Kaupo & Mauiʻs Backside

Explore the remote and rugged district of ancient Hawaii

Kaupo Maui

Kaupo is a small remote town located on the southwest side of Maui, just beyond Hana town and Kipahulu. It is a rugged, untouched place that looks as if it has been frozen in time due its lack of residential development and infrastructure. Kaupo’s remote location and lack of access has kept Hawaiian culture intact there longer than in many other parts of Hawaii.

Kaupo is located beneath the Kaupo Gap on the east side of Haleakala. A trail through the Kaupo Gap leads from the top of the volcano for about twenty miles down to the Kaupo area. The trail passes through old Koa forests and dense rainforest areas as it winds down to the ranchlands near Kaupo. Also, in Kaupo is the historic Huialoha Church which was built in 1859 and was restored in the 1970s by local community members who reopened it in 1978. Just to the west of Kaupo town is the old Kaupo Store where you can get something to eat or drink and check out the unique antiques and mini-museum.

Fun Fact

The area is dotted with old churches that were built in high population areas or major trading areas. The changes in vegetation and shifting rainfall patterns along with disease reduced the population, with many now sitting alone, in picturesque settings.

History Of Kaupo

Kaupo Aireal Molokinicrater

Ancient Hawaiian Canoes carrying Kalaniopuu

A Man of the Sandwich Islands Dancing after John Webber Honolulu Museum of Art

Ancient Hawaiian Temple Etching

It is believed that the first Polynesians to arrive on Maui landed in Kaupo. In ancient times, it was said that Kaupo was the most populated area of Maui, as described by Captain La Perouse. This French captain was the first to land on Maui in 1789 and while sailing around the Hana side, he was greeted by hundreds of canoes at Kaupo. The canoes that came alongside his two ships were loaded with trade goods of hogs, banana, taro root and water for trading with the French frigate. This led Captain La Perouse to consider that they were not the first Europeans to encounter the Hawaiians. In fact, the map used by Captain Cook some 10 years earlier to explore the South Pacific were of Spanish origin. It is possible the Spanish had landed in Hawaii many times and kept it secret from pirates.

3 Things to see in Kaupo

Kaupo Store
This quaint rural store has flexible opening hours but is generally open till 3pm Monday thru Saturday. If itʻs closed when you show up, just go with the flow. That is the way it goes out here.
Kaupo Gap
The mountain rises high above the village and the main road for many thousands of feet. There is a gap in the ridge-line that forms the walls of crater valley of Haleakala.
Kaupo Trail
Although I did recommend it to my nephew to hike down this trail, I now do not recommend it at all. If you are planning on hiking through and down to Kaupo for the experience be prepared to become a little lost, jump some fences, backtrack a little, loose the trail and more along the way. Eventually you will find the end but your toes will hate you.

Circle Island Tours

Join us for an intimate sightseeing tour by taking our Small Group Road to Hana Tour where you will learn about the history and teachings of Hawaiian culture as you relax and take in the scenic beauty of Hana. See awe-inspiring overlooks, waysides, majestic waterfalls and parks. This is where you will also see Kaupo.

Spend the morning or afternoon with us by taking our popular Road to Hana & Sky Trek Tour. This spectacular tour includes a stunning drive along the coastline on the Road to Hana as you take in breathtaking scenic views, then safely navigate the skies in a helicopter by exploring the natural wonders of Maui with hidden waterfalls held within the tropical rainforests below.

Facts About Kaupo

Do tours stop in Kaupo or drive through?

Depending on your tour guide, and the time of day, you may stop at the church, Kaupo store or slowly drive through the town with the driver providing some narration so you have more time to have longer stops at other great locations.
Can we go camping or stay out in Kaupo?

The short answer is No. There is basically no camping out in this area unless you are being invited. There are no public camping locations and there are no public beaches or parks in this area. There are no known vacation rentals either unless you are planning to do volunteer work on the small farms in the area.
What is the weather like around Kaupo?

When it rains the water rushes down the steep mountain fast and flows over many of the roads out in this area. The lack of forest, which would have kept a lot of this water held back in soil and plants, is contributing to a constantly eroding landscape. The exposure of this area to the trade winds coming from the north east keeps the air moving and comfortable, even on the hottest day. The area is so windy that they put up some of the first windmills on the island out here.

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Top Road To Hana Stops

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