Beginning 1,600 feet upslope from Maui’s beaches, a unique province emerges. This is Maui’s
, a scattering of picturesque communities blessed by fresh mountain air, cool afternoon mists, sprawling
delightful
even
Tucked neatly into the slopes of sprawling
these communities have developed a distinct character of their own. An eclectic mix of historic and contemporary infl uences, it’s where the traditional
(Hawaiian cowboy) still rides and a community of
Upcountry is a short drive from the coastal resorts and communities of lower Maui. Take Haleakalā Highway (Highway 37), and keep an eye peeled for towns like
and
Makawao is a former paniolo town where ranch hands would come to pick up dry goods or a bite to eat before heading home after a long day. Today, whispers of the town’s paniolo past are still evident — hitching posts appear along Baldwin Avenue, and the annual Fourth of July parade and rodeo draw crowds from across the state. Eclectic boutiques fi lled with
and more line the streets. In the rural areas, boutique farmers are making an appearance. Our suggestions include Maui-grown wine and lavender. Up the mountain on
(mauiwine.com) grows grapes for its red, white and sparkling pineapple and grape wines, and
(aliikulalavender.com) in Kula, harvests lavender year-round
thanks to Maui’s warm, tropical climate.
