Maui Travel Forum

my hubby and i are finally going to do sunrise at haleakala and hopefully we'll get a good one w/ no clouds. dare to dream...

we have a night to kill between hotel reservations (we got sat-sat on one island and sun-sun on maui so need a place for sat night anyway). we'd like to spend the night as close to the top of haleakala as possible so as to not have to arise at o'dark'dark thirty; o'dark thirty will be enough... ;)

i have read a few questionable reviews about a place called kula lodge - anyone have any info on that place? location looks great, but the reviews are so varied that it's hard to know which ones to believe.

recommendations for other nearby accomodations? we don't need fancy - we're only there for one night anyway; and a partial one at that. but we would like something clean - and preferably a place that will serve a good b-fast after our freezing early trip to the top...

thanks in advance for any advice!

Have not stayed overnight at the Kula Lodge, but have had breakfast and a lunch at the Garden Terrace restaurant on the property. Being nearer to the crater, you may have to give up some amenities that you could get elsewhere. There is also the Upcountry Bed and Breakfast in Kula. There might be a few B&B's in Makawao next door. Makawao and Kula are both about a one hour drive to the top of Haleakala. BTW, have you seen the Kula Lodge website and the virtual tours? Looks can be deceiving but I have seen the restaurant and it looks just like the virtual tour. You should look at their website: Http:www.kulalodge.com

We stayed at the Banyan Tree House. We left at 3:00AM for Haleakela and it wasn't a bad drive.

http://www.bed-breakfast-maui.com/index.htm

It looks like its changed some since we were there but we liked it. We were there for only one night.

You're right about the freezing trip.

Here's a link to the pictures from our trip. It looks like there's more vegetation now and it may be prettier. We were there in 2003.

http://www.alandsuejohnson.com/hawaii_pictures/haleakela_pictures/album/haleakela_pics_index.html

You might want to check out a newly opened hotel in Paia town. It has 5 rooms all with their own private bathroom, flat screen TV's, and wireless internet access. Their website is: www.PaiaInn.com Their rates start at about $199 a night. The great thing is the hotel is right in Paia town, so you can walk to all the shops and restaurants. There is a great beach park with a basketball court right next to the hotel.