Maui day trip: Haleakalā and Upcountry

Drive up Haleakalā (sunrise needs a reservation; daytime visits just need the park entry pass), then come down through cool Upcountry Maui: Kula Botanical Garden, the paniolo (cowboy) town of Makawao with Komoda Store's famous cream puffs, then Paʻia and the Hoʻokipa lookout to watch windsurfers and turtles.

1. Kahului
2. Haleakalā summit
3. Kula Botanical Garden
4. Makawao (Komoda Store)
5. Paʻia
6. Hoʻokipa Lookout

• 1. Haleakalā National Park summit: sunrise entry (3 to 7 a.m.) needs a Recreation.gov reservation; any time needs the park pass. It's often below freezing before dawn.
• 2. Kula Botanical Garden (Kekaulike Road, about 3,300 ft): protea, orchids and native plants.
• 3. Makawao: paniolo town with galleries and T. Komoda Store and Bakery, open since 1916, known for cream puffs and stick donuts. Go early; it sells out.
• 4. Paʻia: lunch and shops.
• 5. Hoʻokipa Beach Park lookout: windsurfers and resting honu (keep 10 feet away).
• The summit road climbs from sea level to 10,000 feet in about 2 hours; bring layers and fill up on gas.
• Tap "Open all stops in Google Maps" for the whole route. Phone browsers may show only the first few stops; the Google Maps app shows them all.

Sources: Maui Now: Komoda Bakery, more than a century in Makawao · Kula Botanical Garden (Wikipedia) · National Park Service: Haleakalā sunrise

Last checked Oct. 29, 2026. Hours, fees and rules can change, so confirm with the official source before you go.