Kula Country Farms's annual pumpkin patch is a fall festival not to miss.
Fall is a great time to visit Maui, but be forewarned that it’s lacking some of the season’s more conventional charms. Leaves don’t blanket roadways and lawns in bright, autumn-hued colors, and the change in temperature down at sea level is only a few degrees. Even college football season is an understated affair, with the state’s only program—the University of Hawaii—playing their games in Honolulu, events that are rarely shown on TV.
Given the lack of what many people consider to be standard fall activities, the pumpkin patch at Kula Country Farms has become a popular annual affair. Held in a pasture next door to Kula's small roadside stand, the fourth-generation, family-run farm has welcomed visitors to the patch since 2011.
Here at 3,000 feet in elevation, the air is crisp and clear, with temperatures 10 to 15 degrees cooler than you’ll find down on the coast. In addition to that patch, there’s a pumpkin ring toss and a corn maze, as well as a dedicated children’s area that offers lessons and activities on the importance of agriculture on Maui.
On weekends, the farm comes to life with pumpkin-carving and costume contests, as well as live music, giving the whole experience the feel of a fall fair—far from the waves and sand. At the heart of the visit, guests can pick their own pumpkin from the eight planted acres, with prices ranging from $.50 to $30 for the giants.
Entrance to the farm itself is free, and in addition to taking photos of fields ablaze in yellow and orange, visitors can stock up on fresh island produce sourced straight from local farmers. After filling your bags with sweet Kula onions, tomatoes, corn—and a pumpkin, of course—pause to take in the unforgettable view; it isn’t every day you see pumpkins backed up by the big blue Pacific.
(The Kula Country Farms Pumpkin Patch is open for all of October, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Closed Mondays.)
