Other tours on Maui's Hana Highway don't start with a Hawaiian continental breakfast, or serve cold drinks all day long. They don't serve you a wonderful lunch either. They expect you to fend for yourself all day long. Valley Isle Excursions knows how to treat everyone that comes to Maui and share the aloha with them. It's who they are and they love what they do.
Now, Valley Isle Excursions is a different tour company. They are family run and local. They care about the Hawaiian people and everyone is actively involved in island life. From the owner to the lowly web guy, they all have a connection to the island, the culture and it's people.
So they started planning an Upcountry Tour and everyone in the company got excited. Where would they go and what would they do. The good thing is that because they are a small company and the vans are quite small, seating only 12 people. It allows them to do things that other tour companies can only dream of.
So what would be on a list of stops on upcountry tour? First you will have to define what is Upcountry on the island of Maui. Upcountry we consider to be towns and villages like...
Makawao - This is a Piioholo (cowboy) town with many of the orginal buildings. This town has many wonderful shops and art galleries to explore.
Kula - This is where most people on Maui want to live. The beautiful sunset views, the gorgeous farms and small ranches, wonderful people, cafes and restaurants. Overall a very friendly place to be.
Keokea - Well this area too is where many people really want to live. Oprah and many celebrities have land up here. It's home to a lifestyle that is far removed from the hustle of the tourist part of the islands and yet not that far away. The views, the forests, Grandma's cafe and more are places you definitely want to check out.
Ulapalakula - Is home to Maui's only winery, Tedeschi winery. It has a great little deli and other scenic spots. Even a leader of China made his home up in this area.
Beyond these towns there is so much more to the island of Maui's Upcountry. A land of mystery and legend. A land spewing volcanos, terrible disease, over-population and tough choices. These areas should be experienced and visited.
So if you have some ideas of what you would like to experience put in your two cents in the comments below. Let us know what you would like to see in your Upcountry Tour.
