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Upcountry Maui: Haʻikū to Ulupalakua, Upcountry Maui, Hawaii
Photo: Sue Salisbury Maui H… · CC BY 3.0 · cropped

Drives Hawaii Maui

Upcountry Maui: Haʻikū to Ulupalakua

Haleakala Highway, Haleakalā Highway, Kula Highway · Haʻikū → Ulupalakua

Sweeping22 mi50 min3,400 ft climbHigh point ≈ 3,100 ftOne way
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The drive

This is Maui's ranch-and-farm country, a 21.8-mile run along the slope of Haleakalā. It starts on Kokomo Road at Haʻikū and climbs to Makawao, an old paniolo town on the northwest side of the mountain at about 1,600 feet. From there Makawao Avenue joins the Kula Highway (Highway 37), which carries you south through Kula and Keōkea to Ulupalakua.

Upcountry is the part of the island that starts around 1,500 feet, and the road tops out near 3,100 feet. The bends are steady and sweeping rather than tight, with one short twisty stretch near the start. Kula is known for its produce farms and gardens, and the ocean sits below you through gaps in the pasture.

The drive ends at Ulupalakua, where the Kula Highway meets the Piʻilani Highway. MauiWine, Maui's historic winery, is here, with an open-air tasting porch. It is a calm road with a lot of local traffic, and the best way to enjoy it is unhurried.

Along the way

  1. Haʻikū (Kokomo Road)
  2. Makawao
  3. Kula
  4. Keokea
  5. Ulupalakua (Piilani Highway)
Elevation
3,400 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 3,100 ft
HaʻikūUlupalakua
Curves
Mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch
HaʻikūUlupalakua
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • The state posts weekly lane closures for Kula Highway, usually single-lane work during daytime hours, so allow extra time if you see cones.
  • The drive stops where the Piʻilani Highway begins; beyond Ulupalakua that road has unpaved sections, and some rental car companies prohibit it, so read your rental agreement before going on.
  • MauiWine's tasting room keeps set hours and is closed on Mondays, so check its site if the winery is the point of the trip.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Hawaii DOT: Maui lane closures.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Upcountry Maui drive from Haʻikū to Ulupalakua take?

Haʻikū to Ulupalakua is 21.8 miles and takes about 50 minutes without stops. The route follows Kokomo Road, Makawao Avenue and the Kula Highway.

Is the Upcountry Maui drive twisty?

Not very. The Kula Highway and Kokomo Road are mostly gentle, sweeping bends with one short twisty stretch, so it is a relaxed scenery drive rather than a fast one.

What is at the end of the Kula Highway at Ulupalakua?

The Kula Highway meets the Piʻilani Highway at Ulupalakua, where MauiWine has its tasting room. The Piʻilani Highway beyond has unpaved sections, so most people turn back here.

Is Upcountry Maui cooler than the coast?

Yes. The road climbs to about 3,100 feet on the slope of Haleakalā, so it is typically cooler and often cloudier than the beaches below.

What you get in the app

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More drives near here

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Upcountry Maui: Haʻikū to Ulupalakua, from Haʻikū to Ulupalakua