Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Upcountry is Maui's little secret. Occupying the slopes of the towering 10,023-foot
Haleakala Volcano, it's a far cry from the postcard-perfect beaches and resort-lined shores
so often equated with the island—although the sunsets are equally as spectacular. Here the
smell of eucalyptus trees replaces the rustle of palms and ranching and farming still domin-
ate the local lifestyle. Upcountry is where you throw on a light flannel and take a morning
drive through the crisp mountain air, perhaps stopping to relax on the porch of a family-run
coffeehouse where the patrons and staff all know one another by name. It's a place to hike
on the forested trails of Polipoli or Hosmer's Grove, take in the view from the summit of
Haleakala, or gaze all the way to the shoreline from 2,000 feet while tasting wine at Maui's
only vineyard. It's also Maui's most artistic community. In the ranching town turned New
Age outpost of Makawao, it's just as easy to buy a saddle as it is to purchase freshly blown
glass or boutique clothing. Whether you're catching a Sunday morning polo match, eating
freshly baked, homemade doughnuts, or buying farm-fresh vegetables straight from the
source, you'll see a side of Maui you never expected.
