Best Things to Do in Makawao
Closures, checked 23 Oct 2026: Makawao Forest Reserve (Kahakapao), Waihou Spring, Kula Forest Reserve and Polipoli are closed for storm repairs after Hurricane Nolo, no reopening date. Haleakalā and Thompson Road are open. Check the DLNR news page before you go.
The short version
- Makawao takes a morning: Komoda at 7 (not Wednesday or Sunday), breakfast at Freshies, then walk Baldwin and Makawao avenues from 9:30 to lunch.
- Park once in the free municipal lot off Makawao Avenue.
- Komoda’s cream puffs and stick donuts sell out by mid-morning; don’t plan the day around them.
- Pair it with Hoʻokipa, the pineapple tour and Hāliʻimaile lunch, or a Kula afternoon.
At a Glance
Our pick: Cycle to the Sea with Maui Bombers
Best for confident riders who want Haleakalā downhill without the sunrise crowds.
Our pick: Haleakala 6 Line Zipline Adventure
Best for first-timers and families who want a small-group Kula zipline near Haleakalā; max 12, with native-forest and bird ecology woven in.
Makawao in One Morning
7:00–7:30, Komoda Store and Bakery
Komoda traditionally opens at 7:00 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and is closed Wednesday and Sunday. Published closing is 1:00 p.m., but cream puffs, stick donuts and the other favorites can sell out by mid-morning (checked Oct 2026). Call before making a special drive.
8:00–9:00, breakfast
Freshies (checked Oct 2026) for a complete breakfast. Komoda is the bakery stop, not the full meal.
9:00–11:00, walk the town
Small enough to explore without a rigid list. Prioritise Viewpoints Gallery (Website →), Maui Hands (Website →), Designing Wahine (checked Oct 2026), the independent clothing, jewelry and home shops along Baldwin and Makawao avenues, and whatever gallery or studio is open and catches your eye. Businesses change faster than the town does; the character is the constant. This is paniolo country: ranching history, old storefronts, artists and makers share the same few blocks. Don’t turn it into a checklist; walk, look in whatever catches your eye and leave time for coffee.
When Makawao feels dead
Before most stores open; late Sunday afternoon; after about 4:00–5:00 unless you’re coming for dinner or an event; and on a Komoda closure day when the bakery was the reason for arriving early. The town is strongest from about 9:30 through lunch.
Best Pairings
- Makawao + Hoʻokipa: the relaxed town-and-coast half-day, starting or ending at the Hoʻokipa Lookout. Hoʻokipa guide →
- Makawao + Hāliʻimaile: the pineapple tour (Website →) and lunch at Hāliʻimaile General Store. In the same Hāliʻimaile cluster: Hāliʻimaile Distilling for a weekday tour and tasting, Makai Glass for Maui-made blown glass and often a working hot shop, and Soulberry Ice Cream for dessert. Maui Pineapple Farm Tour → Upcountry farms guide →
- Makawao + Kula: the full Upcountry day. Kula guide →
- Makawao + Haleakalā sunset: finish town by lunch and keep the afternoon light. Haleakalā guide →
- Makawao + Haleakalā sunrise: breakfast after sunrise, then town once the shops open.
Dinner in town: Casanova for a livelier Makawao evening; Marlow (checked Oct 2026) and Hāliʻimaile for the better meal. Polli’s is the other longtime local choice.
Upcountry dining is a drive, and the drive is part of the evening. Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)
Best Restaurants in Upcountry → The whole region: Ultimate Upcountry guide →
Plan it day by day: Upcountry 1–3 days → 4–5 days → 6–7+ days →
Hui Noʻeau Visual Arts Center
Just outside town on the historic Kaluanui Estate. Tuesday–Saturday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; gallery admission generally free (checked Oct 2026). Allow 30–60 minutes for the gallery, longer for a class or event. Best for art-focused visitors and a quieter cultural stop; exhibitions rotate, so confirm a show is up. Website →
Makawao Rodeo and Paniolo Culture
The annual Makawao Stampede is a real community rodeo held around the Fourth of July at the Oskie Rice Event Center, with the town parade scheduled separately. It’s one of the best ways to see Makawao’s paniolo identity; confirm the exact dates each year rather than assuming it falls on July 4 itself. Expect the whole island to show up: plan parking and traffic early that weekend.
Makawao, Upcountry. Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)
What We’d Skip
- Arriving at 7 to shop: nothing’s open; eat first.
- Driving across the island for Komoda after 10: the good things are gone.
- A Makawao afternoon: it empties out; use the morning.
- Street-parking circles: the municipal lot is free and a two-minute walk.
- The forest trails above town: Kahakapao and Waihou Spring are closed for storm repairs (checked Oct 2026); Hosmer Grove is the forest walk instead. Upcountry hikes guide →
Before You Go
Where to park
The free municipal lot behind the library, off Makawao Avenue; walk into the center. Street spaces are limited and turn over fast.
One Last Tip
Slow down and start with breakfast. Eat first, then shop: Makawao is best when you arrive at 9:30 with coffee in hand, not at 7 to find the doors locked. Treat it as the start of an Upcountry day, an hour or two in town, then one nearby experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Komoda Bakery open and when does it sell out?
7:00 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; closed Wednesday and Sunday; listed to 1:00 p.m., but the cream puffs and stick donuts often sell out by mid-morning (checked Oct 2026). Call before a special trip.
How long do you need in Makawao?
A morning: 60–90 minutes for the town itself, longer if you shop seriously. It’s strongest from 9:30 through lunch. Pair it with Hoʻokipa, the Hāliʻimaile pineapple tour and lunch, or a Kula afternoon.
Where do you park in Makawao?
The free municipal lot behind the library, off Makawao Avenue, then walk into the center. Street spaces are few and turn over quickly.
