Craving something sweet during your Maui vacation? You can find the creamy goodness of Haleakala Creamery’s farm-to-spoon caramel at shops all around the island. Or you can go directly to the source and tour Maui’s hidden gem of a dairy goat farm.
Located in the heart of Maui’s upcountry, this family-owned micro farm and kitchen creamery offers weekly tours that let you see where the magic happens.
Whether you’re a fan of farm life or simply a fan of their tasty treats, we recommend the tour at Haleakala Creamery as a must-do for anyone interested in local agriculture on Maui. It’s also a great chance to support a local, family-owned business on the island. And the goats are pretty adorable, too.
Tour details (2023)
Cost: $40 (ages 12+) / $30 (ages 4-11) / free (ages 3 and under)
Tour duration: 1.5 hours
Max group size: 12
What we loved:
- Up close and personal time with the goats — and a couple of goat kids!
- Generous samples
- Small group with a maximum of 12 people
- Fletcher, the farm dog
What to consider:
- They offer only one tour each week, on Fridays
- We missed a turn while driving there, so give yourself a little extra time to navigate the rural roads
About Haleakala Creamery
Located on 5 acres in Upcountry’s Kula, Haleakala Creamery maintains a small herd of around 25 dairy goats that are treated to one of the most breathtaking views on the island. The farm sits on the slopes of Haleakala with a stunning view that stretches all the way to the sea.
But what really sets family-owned Haleakala Creamery apart are their specialty products. The farm concocts small batches of goat milk caramel sauces and “goatlato” ice cream made from goat milk instead of cow’s milk. They also make a few other treats such as Chevre and skyr yogurt. These are all crafted onsite in a commercial kitchen that the owners built right on the property.
While on the farm tour, not only do you get to see the goats and the beautiful view, but you also get to taste the fruits of the farm’s labor. You can sample their delicious creations and even bring some home with you as a tasty souvenir.
Our experience at Haleakala Creamery’s Farm to Spoon Tour
First impressions
The first thing I noticed when I stepped out of the car was the absolutely epic view that the farm had. From the property’s elevation, I was able to see all the way to the ocean.
Our small group of four walked over to a tent and picnic benches next to the creamery building. We were greeted by Haleakala Creamery’s owner, Rebecca Woodburn-Rist. She also introduced us to the farm dog, Fletcher. He sat tethered nearby to avoid unleashing his overexcitable nature on the farm guests. I couldn’t resist walking over to give him some attention. And I wasn’t the only one.
Rebecca gave us background on the farm itself, how they got started, and how they run operations from their five-acre farm.
One impressive detail: she collaborated with her neighbors to allow her herd to graze on their properties. The neighbors get free goat lawn mowing without the expense or hassle of actually owning goats while the goats get fresh feed. Win win.
The goatlato
Before we made our way around the farm, Rebecca passed out small servings of their famous goatlato with a generous dollop of caramel. It was smooth and creamy in my mouth, with just the right amount of sweetness. And a welcome cold treat under the island sun.
The dairy goats
After the farm talk, Rebecca led our group a few hundred feet to the other opposite side of the creamery building, past the parking lot and driveway. That’s where the goat herd found us.
Rebecca passed out brown paper sacks of goat treats (tortilla chips), which the goats greedily nibbled and licked out of our hands. We spent around 15 minutes feeding and mingling with the caprine herd before walking along the fence to tour the rest of the little farm.
Baby goats
I can’t say whether every tour gets a chance to meet with baby goats on this tour, but we were lucky enough to meet with a few goat kids during our June visit to Haleakala Creamery. They were sweet and adorable.
Goat milking demonstration
After our encounter with the goat kids, Rebecca led us to the farm’s milking station. The area lies adjacent to the creamery kitchen. Rebecca wrangled one of the goats away from the herd to give us a milking demonstration and talk more about their process on the farm. Then she gave each of us the opportunity to try our goat milking skills.
Kitchen tour
One of the most unique parts of this farm tour was that we were able to walk through the creamery kitchen itself and see the production process in person.
More tasty treats
After we toured the kitchen, we exited and were back where we started — at the picnic tables and tent. Rebecca then offered us more delicious samples from the farm. This time we sampled different cheeses and skyr yogurt.
Before we left Haleakala Creamery, we had the opportunity to buy their caramel sauce and goat milk soap, all made from goats we had just met that day. Farm to spoon, indeed.
How to reserve a farm tour at Haleakala Creamery
Head to the Haleakala Creamery website and book their Farm to Spoon Creamery Tour.
Once booked, you’ll receive a confirmation email, along with instructions on how to reach the farm.
Getting to Haleakala Creamery
*Keep in mind that the farm is only open to the public during scheduled tours.*
From Kahului, take Haleakala Highway (HI-37) toward Upcountry Maui. (You’ll be heading toward the center of the island, away from shore.) Make a right turn onto Omaopio Road. Follow the paved road through the rural residential neighborhood until you reach Piliwale Road. Turn onto Hoomaikai Place until you reach the gate to a private road. Before your tour, you’ll receive additional instructions (via email) on how to gain access to the farm.
Tips before you take the Haleakala Creamery tour
These are some things you should know before you book your farm tour:
- Tours run every Friday and must be booked in advance
- The farm is in a rural neighborhood, so please respect the neighbors by driving within the speed limit
- Bring a hat — There isn’t much shade while walking the grounds, and it can get sunny and hot on this Upcountry slope
- We wore sandals on our tour (I live on a small farm at home, so I’m accustomed to uneven ground and goats stepping on my toes), but since they’re a working farm, Haleakala Creamery recommends wearing closed toe shoes
Bottom line
If you’re considering a farm tour on Maui, we highly recommend checking out Haleakala Creamery. Value-wise, it’s more than worth it.
We enjoyed the personal feel of having the farm owner guide us around the property, answering questions and giving her personal take on what it’s like to farm on Maui. Because of the farm’s smaller size, it was a more intimate and personalized experience.
Wondering what else you can do while you’re Upcountry? Read: 10 Things to Do in Maui’s Upcountry: From Farm Tours to Small Town Shops
