I'm always surprised that so few of Maui's visitors take the time to explore one of the island's most beautiful and activity filled areas, Upcountry Maui.
Granted, most visitors make the trip to the summit of Haleakala, but all too many just turn around and return to their resort area. A visit to Upcountry Maui can take a full day, or more, but the rewards are well worth the effort.
Here are a few of our favorite Upcountry Maui attractions.
I second Makawao. It’s a great destination for an afternoon after your usual beach and snorkeling. Nice low key galleries, country stores. Very impressive to a City guy like myself. Combine the drive with a visit to Paia, the town you have to go to to get to Makawao (it’s bigger and not too quaint though). And since you’ve driven so far schedule dinner for either Mama’s Fish House or the wonderful Hali’imaile General Store (my #1 pick in Maui). Their location is wonderful by a pineapple field in the middle of nowhere.
Josh
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