Directions from Wailea & Lahaina

Travel toward the airport and take highway 36 to the Haleakala Highway 37. Highway 37 eventually becomes 31, which again becomes 36 as you circumnavigate the volcano.

Maui Stables is located in Kipahulu on the east shore of Maui, in the district of Hana. To experience the true wilderness of Old Hawaii, it is necessary to get as far away from development as you can. A mere 50 miles from the major resort areas, the drive can take up to 2 ˝ hours. Be prepared—leave your hotel by 6:30 a.m., as there are many interesting points along your journey to the sables. Once in the Upcountry region of the volcano on Highway 37, look for Grandma’s Coffee House just past Mile Marker 16 and stop for wonderful local brewed coffee and homemade pastries. Continue on to the Ulupalakua Ranch and Store, where the Tedeschi Vineyards Winery is located. From this vantage point on a clear day, you can see the islands of Hawaii, Kahoolawe, Molokini, Lanai, and Molokai. Coming around the corner, the shoreline of Maui lies in the Alenuihaha Channel—26 miles across to the island of Hawaii—considered the roughest channel in the world.

Here the landscape dramatically changes as you enter Pele’s land (Hawaii’s Fire Goddess). Toward the ocean, lava flows tell of her power.

Toward the mountains is a depleted land, bare of its once verdant rain forests that helped sustain native Hawaiian populations numbering in the tens of thousands. The forests were decimated first in the early 1800’s from the sandalwood trade, and completed later with the cutting of the native koa and ohia trees to fire the furnaces of sugar mills. After the sugar industry failed in these areas, the cattle ranchers completed the job of deforestation. However in the lower lands some of the Native dry land forests still remain.

Native endemic Wili Wili flowering tree

Further along (Miles 20-24) you will see the stone foundation ruins of what was once a flourishing Hawaiian village.

The mountain vegetation eventually begins to green as the prominent Kaupo Gap slices into the side of the volcano where the lava flows spilled to the sea. Adjacent to the gap is the beginning of the Kipahulu Valley, frequently pouring with waterfalls as you once again begin to enter the rainforest.

At Mile 33, the road is unpaved for five miles. Not to fear—Mile 34 is the Kaupo Store.

Back into the lush Kipahulu area, cross a few streams and look for our sign just past the 40 Mile mark. Turn right down the paved road. We are at the end, on your right.

Aloha—Welcome to Kipahulu!