then keep climbing. For sunrise, Kula is where the day starts to feel human again on the way down.
Sunset from the Haleakalā summit. Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)
Use our dedicated Haleakalā guides for sunrise reservations, summit weather and hiking details.
Practical Tips
- Go earlier for the clearest views. Cloud often builds later on the mountain.
- Check days, not just hours. The market, farms and gardens all run different weekly schedules.
- Bring a light layer. Kula can feel cool even when the coast is hot.
- Do not stack every farm. Surfing Goat + Ocean Vodka is an easy pair; Oʻo Farm should usually stand on its own.
- If you drive Waipoli Road, know where the 4WD requirement begins. Polipoli proper is not a standard-rental-car stop.
One Last Tip
Three good stops is a Kula day. Five is a driving day.
Start somewhere local, choose one experience and give yourself time to stop when the view opens up.
The best part of Kula is rarely the thing you rushed to get to next.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Upcountry Farmers Market?
Saturday from 7 to 11 a.m. at Kulamalu Town Center in Pukalani / lower Kula. Go hungry, walk a lap before buying everything, then decide whether the rest of the morning is a farm, Makawao or a drive higher into Kula.
Which days is Surfing Goat Dairy open?
Tuesday through Saturday. It is closed Sunday and Monday, so plan around the day first. Tours and animal interactions make it a better choice with young kids than a scenic farm where the adults do all the looking.
Do I need a reservation for Oʻo Farm?
Yes. Oʻo Farm is not a drop-in attraction — the tours run Monday through Friday and combine the farm walk with either coffee and brunch or a farm-to-table lunch. Give it the time it deserves and keep the rest of that half-day light.
When is Aliʻi Kula Lavender open?
Friday through Monday, so check the day before you drive up specifically for it. It is an easy self-guided stop through gardens, cool air and high-elevation plants.
Can I drive up to Polipoli?
The access road into Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area requires four-wheel drive, and a normal rental car should not be your experiment. Waipoli Road below the forest is the part to enjoy — pull over only where it is safe and legal, and turn around before the road gets beyond your vehicle or comfort level.
Is the Kula Lodge restaurant open again?
As of September 2026 the main restaurant remains closed after the fire. The Marketplace and food truck are open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., carrying deli food, drinks, groceries, local art and gifts.
