When people refer to the beautiful Upcountry portion of Maui they are usually referring to the area known as Kula. Kula, like the coastal district of Haiku is really an area as opposed to a town. There are a couple small "mom and pop" groceries and a couple very good restaurants but other than that your nearest town is Pukalani or Makawao for supplies and goods. The area here is all rural and it seems that from wherever you are in Kula you have some great views of the isthmus below and the West Maui Mountains surrounded by Maalaea Bay on one side and Kahului Bay on the other.
The Many Faces of Kula
The rainfall in Kula varies but it can tend to be dry in the summers. At 2000' to 4000' or so you should remain cool however. The mornings have a tendency to be sunny and the afternoons can be cloudy and quite often a halo of clouds will ring the mountain just above the 6000' mark. This is the area of the island that you will travel through on your way to visit Haleakala Crater and you will remember it for its rich scents and fragrances particularly as you smell the camphor as you drive through the eucalyptus forests.
Kula produces fresh crops for Maui
Kula is also the area that is known for its fantastic island produce. Just about anything will grow in Kula very well and it is particularly known for its sweet Maui onions. These onions have been compared to onions all over the world and with regard to taste and they usually come out on top. Every day you can see farmers hauling their special epicurean treasures down to the markets and the docks in Kahului and most of the finest restaurants on the island pride themselves for serving the freshest in Kula produce.
Pin Cushion Protea
Aside from veggies Kula is also known for its flowers. One particular type of flower is called the Protea and it comes in many different varieties from King Protea, to Pink Mink to what is referred to as a Pin Cushion. These plants only grow well in South Africa, Australia and in Hawaii. They need the altitude and the special climate and there are a number of flower farms in Kula that ship these amazing flowers daily to the mainland.
Kula Lavender Farm
In the last decade or so the beautiful Lavender blooms have become a crop that has proliferated on the slopes in Kula. Lavender is also a crop that requires the specific type of climate that can be found in Kula and now days people make the trek up the mountain to Kula just to spend time on the lavender farms. You can see more than just the flowers here as you can taste products made from the lavender and enjoy its scent in any one of a number of novel floral gifts.
User Comments are a new feature: Be the first to submit a Comment!
Related Information
