Kula, Hawaii Kula is a precinct of Maui, Hawaii, that stretches athwart the "up-country", the western-facing slopes of Haleakala, from Makawao to Ulupalakua.
1.1 Upper Kula 1.2 Lower Kula The ancient precinct of Kula.
Kula roughly extends from Haleakala Highway (Hawaii Route 37) in the north to Keokea in the south a distance of about 16 miles around 20 47 32 N 156 19 37 WCoordinates: 20 47 32 N 156 19 37 W. The largely non-urban area known as Upper Kula includes the region up-slope from Lower Kula, the more densely populated region 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 foundation districts of ancient Hawaii called moku. Generally, Kula is a zone of dry earth with open nation slopes between the inhabited and productive shoreline areas and the densely forested zone higher on the mountain.
Maui's Kula precinct is the island's biggest district, extending from dry coastal areas to the wetter high pasture lands of three primary ranches (Haleakala, Erewhon, and Ulupalakua) that cap the region about halfway up the slopes of Haleakala.
In leeward areas, away from the prevailing moist tradewinds called the precipitation shadow of Haleakala the lower portion of Maui consists of a broad, dry expanse where little cultivation of the earth is possible.
The twisty Haleakala Highway, from its junction with Kula Highway in Pukalani, loosely defines the northern edge of Upper Kula.
Where the road beyond Kula Lodge makes an abrupt upward tack to Haleakala National Park, the region 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 evolution along Kekaulike except Kula Botanical Garden and Ali i Kula Lavender Farm.
In Keokea, the Kula Hospital sits on the hillside above the road.
Originally a tuberculosis treatment sanatorium assembled in 1909, Kula Hospital now serves the improve as a critical access hospital.
The southern edge of Kula had a once-flourishing Chinese improve that numbered over 700 immigrant workers and farmers.
Just as upcountry inhabitants visit the seashore, inhabitants near the shore sometimes visit Upper Kula to appreciate cooler temperatures that may require a fireplace in winter.
Lower Kula lies between about 1,200 and 2,800 feet of altitude along the flank of Haleakala, the dormant volcano that dominates the island's landscape and is the foundation of Kula's backdrop.
Communities along the old Lower Kula Road with names like Pulehu, Waiakoa, Omaopio and Keokea each have unique history of ethnic settlement.
In fact, amid the California gold rush the farmers in Kula shipped so many potatoes that it was nicknamed "Nu Kaleponi," a Hawaiian pronunciation of "New California." Most of Hawaii's proteas, 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 rather than in 1964.
In the past decade, the lush views and cooler climate of Lower Kula have drawn a new type of resident.
Clusters of homes around old Lower Kula Road are becoming denser.
The primary limit on the further evolution in the whole Kula region is the momentous lack of water.
Much of the west slopes of East Maui are dry or semi-desert due to a precipitation shadow effect: the prevailing trade-winds are from the north-east and east and Kula is in the "shadow" of these winds.
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.
Kula displays a warm summer Mediterranean Climate (Koppen climate classification Csb) Kula has a strong agricultural and ranching tradition, the latter on the lands above the residentiary areas.
The Maui onion mostly grows at the lower levels of Kula (below Highway 37).
Enchanting Floral Gardens of Kula, Maui Holy Ghost Catholic Church (Kula, Hawaii) "Upper Kula Really is Cool".
Kula Community Association website Kula, Hawaii Kula, Hawaii links at DMOZ
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