It’s no secret that I think a visit to Maui without a trip to the upcountry is incomplete and while I could put together a full days itinerary (heck, multiple days!), if you’re short on time and looking for something for the whole family, it’s got to be a stop at the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm.

Ali’i Lavender Farm

There’s more than one lavender farm on Maui, but the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm (AKL) is the special one.

Here’s what you need to know about visiting AKL:

A lavender farm anywhere is rather pretty, but the big reason to come to this one is for THE VIEWS.

I’ve heard people say that they expected to see more lavender, but that it was worth going just for the view, and honestly…that’s about the sum of it. Don’t get me wrong…there’s plenty of lavender growing on the property, just don’t expect to see sweeping fields of lavender.

That being said, the view is SPECTACULAR. It really gives you a different perspective on the island when you can see it stretched out at your feet.

If you’re a lavender enthusiast, the best time to visit the farm is June through September when it’s in full bloom although they have several varieties of lavender that bloom year round.

Lavender aside, the property is BEAUTIFUL and honestly I enjoy seeing a lot of the tropical flowers and trees more than anything.

It’s pretty compact and while it’s very hilly it doesn’t really require that much walking to see the whole property.

As much as I love this place, I think it’s pretty easy to see in an hour or so (and that’s probably on the generous side). That being said, DO NOT MISS THE GIFT SHOP.

AKL sells their lavender products in various shops around the island, but this is the holy grail. Every possible thing you could ever imagine made with lavender or lavender themed plus a lot of great merch in general.

And they have plenty of treats that you MUST try like lavender coffee, lemonade, iced tea, scones, brownies, etc. Grab a treat to enjoy out on the lanai while you take in the views.

The farm is at 4000 feet in elevation (the reason for the views), and it can get a little chilly – especially if you’re there first thing in the morning so check the weather and take a sweatshirt at least.

Entry to the farm is $3/person) and the current hours are limited to Friday-Monday, 10AM-4PM.

If lavender makes you think of France (that’s what it always reminds me of), make a stop nearby at La Provence. It’s a cute little French restaurant that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough. The outdoor restaurant serves light French inspired fare, light crepes, quiche and honestly whatever the chef/owner feels like making. The hours are a little hodgepodge too, but the main thing you need to know here is about the bakery…DO NOT MISS THE ECLAIRS. They’re as good as any I ever had in France.

If you’re looking to make a day of it in the upcountry, consider adding some of these spots to your itinerary:

Haleakala National Park for sunrise or sunset (or just a quick hike midday)
Maui Wine
Surfing Goat Dairy Farm
Maui Pineapple Tour
O’o Farms Farm to Table Breakfast or Lunch
Drive across Kekaulike Road and down Olinda Road for great views and shopping in Makawao

P.S. One of the reasons I’m able to travel to Hawaii so often is by using credit card points. And right now my go to travel card has a GREAT limited time sign up offer.

If you sign up for this Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you’ll get 100K bonus points to use on travel.

These are my favorite kind of travel points because they’re so flexible. You could…

Transfer them to Southwest or United to book round trip tickets to Hawaii.

Transfer them to Hyatt to book a stay at the Andaz Maui (such a great luxury resort!)

Transfer them to Marriott for a stay at one of my favorites like the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Royal Hawaiian, or Ritz Carlton Turtle Bay.

Or book a hotel through the Chase travel portal with a cash value of $1250.
The 100K bonus point offer is just for a limited time, so if you’re looking for the best travel card, sign up >> here.

P.P.S. Here’s one more really important thing you need to know before your Hawaii trip…

You’ve got your airfare, hotel, rental car and your big activities booked, so you should be good to go, right? Wrong!

Travel is BOOMING in Hawaii and a lot of state and national parks have instituted reservation systems at some of the island’s most popular spots to help manage the crowds and make things a little more sustainable.

That means that there are now over half a dozen sites (beaches, trailheads, etc.) that require advance reservations. And some sell out well before you arrive on the island so you really need to have some sort of a plan.

I recently saw somebody in a Hawaii travel group post in a panic that they didn’t know they had to make reservations for things in advance…they thought they could just show up and “go with the flow.” I was tempted to say, well, “as long as the flow doesn’t take you somewhere that requires reservations, you can!” ; )

But I don’t want YOU to be that person, so I’ve pulled together a list of all the places you need to reserve entry in advance (plus all the details on booking windows, price, links, etc.) and a handful of popular tourist hotspots that book out really far in advance too.
Get that info >> HERE