Haleakala Crater

Out-of-this-world sightseeing & hiking

Rating: In a nutshell: Haleakala Crater is the most popular attraction in Upcountry Maui. Stunning sunrises, panoramic out-of-this-world landscapes, birds-eye views of the Maui central valley, and flora and fauna that exist nowhere else in the world. Minuses: The air is thin, and hiking here is not for the less fit. Sound-bite: “Oh my Lord, it is cold up here!” …

The Back Side of Haleakala

Scenic return route from Hana

Rating: In a nutshell: If you like the road less traveled, continuing on past Hana around Haleakala is an adventure worth taking. In about the same amount of time as it would take you to go back the way you came, you can see a side of Maui many miss. Minuses: The road becomes rough for portions and rental car …

Tedeschi Winery aka Maui Wine tasting room

Keokea through Ulupalakua

Scenic vistas, Grandma's and winery

Rating: In a nutshell: A hearty breakfast or lunch, then off for scenic vistas, and wine tasting. Minuses: The road in Ulupalakua is unforgiving if you become over-enthusiastic during the wine tasting! Sound-bite: “They should call this ‘Paniolo soul food’, brah!” This is a good side-trip to take after a Haleakala Crater sunrise trip, or during a planned Upcountry exploration …

Makawao Town

Eclectic town, art, restaurants, shops

Rating: In a nutshell: Makawao is a soulful little eclectic town, with as much diversity in shops as in people. Oh, and the best bakery in the state (and probably beyond.) Minuses: Parking is tough, except at the non-central municipal lot. Sound-bite: “Crossroads of Upcountry Maui.” DETAILS: Makawao is an old, Upcountry, Paniolo town. A Paniolo is a Hawaiian Cowboy. …

Pu’u Maneoneo Petroglyphs & Village Ruins

Village ruins, hidden petroglyphs

Rating: In a nutshell: An extensive and well-preserved rock art site that rivals the best rock art sites of the other islands. Minuses: This a remote place on Maui that requires some off-trail hiking in dense forest. The amount of kiawe trees in the area virtually assures that you’ll draw blood at some point. Sound-bite: “How often do these trees …

The House of the Sun in 1907

Jack London's account of Haleakala

Photo Credit (above): Ewen Roberts, licensed under Creative Commons 2.0 Intro I was reading an old guidebook I dug up from a box in the attic this morning and I came across a chapter Jack London wrote about Haleakala ~1907. I was struck by how much of what he described a century ago remains accurate today. The story takes the …

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