Staying at Kula Lodge in Maui

An honest review of our stay at one of the mid-century cabins at Kula Lodge
in the cool Upcountry of Maui

Written by Lauren

This post is not sponsored or affiliated. Just my honest thoughts about my experience.

When I was planning my trip to Maui, all I knew for sure was that I wanted to experience all the things. All the vibes. All the locations. 

I wanted a wholistic experience—from mauna to moana, from mountain to ocean.

Enter: Kula Lodge in Kula, the Upcountry of Maui. 

What you’ll find here: our bumpy check-in experience, quiet mornings overlooking the mountains, valley view dining at Kula Lodge Restaurant, as well as other amenities, accessibility, and driving distances to other parts of the island.

“Restful stay to the adventurous travelers.”

The vibe here at Kula Lodge is rustic and romantic. Think wood-paneled mid-century cabins in a remote locale with no tv—but hey, there’s an electric fireplace and secluded lanai overlooking the valley! What more could you ask for?

All five lodges have private lanai’s with garden and mountain views, making it the perfect tranquil place to rest after an adventurous day. And the western-facing lanai’s make it the perfect place to catch the sunset over the island.

Each lodge can accommodate one to four guests.

Though the grounds aren’t extensive (it is on the side of a mountain, after all), they are beautifully and lovingly maintained; filled with birdsong and views over the valley. 

There is a meandering, paved garden path beneath the restaurant terrace. 

History of Kula Lodge

Once a privately owned home that hosted parties for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Katherine Hepburn, the property was converted into a lodge (with the addition of the five guest lodges) in the 1950s. 

Location

15200 Haleakala Hwy, Route 377
Kula

Elevation: 3200 ft

“Upcountry” is, well, up country. It’s the elevated range (the slopes) around Haleakalā. 

It’s beautiful countryside up here with winding roads. 

A place to “get away from it all”—almost like a vacation from a vacation. Less crowded, less touristy, not a beach in sight. It felt slower to me—the pace of life up here. Slower, quieter, and cooler. 

A bucolic respite.

And well worth the visit. 

Kula Lodge Check-in Process

Check in is at 3pm. If you’re going to arrive later, call ahead. 

Since we arrived early, we spent some time exploring Kula Lodge Marketplace, stocking up on snacks and local goodies. 

The check-in counter is located inside the Kula Lodge Restaurant (to the left when you walk through the front doors, opposite of where you enter the dining room).

Admittedly, this part was a bit bumpy for us. 

All communications from Kula Lodge, post-booking, clearly stated that check in is at 3pm, and if you are going to be late, you need to call. 

Since this is a boutique lodge with a much smaller guest pool, and not a hotel chain or conglomerate, I understand the need for clear timing. 

Which is why, after picking Ashley up from the airport at 2pm, we headed straight to Kula (as opposed to doing anything else), so we could be prompt for the check in time. 

Kula is about a half hour drive from the airport, putting us in the parking lot of the lodge around 2:30pm. Since we were so early, we spent about fifteen to twenty minutes wandering about the marketplace, buying snacks and such. 

We then arrived at the front desk around 2:45-2:50pm. There is no waiting room seating, so we stood there while the two employees, one behind the desk and one in the office beyond, adamantly ignored us, refusing to even acknowledge our presence. 

Which was kinda awkward considering we were literally the only guests in the lodge at the time.

I understand that we were early. I also understand that Hawaiian time and customs run on their own rhythms. I also understand being in the middle of a task when guests arrive. But standard hospitality etiquette would be to acknowledge said guests with eye contact and a quick, brief “I will be with you as soon as I can” acknowledgement. 

Instead, we were left standing there wondering if we were even where we were supposed to be. 

At about three minutes to the hour, the employee behind the desk looked up at us and said, dead-ass serious, “Check-in is at three.” 

So, we looked at her, looked down at our watches, looked at each other, and then walked outside, where we stood, eating our Hana Gold chocolate bars from the marketplace to kill the time (three whole minutes) until it was exactly three o’clock. 

Moral of the story here, folks: check-in is, apparently, exactly at 3pm. Not a minute too soon nor too late.

I think the most affronting thing about the whole check-in experience here, was that the rest of the island runs pretty much on island time. It’s easy, breezy out there, baby. So after days of experiencing a very lenient way of approaching time, the rigidness of Kula Lodge’s timing felt like whiplash. 

Moving along though, once it was actually three, check-in itself was quick. We were given a key to our lodge and sent on our merry way. 

Kula Lodge room experience

We stayed in Lodge #4. 

Overall, the room itself was very cozy and comfortable. We appreciated the table and chairs as a resting place to sort out our suitcases and my pandora’s box of photography gear. 

The Lodges are spacious with plenty of natural light and views.

It was also such a wonderful experience stepping out onto the lanai first thing in the morning, hearing the birds and seeing the sun spread out over the valley below.

The bathroom had a heat lamp, which was a nice touch, especially for those chilly nights and mornings.

Our stay at Kula Lodge

We stayed at Kula Lodge for two nights. 

On our first night, after showering and pulling ourselves together, we headed down the mountain into Pā’ia for dinner.

Driving back up the mountain in the dark wasn’t nearly as treacherous as I thought it’d be. In fact, it went fully without incident.

The next day was our Road to Hāna day. 

On our last morning, we had breakfast in Kula Lodge, bright and early before checking out.

Nothing like sipping a cup of coffee while watching the sunrise over the slopes of Haleakalā.

Don’t forget to check out Kula Marketplace 
for snacks and local goodies.

You’ll find a great assortment of local goods—from food (wine, honey, chocolate), bath and beauty products, home decor, and souvenirs—from over 200 local artisans and craftsmen. 

I highly recommend you stop by here even if you’re not staying at Kula Lodge. 

Wining + Dining at Kula Lodge Restaurant & Bar

8am to 9pm Wednesday through Sunday

Closed Monday and Tuesday

The restaurant has the feel of a mid-century Hawaiian ski lodge: wood-paneled walls, stone fireplace complete with antler chandeliers, expansive floor to ceiling windows showcasing a panoramic view out over the valley, all complemented by plush Hawaiian floral seat cushions and, occasionally, accompanied by live music.

The Garden Terrace hosts ten round tables, all shaded underneath red umbrellas, built into the rocky slope of the garden (be advised: there are stairs involved). The terrace is also home to the artisanal pizza oven on site.

Kula Lodge Restaurant Menu Overview

On the menu, you’ll find artisanal pizza (gluten free and vegan options available! Can I get a hallelujah?) and a mix of local Hawaiian and hearty grill fare. Kula Lodge has a full bar with craft cocktails, local brews, and an extensive wine list.

We recommend making reservations.

But when we went for breakfast, we were some of the few guests staying on site, and we arrived right when they opened, so we were given the best seats in the house—the corner table with panoramic views.

Frequently Asked Questions

Despite our bumpy (and honestly not very welcoming or hospitable) check-in experience, our stay at Kula Lodge was pleasant and a welcome change of pace from our stays on the coast. 

The grounds were quiet and peaceful, as were the views overlooking the valley below. We loved being twenty minutes out from Pā’ia, which made for easy trips into town for dinner and drinks. 

Kula Lodge also serves as a great home base for your Road to Hāna day and for exploring Maui’s Upcountry.

So, if you’re looking to mix up your Maui itinerary with a mountain stay Upcountry, consider booking Kula Lodge for a night or two, and remember, check in is at exactly 3pm. 

Until then, 

Mahalo!