I live in Maui’s upcountry region and I would like to describe a great, low cost, day trip.

Haleakala (House of the Sun), at 10,023ft, is the largest mountain on the island of Maui. From the airport in Kahului it is approximately an hour and a half to the top and Haleakala National Park. If you’re an early riser I encourage you to see the sunrise. I must warn you though that the odds of seeing it are very slim. I have only seen it twice but I have made the attempt over 10 times. The change of colors in the crater and the rays shooting through the clouds can be spectacular. The problem is that the clouds can completely cover the mountain.

This can also ruin the 360-degree view of the island. If you are socked in; the novelty of a floor of clouds is very unique. Huh? The clouds may completely ring the mountain but because you are above them it can seem like you can just step off the mountain and walk right on to them. We were there once and watched the sun sink below the clouds. It can almost feel godlike.

You can now make several choices; once your experience in the park has ended.  You might want to consult a map when considering some of the choices, a vineyard (Tedeschi), flower farms or botanical gardens and then a picnic at the beach. It would Depend on how energetic you are, your interests or how much time you have.  You may decide to do them all or none. Whatever you decide I would recommend Makawao town as a short respite and a chance to do some souvenir hunting. This is not a tourist town.

Upcountry is cattle country and Makawao is a wonderful blend of Cowboys and Vegetarians; new agers and immigrants from the plantation era; a mosaic of cultures, attitudes and lifestyles. This small little town has an array of restaurants, cafes, deli’s, shops and art galleries.  I’d recommend Komoda’s for their creampuffs and Casanova’s deli for the best tiramisu. I’ve had tiramisu in different parts of Italy, New York (even our New York friends agreed) and elsewhere; this is just the best. Rodeo General Store also has a fantastic selection of wines, very impressive for such a small town store. Go to viewpoints Gallery and head to the back. There you’ll find prints and limited editions, sometimes inexpensive, of some of the artwork in the gallery. This is a collective type of Gallery so it’s like your buying directly from the artist, minimal mark-up.

Now it’s time to head down to the beach. Baldwin Avenue will take you down to a small town called Pa’ia but along the way is a visual arts center called the Hui No’e’au (1 808 572 6560) call to see if they have any shows happening. They also have a small gift shop there that may contain the perfect bauble.

Pa’ia is considered the windsurf capital of the world. This is a beach town with lots of small shops and the best hamburger I've ever had. A 1/3 of a lb. of beef covered with real cheddar and coleslaw from a place called, of all things Paia Fish Market, Picnics for sandwiches is also good. There is also a small liquor store there that has almost every beer imaginable. If you decide against a picnic go to Charley’s, great eats at very reasonable prices.

Your next decision is to figure out which beach to go to and have your picnic. Towards Hana is Ho’okipa which is a nice stop if you just want to watch the wind surfers and don’t plan on swimming. Towards Kahului are a number of beaches to choose from. Right in Paia is a small beach park that sometimes has very competitive pick-up basketball games. Your best bet would be Baldwin Beach, towards Kahului; tons of sand, lifeguards and a covered picnic area.

I hope you’ll love my island as much as I do.

If you found my guide usefull please vote.  If you didn't find it usefull great no vote on your part.  You can always email and let me know how to improve it.

Aloha,

Kevin