We drove an hour to get here and it was closed for some reason that wasn't super clear. Bummed as…read moreit looked beautiful and cooler weather!

We enjoyed ourselves on this peaceful hike with our dear aunty. Mainly lots of tall pine trees but…read morestill pretty cool up close to look at. About 20 minutes in you'll be able to see where some trees got burned from the past year Kula fires. Very sad. It's still in its healing process. Makes you wanna hug a tree. Approaching the spring we didn't see any freshwater coming through & Unfortunately got bitten by some nasty mosquitoes so be prepared to apply "off" bug spray. Thank goodness i had purchased Lavender hand wash soap & lotion from Kula Lavender Farms before coming here. Also if you're keen on "eye spy" things including Hawaiian native plants. Then keep your eyes peeled bcuz you can spot edible Pohole (Fern shoots) & Elderberries growing nearby. If you do pick them, clean it off at home. Soak with baking soda & white distilled vinegar. Then rinse & Enjoy!

With the hustle & bustle of our daily lives, there comes a time where we begin seeking refuge in…read moreother pursuits -- the quiet country life, travel to foreign countries, social interaction, etc. Ah yes, I'm talking that sweet work/life balance. Thompson Road offered the perfect little escape to help maintain that mental equilibrium that we so often forget in pursuit of our daily bread. With its volcanic rock walls guiding the walker's way and views from coast to coast to inspire a multitude of praises, I imagine this is the quintessential Maui view that dreams are made of. Breathtaking. Awe-inspiring. I thought to myself, "Damn, how lucky am I to have grown up on such a beautiful island? And why is it my first time here?" A sense of guilt suddenly struck for not appreciating my island home enough. Making our way down the paved path, the calling of the birds echoed through the trees, the cows mooed in the distance, cherry blossoms made surprise appearances, & clouds loomed in the distance. It was peaceful, it was relaxing, it was everything. We came across a few other souls with the same idea. I secretly hoped we'd cross paths with Oprah who lives nearby. We captured the attention of the ranch cows, finding them all lined up at the fence with eyes fixated on us. "A traffic jam!" my toddler so poetically exclaimed. & lastly we found ourselves caught in a rainstorm and retreated under our umbrella. Best to be prepared! In sum, we all need our time of repose. I found it here on Thompson Road.

Want a great walk and cool upcountry air? Must enjoy a jaunt on Thompson Road. Not many folks if…read moreyou go early and you can take a pup or 2 on a leash with you! Then grab coffee afterwards at Grandma's! Love this place for bacon and eggs or a pastry!

Hiking here was one of the highlights of my trip to Maui this summer. It's not a hike with…read morespectacular views but it's a beautiful hike with forest cover and is not strenuous at all. I loved that it was dog friendly and provides plenty of shade on a hot summer day in Maui. It's cooler here as it's upcountry so good to get a jacket. I picked up some food from pukalani Superette, so it made for a perfect picnic! Read the signs carefully as there are some parts that are for bikers only and they come fast and can crash into you. Overall, I loved coming here and exploring upcountry in Maui. If you need sometime away from the sun, come here, you will be in awe of nature and it's a nice contrast to the beaches in wailea (at least to me!).

such a beautiful and peaceful hike, really lets you escape from the heat!…read more the main kahakapao loop trail is about 9 km (5.5 miles), you can find it on alltrails to help guide you. there's a few smaller trails for biking as well. the trail was very clean, some of the paths are confusing though. overall, highly recommend since afterward, you can visit makawao town!

Lava Fields is more of a scenic beach walk than a traditional hike, and it's such a beautiful way…read moreto spend time outdoors. You're walking alongside the water with nonstop ocean views, and the contrast of the lava rock and blue water is stunning the entire way. What's great about this walk is how flexible it is. You can go for miles or turn around whenever you want, which makes it accessible for all levels. It's very close to Wailea and some gorgeous beaches, so it's easy to fit into your day. Be sure to wear good footwear since the lava rock can be uneven and unstable in areas. Seeing the wild goats along the way was an added bonus and made the experience feel extra special. Peaceful, scenic, and a must-do if you're in the area.

Once you come to the Bay you can walk an established trail along the lava fields…read more There are remnants of lava rock houses from long ago. Now you see wild goats.

This is about a 0.9 mile loop trail near the beginning of the Road to Hana. We were recommended to…read morestop here as one of our first stops, and it's a short and sweet hike with some elevation that shows you the beautiful greenage and foliage of the area. Trees are very grown, so you won't be able to see the ocean, and there were no super nice overlook spots. Be careful if there were recent rains as some of the trails gets really muddy and slippery. Super small little pull-out area for parking - fits maybe 6-7 cars, and that's it. Compared to all the hikes and stops we did on the Road to Hana, this was probably our least favorite stop. You have the option to do much better hikes and have better views farther down the road, especially if you make it to Haleakala National Park. I'd recommend skipping this stop unless you're just doing a short little drive and this would be one of your only stops.

Waikamoi Nature Trailhead and Parking Area has a tiny section for five to six cars, if it's packed…read moreyou can skip this place. No waterfalls and no restroom here, though the forest hiking itself is quiet and beautiful.

This is a great hidden treasure in Maui. Look for the walkway between the rock fences. The beach is…read moresmall but beautiful, and there is a little area that you can wade out into. Walking onto the beach can be a challenge for anyone who isn't too mobile. There are only a few parking places, so you sometimes need to get creative.

The most picturesque beach we went to in Maui. Soft yellow sand, ultra clear blue water, swaying…read morepalm trees, and black lava rocks with tidepools. You won't be the only one here but it's much less crowded than Makena Beach to the North. We went during "peak" time in late afternoon and at 9 am and both times there were other people there. It's very easy to find, google maps will lead to it accurately. You'll be in a residential neighborhood trying to find a break in the black stone wall but most likely you won't be able to spot it because cars will be around the entrance. The cove you walk into is part of the secret, you can go exploring north and south to find more though the only entrance we could find was through the black stone wall.

It's just a nice small grassy park in the Upcountry area, with lots of easy parking and great views…read moreof the Central Valley and West Maui mountains. The cooler climate makes it easy to play outdoors without overheating. Kids love to take their cardboard pieces and slide down the hill here, reminiscent of the old Hawaiians who would slide down steep hills on wooden sleds. There is no ballpark and there's not a whole lot of flat areas.

After picking up some food, decided just to chill at this park and enjoy the beautiful views!!…read moreWatched someone release balloons and we decided to bring out some bubbles and just let the gentle wind blow them away.

Beautiful just absolutely beautiful serene and epic views. The drive is somewhat challenging but…read moreworth it.

Nice trails with lots of shade. Can be as challenging or as chill as desired. Lots of space to…read moreexplore, but is off grid so make sure you know how to get back to your car.

Memorial Park in Kula, Maui…read more This is a beautiful small roadside park along the Kula Highway (Route 37) in the Upcountry part of Maui. Located between Mile Markers 18 and 19. We stopped here for a short while on our way out from Ulupalakua. The park was nicely maintained and clean, free from trash. We found many stray, wild chickens around, mostly at the small parking area but these chickens move everywhere... In the park is a stone arch with a pair of Chinese guardian lions (or imperial guardian lions) called Fu Foo Dogs, two larger than life bronze statues of Sun Yat Sen and his brother Sun Mei, as well as shady trees and tropical plants. There are a few picnic tables placed apart from each other around the park. No grills. Nice and peaceful. Look down to see beautiful views of Kihei, Wailea, Puu Olai, Makena, and the West Maui Mountains... so cool to see the islands of Molokini and Kahoolawe. We could tell the crescent-shaped of the island. This is an uninhabited islet, btw, located between the islands of Maui and Kahoolawe. There are no restroom facilities in this park. Nice history break. Review #2731

Cute little park that anyone can easily miss and it is not in a popular area. There is not much…read morecell reception or bathroom so plan accordingly.

This is a simple botanical garden. No bells and whistles, just a nice, quiet place to walk and…read moreenjoy the plants, flowers, and koi pond. There's a very small gift shop, and parking was a bit tricky (very small lot). I could have sat at the koi pond all day feeding fish, very relaxing. Take your time walking or else you'll speed through it in no time.

After checking out of our hotel, we needed to kill some time before our red-eye flight out of Maui,…read moreso we decided to visit Kula Botanical Garden. Honestly, it felt a bit overpriced at $15 per person for what it offers. The garden is quite small, with not much to see, and we were able to walk through the entire place in about 45 minutes. Ironically, the most interesting thing we saw was a chameleon in a cage near the entrance, not the flowers or plants themselves. The cashier was friendly and provided us with a map and a quick overview of the grounds, which we appreciated. Overall, we weren't impressed and wouldn't go out of our way to visit again.