Kula's Forest Is Closed Until Further Notice, So October Lives on Kula Highway

"The compounding impacts of successive storms are affecting our ability to safely open certain areas in a timely manner, but we will continue to restore access as soon as possible." Marigold Zoll, administrator of the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife, said that on September 30, 2026. It came in the same release that kept the Kula Forest Reserve, the Makawao State Forest Reserve and the Waihou Spring Forest Reserve closed pending storm damage repairs. Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area stays closed with them, because it sits inside the closed forest.

The release gives no reopening date and no schedule for individual trails. So the cool, high-elevation part of a Kula weekend is closed for an open-ended stretch. Look at what is open and a pattern shows up. After two storms, whether a place in Kula has its gates open this fall depends on who runs it. The state forest is waiting on repair crews. The national park on the same mountain reopened within days. The family farms, gardens and kitchens along Kula Highway are posting October hours.

Lala Did the Damage. Nolo Lengthened the Wait.

Most of the harm came in mid-August. Maui County's August 17 update said Lala's Saturday winds and heavy rain brought down many large trees across Upcountry. Those trees took out power lines and damaged infrastructure, leaving thousands without power in Kula, Hā‘ikū, Olinda and Pi‘iholo. At 11 a.m. that day, Hawaiian Electric reported about 6,780 Maui County customers still without power, with Upcountry crews clearing trees and repairing lines and poles.

The Maui News counted at least 74 damage reports islandwide by August 19, many of them from Hā‘ikū, Olinda, Makawao and Upcountry. One was the old convent at St. Joseph Church in Makawao, where a large tree struck before 8 a.m. Sunday, damaging the roof and flooding the inside. That same report holds the earliest sign of how long the forest would take. The county postponed Kula Forest Reserve hunter access permits because of extensive wind damage to the forest and to the hunter check station.

Hurricane Nolo came about five weeks later. It became a named storm on September 23 and passed south of the main islands, and Hawai‘i Public Radio described it as less destructive than expected. Upcountry still lost power, this time on purpose. On September 27, Hawaiian Electric's Public Safety Power Shutoff covered about 485 Pukalani customers. On September 28, the county said the Upcountry shutoff was still in effect because of high winds, dry conditions and wildfire risk. Two days later came the DLNR release keeping the forest reserves closed.

Kahakapao Loop sits inside the Makawao Forest Reserve, so the reserve-wide closure covers it too. The state hasn't released a separate status for any named Upcountry trail.

Who Is Open, Sorted by Who Runs It

The Park Service Turned It Around in a Day

Haleakalā National Park reopened both districts on Sunday, September 27, the same day as the Pukalani shutoff. Sunrise reservations, Kīpahulu frontcountry camping and backcountry camping resumed Monday, September 28. Hosmer Grove frontcountry camping in the Summit District was set to resume later that week.

For anyone in Kula looking for a high-elevation walk this month, the park is the one big public option the storms left open. The park's own conditions page shows an update date from before either storm, so the Hawai‘i Public Radio report is the more current confirmation.

Kula Highway Is Carrying the Weekend

Below the forest line, the private operators along Kula Highway have their calendars posted.

Kula Country Farms at 6240 Kula Highway is running its 2026 Pumpkin Patch from October 1 to 31. It's open every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., gates close at 3:45 p.m., and admission is $5, free for children 3 and under. The setup includes food and pop-up vendors on weekends, a candy shop every day, and Maile Tea Company selling coffee, matcha, smoothies and tea. The farm stand stays open during patch hours.

Kula Botanical Garden at 638 Kekaulike is open every day, 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. for the garden and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the gift shop. Sunday Music on the Lawn runs 1 to 3 p.m. every Sunday and is free with admission, which costs $15 for adults and $10 for kama‘āina. With the forest closed, it's the nearest place in Kula to spend an afternoon under big trees.

Grandma's Coffee House at 9232 Kula Highway in Keokea lists daily hours of 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on its homepage.

Kula Lodge Had Already Learned to Run Without Its Restaurant

Kula Lodge was rebuilding long before Lala. Maui Fire Department crews were called to 15200 Haleakalā Highway at about 3:18 a.m. on Monday, August 11, 2025, and had the fire under control at 6:11 a.m. The owners said the restaurant appeared to be a complete loss. The five lodges and the Kula Marketplace weren't damaged. Two days later, the Maui News reported that owner Stephanie Mallek said the family planned to rebuild.

More than a year on, the Lodge's site still says the restaurant is closed indefinitely and gives no reopening date. In the meantime, the Kula Lodge Food Truck serves daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Breakfast runs 7 to 11 a.m., lunch and dinner 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and coffee and dessert all day. The lodges are taking reservations, and the Kula Marketplace is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with deli meals, drinks, groceries and local gifts. "We enjoy supporting the community with delicious dishes as we work on rebuilding," the site reads.

That makes the truck a test case for this fall. A Kula business that lost its main building has kept serving food every day for a year, while the state forest above it is still waiting on crews.

October 31 Stacks Up

The last day of the month brings three events onto the same morning.

1. Upcountry Farmers Market, 7 to 11 a.m. The Saturday market at Kulamalu Town Center, 55 Kiopaa Street, describes itself as having more than 100 local vendors. October 31 is also the first day of its 2026 Holiday Craft Fair, which brings extra craft vendors on Saturdays.
2. Kula Country Farms farm stand, until noon. On October 31 the stand opens only until noon to sell whatever pumpkins are left.
3. The patch closes for the season. The printed season runs "October 1st to 31st."

After that, the craft fair carries on at the market on November 7, 14, 21 and 28.

Where the Hours Are Older Than the Storms

Some Upcountry favorites haven't posted anything since the storms, so call before you drive. Ali‘i Kula Lavender at 1100 Waipoli Road lists Friday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with last entry at 3:45 p.m., but that page dates to July 2025. MauiWine's tasting room page lists Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., but it was published in April 2026, before either storm.

For the forest, DLNR says it will keep its OuterSpatial app and online map updated with what's open and what's still closed. Park closure notices are on the Hawai‘i State Parks page. Anyone who booked a Polipoli campsite and loses nights to the closure will get a refund credited to their account.

As of September 30, the state's whole Maui and Moloka‘i closure list had just three forest reserves and one state park on it, and all four are in the Upcountry forest.

If you own in Kula from off-island and no one has looked at your property since Lala brought trees down across Upcountry, Bradley MacArthur and the MacArthur Team can arrange a check and put you in touch with local contractors for any cleanup. Call or text the MacArthur Team and we'll start with a walk of your property.