About Kula The Kula district of Maui has frequently been called the Marin County of Hawaii! Rural in atmosphere, this area was once the exclusive home of cowboys and farmers. In recent years it has been transformed into a stylish retreat. The area includes all the villages and towns on Haleakala’s upper slopes. The main community of Makawao lies at fifteen hundred feet, providing a spectacular view of the blue Pacific Ocean. Makawao’s shops sell saddles, leathers, rifles and all the gear you’d expect to find in an Old West town. Within walking distance, you’ll find shops filled with hundreds of items, ranging from local artwork to imports from exotics ports of call. It’s not unusual to find horses hitched up behind the stores while several expensive four wheel drive vehicles are parked in front. When the descendants of Christian Missionary families moved to the area they found life on the slopes of Haleakala’s a combination of the Old West and the climate of the tropics. They built many grand homes across the countryside. Today, some of those same homes are quarters to local art centers and schools. Upcountry (as it is called by the locals) first saw a real burst of growth over a hundred years ago when the immigrants from China, Japan, Madeira and the Azores moved to Maui. These newcomers worked hard to build their own homes while they toiled on the ranches and farms in the area. These hearty pioneers taught their children a love of the land that is still in evidence today. As you travel through the area on gently winding two-lane roads, you’ll see hundreds of gardens growing several different varieties of flowers, ranging from the “English Country” species to beautiful tropical blooms. All grow to perfection in the rich volcanic soil and the cooler temperatures of Upcountry Maui. The daytime temperatures at this level on the slopes of Haleakala usually range in the seventies, while at the higher elevations the thermometer may climb only into the sixties. The farming potential of this rich soil was first recognized by the early Hawaiians centuries ago. At first they cultivated taro and sweet potato crops, and later, when the whaling ships came to port, they switched to Irish potatoes. When those ships anchored in Maalaea harbor, they would raise a white flag that was a signal to bring crops down the mountain to trade. During the time of the California Gold Rush on the Mainland, in the mid 1800’s, Upcountry Maui Farmers fed the Forty-Niners a variety of food, including potatoes, corn, apples, peaches, plums and peas. This area becomes so prosperous that it was known as Nu Kaliponi (New California). Kula Farmers even did their part to support the Union Army during the War between the States. Much of the cotton used in uniforms that had previously been supplied to the Army from Southern Plantations was grown Upcountry. The early taro patches were later replaced by rice paddies, and then finally converted to sugarcane. Those early sugar plantations were the foundation for all the Upcountry Ranches including the huge thirty-thousand acre Ulupalakua Ranch. Today, Kula farmers produce lettuce, cabbage, turnips, tomatoes, cauliflower, cucumbers, carrots, peas, and the world-famous Kula Onion. Upcountry flowers grace the bouquets of boutiques around the world. As you drive around the area, you’ll see enormous fields of carnations waving gently in the breeze. Many visitors are surprised to find that Upcountry even produces its own wine and champagne. The Tedeschi Winery grows fifteen acres of superb Carnelian grapes that are later made into wine and champagne in the winery located on the Ulupalakua Ranch. Upcountry’s Champagne, Blanc de Noirs, was served at the second inauguration of President Ronald Reagan. From Pukalani to Poli Poli, Upcountry Maui remains very much ranch country. One of the biggest events each year is the Makawao Rodeo, held every July Fourth weekend. Cowboys from all over the Islands come to compete in the annual event. With some of the newcomers being drawn to the rural lifestyle that is perpetuated Upcountry, it’s not likely that this beautiful countryside will change much in the years ahead, and will remain Maui’s Tribute to a lifestyle that has disappeared on much of the mainland. Kula Cottage Home Page