Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Kula Botanical Garden
The steep driveway for
Kula Botanical Garden
(638 Kekaulike Ave., 808/878-1715,
www.kulabotanicalgarden.com
, 9am-4pm daily, $10, children $3) is less than a mile from
Waipoli Road. This 19-acre private garden was started all the way back in 1969 and has
grown to include more than 2,500 species of plants. There are over 90 varieties of protea
alone. The self-guided walking tour will take about 45 minutes to drink it all in. If you are
on your way down from Haleakala and didn't get the chance to see a
nene,
there are two
that make a permanent home in the botanical garden—which means you can at least get
your photos of Hawai'i's endangered state bird. There is also a Jackson chameleon exhibit
for kids, a Christmas tree farm, three carved wooden tiki gods, and five acres of coffee
trees which produce beans you can buy right from the farm.
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Suring Goat Dairy
While out of the way, the eccentric
Surfing Goat Dairy
(3651 Omaopio Rd., 808/
878-2870,
www.surfinggoatdairy.com
, 9am-5pm Mon.-Sat., 9am-2pm Sun.) is a must-see
attraction because, quite frankly, where else on the island are you going to get the chance
to hand-milk a goat? Three miles down Omaopio Road off Kula Highway (Hwy. 37), a line
of enormous palms provides what's probably the most regal entrance to a goat dairy any-
where in the world. The palms are for a neighboring housing development, but they may
as well announce the fact you're only minutes away from sampling the best (and prob-
ably only) horseradish and cayenne pepper goat cheese you've ever taken to your palate.
There are more than 30 flavors of gourmet goat cheese, more than 25 types of goat cheese
truffles, and an ever-changing number of goats on the property. For the up-to-the-minute
number, check out the side of the red barn, where it's written in chalk. While the errant
surfboards, baby goats, and cheese sampling station are nice and all, the real reason for
coming here is to take the 3:15pm tour. There are tours for $10 which run every 30 minutes
10am-3pm, but for only $5 more you can take part in the only tour of the day that allows
you to get in on the action and hand-milk a goat.
Once you pass Rice Park and the turnoff for 377, the highway begins to take on a different
feel. The elevation slowly drops, the jacaranda trees provide shade over the road, and the
views of South Maui begin to open up before you. Life is slow up here, and much like
Kula, this is the hangout of artists, farmers, and lifelong ranchers. You'll know you've
