Perfect Days With Kids

Maui

South Shore	Lahaina & Kn'anapali	Hanakao'o Beach to Kahehili	Kipahula to Kaupo
North Shore & Road to Hana	Northwest Coast Adventures	Molokai	Lanai

Kipahulu – Kaupo - Kula

The big decisions on a trip with kids to Hana, ‘Ohe’o Gulch and Kipahulu are whether to stay at least one night and preferably several nights, and which way to return from Hana to your lodgings in South, West or North Maui. Our recommendation for the return trip is to drive the very memorable road through Kipahulu, visit Lindbergh’s grave (most children have heard or read about Lindbergh in school), and then drive the paved and, for a stretch, unpaved road through Kaupo with a stop for snacks at the Kaupo Store (however, don’t count on the store being open).

Older children with some horseback riding experience probably would be thrilled to take an overnight Kaupo Gap Trail ride on horseback with Charley Aki, accompanied by their parents, of course. You’ll stay overnight in a Haleakala National Park campground or cabin in the crater, visit the Bottomless Pit, Silversword Loop and return to Kaupo the next day. The trip starts and ends at Charley’s house in Kaupo. You need to book this trip with Charley at least 3 months in advance and it costs $350 per person (including kids, cabin accommodations, camp site fees, food and gear included, 248-8209).

The next stop should be Hui Aloha Church standing on a bluff overlooking Mokulau Bay, just because it’s so beautiful and you might be able to see Mauna Loa on the Big Island across the waves in Alenuihaha Channel. Driving the “back-way” from Hana up to ‘Ulupalakua Ranch, a short pep talk from the driver may be needed while passing through Kaupo to forewarn the kids that the next stretch of road will look like driving across Mars and the road’s asphalt will be rather bumpy. Further on past the Kaupo Store, near MM 30, take another leg-stretcher at Nu’u Bay where there’s a short loop hike to see reddish petroglyphs etched in the rocks.

Make sure to look inland and point out to your kids the awesome sight of Kaupo Gap rising 8000’ up the fissured side of Haleakala. That view certainly will have special meaning if your family went on the Kaupo Gap trail ride. The next game to play is called “watch for the goats” up in the hills, with some appropriate prize for the child who finds the most goats. Anything to keep young minds off the barren landscape on Hwy. 31 up the lower reaches of Haleakala to ‘Ulupalakua Ranch.

As soon as you arrive at Tedeschi Winery and then Keokea, just a couple of general stores, Grandma’s Coffee House, and a gas station, it will feel to everyone like being back in “civilization,” even though it’s just Upcountry Kula. The road from Hana to Kipahulu and Kaupo up to ‘Ulupalakua should be one of the most memorable family drives on Maui, along with the Road to Hana and the drive along the Northwest coast to Kahakuloa.

Meals
When you finally arrive in Ulupalakua Ranch and tiny Keokea, it’s probably around dinnertime; everyone is tired, starving and eager to have dinner. You have several really good dinner choices, without driving more than 10-15 minutes from Keokea: Kula Lodge on Hwy. 377; on Lower Kula Rd., Café 808 between Hwy. 37 and Hwy. 377; and Casanova, Polli’s Mexican Restaurant or the Makawao Steak House in Makawao. Each of these restaurants is excellent for kids as well as adults and each one is very different.