Kula, Hawaii
Encyclopedia
Kula is a district of Maui
, Hawaii
that stretches across the "up-country", the western-facing slopes of Haleakalā
, from Makawao
to Ulupalakua. Most of the residential areas lie between about 500 to 1,100 m (1,800 ft to 3,700 ft) in elevation. The district has traditionally been where full-time residents prefer to live, as distinct from the generally hotter and busier tourist town near sea level such as Kihei
and Lahaina.
) in the north to Keokea in the south-a distance of about 16 miles around 20°47′32"N 156°19′37"W. The largely rural area known as Upper Kula includes the region up-slope from Lower Kula, the more densely populated area spread along the Kula Highway.
The word Kula means "open meadows" in the Hawaiian language
.
On Maui Kula is one of the island's 12 districts of ancient Hawaii
called moku.
Generally, Kula is a zone of arid, open country slopes between the inhabited and productive shoreline areas and the densely forested zone higher on the mountain.
Maui's Kula district is the island's largest district, extending from dry coastal areas to the wetter high pasture lands of three major ranches (Haleakala, Erewhon, and Ulupalakua) that cap the region about halfway up the slopes of Haleakala. It laterally extends from Keokea to near Makawao
where the rainforest of East Maui once began.
In leeward
areas, away from the prevailing moist tradewinds, - called the rain shadow of Haleakala - the lower portion of Maui consists of a broad, arid expanse where little cultivation is possible. This zone consists of dry, desert-like open range just inland from the sea in artificially irrigated Kihei
, and is covered with kiawe
trees to an elevation of about 1,000 feet on the volcano's slopes.
Between this zone and the upper reaches of the hillsides, especially up steep Waipoli and Poli Poli Roads, broad, open areas for vegetable and fruit crops. The moderate climate often yields as many as four harvests per year.
When the Territorial Legislature first set up the political design in 1906, they decreed only two levels of government: state and county. Hawaii's towns do not have specific boundaries or "city limits." There are also no official district boundaries for Maui County elections.
below. Where the road beyond Kula Lodge makes an abrupt upward tack to Haleakala National Park
, the area known as Upper Kula surrounds Kekaulike Avenue. In less than five miles it descends the slope to rejoin the Kula Highway near Rice Park and heads south to Keokea.
There is little commercial development along Kekaulike except Kula Botanical Garden
and Alii Kula Lavender Farm. Vegetable and flower gardens surround the meandering highway as farmers take advantage of the area's unique combination of open space, good soil, moisture-laden clouds and filtered tropical sun.
New homes dot the area, taking advantage of the moderate weather and bi-coastal views of the isthmus below.
In Keokea, the Kula Hospital sits on the hillside above the road. Originally a tuberculosis
treatment sanatorium
built in 1909, Kula Hospital now serves the community as a critical access hospital.
The southern edge of Kula had a once-flourishing Chinese
community that numbered over 700 immigrant workers and farmers. While the area is now more mixed, Keokea is still home to a pair of Chinese family-owned stores and service station as well as boutique coffee-shop.
A mile or so beyond Keokea is the county park dedicated to the Maui's former resident, Sun Yat-sen
, called the "father of modern China." He grew up in the area in the late 19th century living with his uncle. He led the revolution that ended China’s last dynasty and established the Republic of China
in 1912.
Just as Upcountry residents visit the seashore, residents near the shore sometimes visit Upper Kula, and cooler temperatures that may require a fireplace in winter. A popular saying is "It's cooler in Kula".
, the dormant volcano that dominates the island's landscape and forms Kula’s backdrop.
Communities along the old Lower Kula Road with names like Pulehu, Waiakoa, Omaopio
and Keokea each have its own history of ethnic settlement.
In the late 19th century, Portuguese
and Chinese
immigrants, who fulfilled labor contracts with the sugarcane plantations, moved to this area. Later, Japanese
farmers moved into the fertile area.
These farmers have been producing vegetables ever since. In fact, during the California gold rush
the farmers in Kula shipped so many potatoes that it was nicknamed "Nu Kaleponi," a Hawaiian pronunciation of "New California."
That farming tradition continues today, even among the gentlemen farms that have sprung up in the past two decades. Kula grows its well-known onions, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cauliflower and cabbage. It is also a major source of cut flowers for the state. Most of Hawaii's protea
s, as well as nearly all the carnations used in leis
, come from Kula.
Lower Kula encompasses the areas around Lower Kula Road, the old county road that once spanned the region before Kula Highway was finished in 1964. The old meandering road crosses the straight modern highway several times between Pukalani and Keokea.
Even after nearly 50 years, there are few businesses along the highway, while the old road has the usual establishments that serve rural communities, including historic churches. Holy Ghost Catholic Church
has a unique octagonal shape and hand-carved altar. Its turret is a landmark on the slopes of Haleakala, visible from much of Central Maui below. It was constructed in 1894 by Portuguese immigrants.
In the past decade, the lush views and cooler climate of Lower Kula have drawn a new type of resident. Agricultural lands are carved up for "gentleman estates" with large homes. Clusters of homes around old Lower Kula Road are becoming denser.
The major limit on the further development in the whole Kula area is the significant lack of water. The Upcountry Community Plan gives highest priority to the water supply of agriculture and the Hawaiian Homelands
project.
, and land contour. Much of the west slopes of East Maui are dry or semi-desert due to a rain shadow effect: the prevailing trade-winds are from the north-east and east and Kula is in the "shadow" of these winds. At the higher elevations and at night, especially in winter, temperatures dip into the 40's or high 30's. Frosts are virtually unknown except at much higher elevations (7000 ft (2,133.6 m)) on Haleakala.
There is a distinctive weather feature known as the "Maui vortex". A wind vortex forms as the trade-winds pass around the north-west corner of Haleakala (over Pukalani) and blow southward down the central valley of Maui over Maalaea Bay and then circle back up-slope over Kihei bringing a "lei of clouds" late most mornings over Kula. Around sunset, the downward breezes from the summit wipe out these clouds.
(which means "edge of the forest") to a paniolo (cowboy) ambiance that derives from this ranching activity.
The Maui onion
, mostly grows at the lower levels of Kula (below Highway 37). It is also known for its persimmon
s that ripen during the fall; many located in the Pulehuiki area. Other produce grown in Kula includes lettuce
, cabbage
, and herb
s. Kula is also known for the many varieties of protea
grown for commercial sale.
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
that stretches across the "up-country", the western-facing slopes of Haleakalā
Haleakala
Haleakalā , or the East Maui Volcano, is a massive shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. The western 25% of the island is formed by the West Maui Mountains.- History :...
, from Makawao
Makawao, Hawaii
Makawao is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 6,327 at the 2000 census. Located in the rural northeast slope of Haleakala on East Maui, the community is known for being the hub of the "Upcountry", a part of the island dominated by mostly...
to Ulupalakua. Most of the residential areas lie between about 500 to 1,100 m (1,800 ft to 3,700 ft) in elevation. The district has traditionally been where full-time residents prefer to live, as distinct from the generally hotter and busier tourist town near sea level such as Kihei
Kihei, Hawaii
Kīhei is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 16,749 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kīhei is located at ....
and Lahaina.
Description
Kula roughly extends from Haleakala Highway (Hawaii Route 37Hawaii Route 37
Hawaii Route 37 is a 26.6 mile road on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Its northern terminus is with Route 36, where it heads eastward as Haleakala Highway. At the junction with Route 377, it becomes the Kula Highway, until its southern terminus with Route 31. A short 1.6 mile section of the Kula...
) in the north to Keokea in the south-a distance of about 16 miles around 20°47′32"N 156°19′37"W. The largely rural area known as Upper Kula includes the region up-slope from Lower Kula, the more densely populated area spread along the Kula Highway.
The word Kula means "open meadows" in the Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
.
On Maui Kula is one of the island's 12 districts of ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii refers to the period of Hawaiian human history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. After being first settled by Polynesian long-distance navigators sometime between AD 300–800, a unique culture developed. Diversified agroforestry and...
called moku.
Generally, Kula is a zone of arid, open country slopes between the inhabited and productive shoreline areas and the densely forested zone higher on the mountain.
Maui's Kula district is the island's largest district, extending from dry coastal areas to the wetter high pasture lands of three major ranches (Haleakala, Erewhon, and Ulupalakua) that cap the region about halfway up the slopes of Haleakala. It laterally extends from Keokea to near Makawao
Makawao, Hawaii
Makawao is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 6,327 at the 2000 census. Located in the rural northeast slope of Haleakala on East Maui, the community is known for being the hub of the "Upcountry", a part of the island dominated by mostly...
where the rainforest of East Maui once began.
In leeward
Windward and leeward
Windward is the direction upwind from the point of reference. Leeward is the direction downwind from the point of reference. The side of a ship that is towards the leeward is its lee side. If the vessel is heeling under the pressure of the wind, this will be the "lower side"...
areas, away from the prevailing moist tradewinds, - called the rain shadow of Haleakala - the lower portion of Maui consists of a broad, arid expanse where little cultivation is possible. This zone consists of dry, desert-like open range just inland from the sea in artificially irrigated Kihei
Kihei, Hawaii
Kīhei is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 16,749 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kīhei is located at ....
, and is covered with kiawe
Prosopis pallida
Prosopis pallida is a species of mesquite tree. It has the common names kiawe, huarango, and American carob, as well as "bayahonda" and "algarrobo blanco" . It is a thorny legume, native to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, particularly drier areas near the coast...
trees to an elevation of about 1,000 feet on the volcano's slopes.
Between this zone and the upper reaches of the hillsides, especially up steep Waipoli and Poli Poli Roads, broad, open areas for vegetable and fruit crops. The moderate climate often yields as many as four harvests per year.
When the Territorial Legislature first set up the political design in 1906, they decreed only two levels of government: state and county. Hawaii's towns do not have specific boundaries or "city limits." There are also no official district boundaries for Maui County elections.
Upper Kula
The twisty Haleakala Highway, from its junction with Kula Highway in Pukalani, loosely defines the northern edge of Upper Kula. The upper road (Kekaulike Avenue), also known as State highway 377, leads up through usually green pastures, silver eucalyptus tree groves (and Blue Jacaranda trees in late spring), contrasting to the sugarcaneSugar plantations in Hawaii
Sugarcane was introduced to Hawaii by its first inhabitants in approximately 600 AD and was observed by Captain Cook upon arrival in the islands in 1778. Sugar quickly turned into a big business and generated rapid population growth in the islands with 337,000 people immigrating over the span of a...
below. Where the road beyond Kula Lodge makes an abrupt upward tack to Haleakala National Park
Haleakala National Park
Haleakalā National Park is a United States national park located on the island of Maui in the state of Hawaii. The park covers an area of , of which is a wilderness area...
, the area known as Upper Kula surrounds Kekaulike Avenue. In less than five miles it descends the slope to rejoin the Kula Highway near Rice Park and heads south to Keokea.
There is little commercial development along Kekaulike except Kula Botanical Garden
Kula Botanical Garden
Kula Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located on Kekaulike Highway near the Kula Highway junction, Maui, Hawaii. It is open daily. An admission fee of $7.50 for adults and $2 for children ages 6-12 is charged. Children under six are admitted free.The garden was created in 1977 by Warren...
and Alii Kula Lavender Farm. Vegetable and flower gardens surround the meandering highway as farmers take advantage of the area's unique combination of open space, good soil, moisture-laden clouds and filtered tropical sun.
New homes dot the area, taking advantage of the moderate weather and bi-coastal views of the isthmus below.
In Keokea, the Kula Hospital sits on the hillside above the road. Originally a tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
treatment sanatorium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
built in 1909, Kula Hospital now serves the community as a critical access hospital.
The southern edge of Kula had a once-flourishing Chinese
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
community that numbered over 700 immigrant workers and farmers. While the area is now more mixed, Keokea is still home to a pair of Chinese family-owned stores and service station as well as boutique coffee-shop.
A mile or so beyond Keokea is the county park dedicated to the Maui's former resident, Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
, called the "father of modern China." He grew up in the area in the late 19th century living with his uncle. He led the revolution that ended China’s last dynasty and established the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
in 1912.
Just as Upcountry residents visit the seashore, residents near the shore sometimes visit Upper Kula, and cooler temperatures that may require a fireplace in winter. A popular saying is "It's cooler in Kula".
Lower Kula
Lower Kula lies between about 1,200 and 2,800 feet of elevation along the western flank of HaleakalāHaleakala
Haleakalā , or the East Maui Volcano, is a massive shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. The western 25% of the island is formed by the West Maui Mountains.- History :...
, the dormant volcano that dominates the island's landscape and forms Kula’s backdrop.
Communities along the old Lower Kula Road with names like Pulehu, Waiakoa, Omaopio
Omaopio
Omaopio is an area on the slopes of the volcano Haleakala on the island of Maui. The western side of Haleakala is commonly known as Kula. In Kula ridges of land run up the slopes of the volcano. Omaopio refers to a ridge of land that contains the road named Omaopio Road...
and Keokea each have its own history of ethnic settlement.
In the late 19th century, Portuguese
Portuguese American
Portuguese Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates in the southwest European nation of Portugal, including the offshore island groups of the Azores and Madeira....
and Chinese
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
immigrants, who fulfilled labor contracts with the sugarcane plantations, moved to this area. Later, Japanese
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
farmers moved into the fertile area.
These farmers have been producing vegetables ever since. In fact, during the California gold rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
the farmers in Kula shipped so many potatoes that it was nicknamed "Nu Kaleponi," a Hawaiian pronunciation of "New California."
That farming tradition continues today, even among the gentlemen farms that have sprung up in the past two decades. Kula grows its well-known onions, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cauliflower and cabbage. It is also a major source of cut flowers for the state. Most of Hawaii's protea
Protea
Protea is both the botanical name and the English common name of a genus of flowering plants, sometimes also called sugarbushes.-Etymology:...
s, as well as nearly all the carnations used in leis
Lei (Hawaii)
Lei is a Hawaiian word for a garland or wreath. More loosely defined, a lei is any series of objects strung together with the intent to be worn. The most popular concept of a lei in Hawaiian culture is a wreath of flowers draped around the neck presented upon arriving or leaving as a symbol of...
, come from Kula.
Lower Kula encompasses the areas around Lower Kula Road, the old county road that once spanned the region before Kula Highway was finished in 1964. The old meandering road crosses the straight modern highway several times between Pukalani and Keokea.
Even after nearly 50 years, there are few businesses along the highway, while the old road has the usual establishments that serve rural communities, including historic churches. Holy Ghost Catholic Church
Holy Ghost Catholic Church (Kula, Hawaii)
Holy Ghost Catholic Church, also known as Holy Ghost Mission, is an historic octagon-shaped Roman Catholic church building located at 4300 Lower Kula Road in Waiakoa in the Kula district. It was designed by Father James Beissel and built by his parishioners who were Portuguese from the Azores and...
has a unique octagonal shape and hand-carved altar. Its turret is a landmark on the slopes of Haleakala, visible from much of Central Maui below. It was constructed in 1894 by Portuguese immigrants.
In the past decade, the lush views and cooler climate of Lower Kula have drawn a new type of resident. Agricultural lands are carved up for "gentleman estates" with large homes. Clusters of homes around old Lower Kula Road are becoming denser.
The major limit on the further development in the whole Kula area is the significant lack of water. The Upcountry Community Plan gives highest priority to the water supply of agriculture and the Hawaiian Homelands
Hawaiian Homelands
Hawaiian Homelands were lands dedicated to Native Hawaiians by legislation known as the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921.-History:Upon the 1893 Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the idea for "Hawaiian Homelands" was first born...
project.
Climate
There are many micro-climates created by the combined effects of elevation, rain shadowRain shadow
A rain shadow is a dry area on the lee side of a mountainous area. The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems, casting a "shadow" of dryness behind them. As shown by the diagram to the right, the warm moist air is "pulled" by the prevailing winds over a mountain...
, and land contour. Much of the west slopes of East Maui are dry or semi-desert due to a rain shadow effect: the prevailing trade-winds are from the north-east and east and Kula is in the "shadow" of these winds. At the higher elevations and at night, especially in winter, temperatures dip into the 40's or high 30's. Frosts are virtually unknown except at much higher elevations (7000 ft (2,133.6 m)) on Haleakala.
There is a distinctive weather feature known as the "Maui vortex". A wind vortex forms as the trade-winds pass around the north-west corner of Haleakala (over Pukalani) and blow southward down the central valley of Maui over Maalaea Bay and then circle back up-slope over Kihei bringing a "lei of clouds" late most mornings over Kula. Around sunset, the downward breezes from the summit wipe out these clouds.
Land use
Kula has a strong agricultural and ranching tradition, the latter on the lands above the residential areas. Indeed, there is frequent reference in MakawaoMakawao, Hawaii
Makawao is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 6,327 at the 2000 census. Located in the rural northeast slope of Haleakala on East Maui, the community is known for being the hub of the "Upcountry", a part of the island dominated by mostly...
(which means "edge of the forest") to a paniolo (cowboy) ambiance that derives from this ranching activity.
The Maui onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
, mostly grows at the lower levels of Kula (below Highway 37). It is also known for its persimmon
Persimmon
A persimmon is the edible fruit of a number of species of trees in the genus Diospyros in the ebony wood family . The word Diospyros means "the fire of Zeus" in ancient Greek. As a tree, it is a perennial plant...
s that ripen during the fall; many located in the Pulehuiki area. Other produce grown in Kula includes lettuce
Lettuce
Lettuce is a temperate annual or biennial plant of the daisy family Asteraceae. It is most often grown as a leaf vegetable. It is eaten either raw, notably in salads, sandwiches, hamburgers, tacos, and many other dishes, or cooked, as in Chinese cuisine in which the stem becomes just as important...
, cabbage
Cabbage
Cabbage is a popular cultivar of the species Brassica oleracea Linne of the Family Brassicaceae and is a leafy green vegetable...
, and herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
s. Kula is also known for the many varieties of protea
Protea
Protea is both the botanical name and the English common name of a genus of flowering plants, sometimes also called sugarbushes.-Etymology:...
grown for commercial sale.
Points of interest
- Enchanting Floral Gardens of Kula, MauiEnchanting Floral Gardens of Kula, MauiEnchanting Floral Gardens of Kula, Maui is a botanical garden located at 2505 Kula Highway , Kula, Maui, Hawaii. It is open daily with an admission fee....
- Holy Ghost Catholic Church (Kula, Hawaii)Holy Ghost Catholic Church (Kula, Hawaii)Holy Ghost Catholic Church, also known as Holy Ghost Mission, is an historic octagon-shaped Roman Catholic church building located at 4300 Lower Kula Road in Waiakoa in the Kula district. It was designed by Father James Beissel and built by his parishioners who were Portuguese from the Azores and...