Upcountry Maui has many endearing features; a cool climate, breathtaking views of the island, quiet neighborhoods, and . . . fun roads?!?
That's right, a rarely mentioned feature of the Upcountry Maui landscape are it's great to drive roadways. Serene and typically devoid of traffic, the roads leading to and from 15800 Haleakala Hwy. are a joy to drive. Haleakala Highway in particular is a joy to drive. Stretching from below sea level and running well past 15800 Haleakala Hwy. (all the way to Haleakala Crater, at about 10,000ft.), Haleakala Highway starts off as a relatively straight shot up the mountain until about the 1500ft. level, just above the town of Pukalani. It's at this point that the Highway changes from multi-lane straight and boring, to two lanes smoothly snaking up and down the mountain slope. Here the climate changes; warm air becomes a cool breeze and miles of sugar cane gives way to beautiful rolling hills. Amongst these hills you will find a multitude of curves, a few quick left right lefts, and even the occasional switchback on your climb upwards. Through much of your journey, the Highway runs alongside the mountain, giving way to a view of the island so clear that you will want to pull over to take it all in. On a good day, you can even see the islands of Molokai and Lanai framing the West Maui Mountains. As you progress upwards, a small gathering of quaint Maui homes lead you through a lush tree dotted landscape straight to 15800 Haleakala Hwy.
Haleakala Highway is the prefect drive to and from your Upcountry Maui property; morning, noon, or night there is always beautiful scenery on display, all the more enjoyable from the cockpit of a performance sedan or coupe!
Here is a very small sampling of what you can enjoy on Haleakala Hwy:
