While Hawaii is renowned for its pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and vibrant culture, there’s another side to the Aloha State that often goes unnoticed.
Nestled amidst the lush landscapes of the Big Island lies a hidden gem known as Paniolo Country, the cowboy capital of Hawaii. This unique region offers visitors a captivating blend of tropical beauty and Western heritage, providing an unforgettable experience that sets it apart from the typical Hawaiian vacation.
Makawao: Hawaii’s Lesser-Known Historical Gem
Situated nearly 1,600 feet above sea level, Makawao is a surprising discovery on the sun, beach, and surf-loving Hawaiian island.
Even though its long history is rooted in Polynesian culture, the very reason it exists now is due to the blending of various cultures and customs from across the globe, which resulted in the astonishingly diversified population that exists on a tropical island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Not only is it unexpected, unfamiliar, and even underappreciated, but it might also be underestimated.
Let’s face it: Very few tourists are ready to leave the beach long enough to visit an Upcountry cowboy hamlet, unless they are planning a day excursion to Haleakalā, Maui’s highest mountain, which rises to a height of more than 10,000 feet, in order to witness the dawn.
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Makawao: A Maui ranching community
Indigenous people on Maui relied on the island’s distinctive forest in the Upcountry, where native koa and ohi’a trees were cut for wood to build canoes and homes, long before European explorers ever set foot on the island.
Food crops like taro and sweet potatoes thrived in the lush soil of the area. A new age was ushered in by a sequence of events that started in the late 1700s.
First, King Kamehameha I received the last of the livestock from British sea captain George Vancouver’s ship in 1793, which contained five long-horned cattle. American trader Richard Cleveland gifted a horse to Kamehameha in 1803, then wowed the chief of the island with a riding performance.
The equestrian exhibition so impressed Kamehameha that he brought more horses to the island right away.
Then, in 1830, Kamehameha III, the third king of Hawaii, brought in vaqueros, or highly accomplished Spanish wranglers, to instruct the natives in the art of using horses for cattle herding and breeding.
The agricultural and ranching sectors prospered because the Upcountry’s environment was particularly suited to them. With time, grocery stores, amusement centers, and supply houses started to appear as parts of the support system.
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Activities in Makawao
Go Hawaii has ranked Makawao as one of the “Top 25 arts destinations in the United States,” so travelers can spend an hour perusing every shop and gallery on Baldwin Avenue if they’re searching for mementos that will surpass anything offered in a hotel’s gift shop.
See Maui Master Jewelers or the intriguing Little Tibet for a one-of-a-kind memento. Then, celebrate your discoveries with a creative meal and a regionally inspired beverage at Makawao Public House, a Yelp favorite with 4.5 stars.
When the famous donut on a stick, malasadas, and cream puffs are all gone, people wait in line early in the morning, and the doors frequently close as early as 10 a.m.
Head north to Ho’okipa Beach Park, which has a little bit of everything that makes Maui so great, after spending the morning eating, shopping, and looking through galleries.
First of all, being a popular windsurfing location, the white sand beach is perfect for spending a sunny afternoon watching the activity on the waves. Despite the rougher water, this is an excellent location to observe Hawaii’s marine life, so don’t let that stop you.
To Conclude
Tucked away in Hawaii’s Big Island’s verdant surroundings, Makawao is a hidden gem that provides a singular and life-changing experience.
Makawao is a place that vacationers looking for something different from the usual Hawaiian vacation should not miss because of its historic cowboy heritage, lively arts culture, and breathtaking natural beauty.
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