Maui Information - Communities
Upcountry Maui
While most people are first drawn to Maui's gold-sand beaches and bustling coastline resort communities, with time they are captured by the alluring, emerald green slopes of Haleakala and the cool, crisp air of Upcountry. There are no actual boundaries to this region but it is generally thought of as stretching from the upper cloud cover at around 4,600 feet in altitude to about 1,500 feet and Makawao Town on the north to Ulupalakua Ranch on the south.
Here, in this rural, serene pastureland you will find sprawling cowboy ranches, still run today by “paniolo” Hawaiian cowboys, flower farms, eucalyptus forests and spectacular all-island views.
Ulupalakua
Ulupalakua is ranch country. Resting on the southern slopes of Haleakala, Ulupalakua is home to the 23,000 acre Ulupalakua ranch as well as the Tedeschi Winery. There are not a lot of houses out here, but those that live in this rural community experience some of the best views in the islands and some of the most stunning sunsets.
The ranch was once owned by the legendary sea captain John McKee who came to Maui in the mid 1800's, bought the land and started a sugar plantation. He grew rich from this cash-crop and Hawaiian songs still celebrate his name and his renowned hospitality to kings and queens of bygone days.
The Winery, which was started in the early 1970's, now produces very well received wines including a surprisingly dry and palatable Maui Blanc made from pineapple juice.
Kula
Kula (which means rolling hills) is a land of lush green, rolling pasturelands, abundant vegetable and flower farms, flowering jacaranda trees and stunning views.
In the 1880's, during the California gold rush, Kula with its superb growing conditions, became the source of much of California's produce, eventually gaining the nickname "Nu Kaleponi", pidgin for New California. Many Chinese and Portuguese laborers, having worked off their contracts with the sugar plantations, moved to Kula during this time and made it their home, drawn by the rich agricultural lands and lifestyle.
Today it remains essentially the same with its quiet roads, rolling hills and bountiful crops, a serene and breathtaking slice of Maui. Every spring a special festival is held Upcountry in honor of the Jacaranda trees, those brilliant purple flowered trees which grace many of Kula's country road and dot the hills with purple mists.
Pukalani
Pukalani is a newer community, having grown in recent years with the desire and need for more upcountry housing. A popular golf course, the Pukalani Golf Course lies along its southern edge. Across from the major shopping center is the newly built, large community park with Olympic-size swimming pool and basketball courts. Pukalani, with the coolness and serenity of Upcountry and the easy driving distance to Kahului, is a perfect choice for many families.
Maui Upcountry Real Estate
Kula
Many people are drawn to Kula for its bi-coastal views, clean, crisp air and its true country feel. The area offers a variety of options to those looking to retreat to “Upcountry” living.
In Kula and its further reaches, Keokea and Ulupalakua, you can find small homes and small lots as well as large equestrian estates with acreage, barns, riding arenas and caretaker’s quarters…and everything in between. There are numerous subdivisions located in Kula. Some of the older ones started as early as the late 70’s and 80’s, such as Kula Kai, Kula Nani and Kula Mala, offer lovely homes, mature landscaping and many that have been updated and upgraded to keep pace with the times. The Ridge at Kulamanu and Kulamanu Estates are newer and offer buyers protective covenants. Currently these areas are commanding around $1 million to $1.5 million for the homes.
Makawao
Makawao prides itself in being still today, a real "paniolo" (cowboy) town. It is not uncommon to see cowboys and cowgirls on horseback riding through this town. Makawao, which means "Eye of the Dawn" or "Forest Beginning" is surrounded by pineapple fields on its lower slopes and pastures and forests above.
Settled in the late 19th century by Portuguese cattle ranchers, it is home today to stores operated by the same families for 50 years as well as award-winning eateries, spas, gift stores, art galleries and alternative medicine doctors. Every 4th of July, at Oskie Rice Arena, Makawao Town hosts the largest and most successful rodeo in Hawaii. At the same time the annual Paniolo Parade takes place, an old-fashioned good time with lots of decked-out horses and riders spreading Upcountry good cheer and aloha.
Upcountry Weather
Upcountry Maui is known for its cooler weather. Lying between 1,500 and 4,600 feet in altitude, summer temperatures average between 75 and 82. Winter months can be cool with temperatures during the day averaging around 69 to 75. Night time temperatures, like the rest of Maui average about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than daytime in both summer or winter. It is not unusual to find houses with old-fashioned fireplaces to help warm the hearth and heart. Upcountry is also known as Rainbow Country and often, during light rainy days, when the sun streams in it is possible to see a multitude of rainbows in all directions.
Upcountry Maui Schools and Churches
Upcountry Maui Schools
Preschools (Public and Private)
Fun 23 - (Ages 2-5) - Kula
Address: 5635 Lwr. Kula Rd., RR4 Box 64-H, Kula, HI 96790
Ph: (808) 878-2602
Haleakala Waldorf School - Nonsectarian (Pre K-8) Kula
Address: RR4 Box 790, Kula HI 96790
Ph: (808) 878-2511
Website: http://www.waldorfmaui.com
Anuenue Preschool (Ages 2.8-5) - Makawao
Address: 1445 Baldwin Ave., Makawao, HI 96768
Ph: (808) 579-8687
Montessori School Of Maui Nonsectarian (Ages 18 months-10) - Makawao
Address: 2933 Baldwin Ave, Makawao, HI 96768-0967
Ph: (808) 573-0374
Website: http://www.momi.org/
Makawao Hongwanji Pre-School (Ages 3-5) - Pukulani
Address: 223 Hiwalani Loop, Pukalani, HI 96768
Ph: (808) 572-7883
Pukalani Baptist Pre-School (Ages 2.8-6) - Pukulani
Address: 4 Loha, Pukalani, HI 96788
Ph: (808) 572-8685
Public Elementary Schools (Grades K-5)
Kula Elementary - Kula
Address: 5000 Kula Highway, Kula, HI 96790
Ph: (808) 876-7610
Website: http://www.k12.hi.us/~kula/
Makawao Elementary - Makawao
Address: 3542 Baldwin Avenue, Makawao, HI 96768
Ph: (808) 572-7281
Website: http://www.k12.hi.us/~jkaiaoka/webmasters/makawao.html
Pukalani Elementary - Pukalani
Address: 2945 Iolani Street, Pukalani, HI 96768
Ph: (808) 573-8760
Website: http://power2.k12.hi.us/index.cfm?siteID=258
Public Intermediate Schools (Grades 6-8)
Samuel Enoka Kalama Intermediate - Makawao
Address: 120 Makani Road, Makawao, HI 96768
Ph: (808) 573-8735
Website: http://kalama.hidoe.us/
Public High Schools (Grades 9-12)
King Kekaulike High - Pukalani
Address: 121 Kula Highway, Pukalani, HI 96768
Ph: (808) 573-8710
Website: http://165.248.215.101/Pages/Main%20Page.htm
Private Schools (K-12)
Haleakala Waldorf School - Nonsectarian (Pre K-8) Kula
Address: RR4 Box 790, Kula HI 96790
Ph: (808) 878-2511
Website: http://www.waldorfmaui.com
Clearview Christian Girl School Non-Denominational Christian (6-8) - Kula
Address: P O Box 835, Kula HI 96790
Ph: (808) 876-0123
Website: http://www.maui.net/~clearvu/
Montessori School Of Maui Nonsectarian (Pre K-8) - Makawao
Address: 2933 Baldwin Ave, Makawao, HI 96768-0967
Ph: (808)573-0374
Website: http://www.momi.org/
St. Joseph School Roman Catholic (Pre K-6) - Makawao
Address: 1294 Makawao Ave, Makawao, HI 96768-0967
Ph: (808)572-8675
Website: http://www.sjsmaui.org/
Seabury Hall School Episcopal affiliation (6 - 12) - Makawao
Address: 480 Olinda Road, Makawao, HI 96768-0967
Ph: (808)572-7235
Website: http://www.seaburyhall.org/
Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus Hawaiian & Church of Christ (Pre K-12) - Pukalani
Address: 275 Aapueo Parkway, Pukalani, HI 96768
Ph: (808) 442-3000
Website: http://maui.ksbe.edu/
Upcountry Maui Churches
Assemblies of God
First Assembly King's Chapel - Kula
Address: 26 Lower Kula, Kula, Maui HI 96790
Ph: (808) 878-3227
Web Site: www.kingschathedral.com
First Assembly of God (Grace Church) - Pukalani
Address: 1000 Kula Hwy., Pukalani, Maui HI 96768
Ph: (808) 572-8384
Baha'i
Baha'i Faith - Makawao
Address: 3574 Kekahi Place, Makawao, Maui HI 96768
Ph: (808) 572-0474
Baptist
Fundamental Baptist Church - Makawao
Address: 1283 Makawao Ave., Makawao, Maui HI 96768
Ph: (808) 572-9752
Pukalani Baptist Church (Southern Baptist) - Pukalani
Address: 36 Loha St., Pukalani, Maui HI 96768
Ph: (808) 572-7968
Buddhist
Makawao Hongwanji Mission - Makawao
Address: 1074 Makawao Ave., Makawao Maui HI 96768
Ph: (808) 572-7229
Catholic
Holy Ghost Mission & Our Lady Queen of Angels - Kula
Address: 9177 Kula Hwy. (near the Kula Community Center), Kula, Maui HI 96790
Ph: (808) 878-1261
St. Joseph's - Makawao
Address: 1294 Makawao Ave., Makawao, Maui HI 96768
Ph: (808) 572-7652
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - Makawao
Address: Kihapai Place, Makawao, Maui HI 96768
Ph: (808) 572-8903
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - Pukalani
Address: Pukalani Street, Pukalani, Maui HI 96768
Ph: (808) 572-7360
Congregational:
Makawao Union Church - Makawao
Address: 1445 Baldwin Ave., Makawao, Maui HI 96768
Ph: (808) 579-9261
Episcopal
St. John's Episcopal Church - Kula (Keokea)
Address: 8992 Kula Hwy., Keokea, Maui HI 96790
Ph: (808) 878-1485, (808) 878-6974
Web Site: http://www.stjohnsmaui.org/
Inter-denominational & Non-Denomination
Waipuna Chapel - Kula
Address: 17 Omaopio Rd.,(Kula Hwy. & Omaopio Rd.), Kula, Maui HI 96790
Ph: (808) 878-6343
Jesus is Alive Church - Pukalani
Address: 3700 Haleakala Hwy., Pukalani, HI 96768
Ph: (808) 573-5433
Nazarene
Pukalani Community Church of the Nazarene - Pukalani
Address: Upcountry Community Center, Pukalani, Maui HI 96768
Ph: (808) 572-5040
Pentecostal
Kula Prayer Mountain Facility - Kula
Address: 26 Lower Kula Rd., Kula, Maui HI 96790
Ph: (808) 878-1220
Upcountry Christian Fellowship - Pukalani
Address: 1000 Kula Hwy., Pukalani, Maui HI 96768
Ph: (808) 572-8384
United Church of Christ
Po'okela Church - Makawao
Address: 200 Olinda Rd., Macao, Maui HI 96768
Ph: (808) 573-0903
Unity
Temple of Peace Church- Makawao
Address: P.O.Box 1502, Makawao, Maui HI 96768
Ph: (808) 573-2463
Katrina Pitman Real Estate
P.O. Box 1733, Makawao, Maui, HI 96768
Phone: (808) 298-6938
Email: Katrina@KatrinaPitmanRealEstate.com
Credits: Photo of Hawaiian Torch Lighting Ceremony by Kristin Fein of Fein Art Photography: (808) 281-1302. Kula Oceanview by Mary Sloan of Mary Sloan Photography: (808) 283-6374. We would also like to thank Ralph Ward of Ralph Ward Photography for the use of his Upcountry Jacarandas Photo. Ralph can reached at: rsw108@gmail.com.
© 2007 Katrina Pitman Consulting Services