Daily Agenda — August 12, 2026

Day Summary

The biggest, most varied day of the entire trip — starting in the sky over Maui and Molokai, descending to a gourmet farm lunch at 3,500 feet in Upcountry, then climbing back up to Haleakalā's summit for sunset and a jaw-dropping new-moon stargazing experience. This is a Maui highlight — do not miss it. Tonight the sky will be at its absolute darkest with zero lunar interference.

Meals

☀️Breakfast

Where🏡 Villa Kitchen — Villa Breakfast

MenuEggs any style · Toast or Hawaiian sweet rolls · Sliced tropical fruit · POG juice & Fairlife milk

NotesLight & quick — eat by 6:30 AM · Depart villa 6:45 AM for 7:45 AM check-in · Nothing at the helipad

🌿Lunch

WhereO'o Farm — Farm-to-Table Lunch Tour

Time10:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Reservation✅ Booked & confirmed · Mon–Fri seating

Notes4-course gourmet lunch from ingredients harvested that morning · $155/adult · (808) 856-0141

🌙Dinner

Where🍽️ Kula Bistro — Takeout

ReservationTakeout — call ahead so it is ready for the ~2:30 PM pickup

Location4566 Lower Kula Rd, Kula · Pick up at ~2:30 PM on the way to Kula Marketplace

NotesBring takeout up to Haleakalā summit for the sunset picnic · Pack enough for a long cold evening at the summit

Activities & Schedule

~6:45 AM

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~7:40 AM

🚗 Depart Villa → Blue Hawaiian Heliport

Westin Nanea, Ka'anapali → 1 Lelepio Pl, Kahului · ~45–50 min · The heliport is in the General Aviation area on the far side of the runways from the main terminal — follow signs for General Aviation, not Departures

⏰ Blue Hawaiian asks you to check in 45–60 min before departure — be there by 7:45 AM for the 8:30 flight

8:30 AM

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10:00 AM

🚁 Blue Hawaiian Helicopters — Maui & Molokai Spectacular

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters · 1 Lelepio Pl, Kahului · (800) 745-2583 · Airbus EC-130 Eco-Star

1.5 hours · Fly over Maui's valleys, rainforests & waterfalls → cross to Molokai's north shore (88 miles of coastline with towering waterfalls) → exclusive landing at Ulupalakua Ranch for both-oceans views → dive into West Maui Mountains

From $559/person ✓ Booked · #336456268 Wear dark clothing · No tablets or extended-lens cameras during flight ⏰ Check in by 7:45 AM — passengers are weighed and briefed before boarding

~10:10 AM

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~10:55 AM

🚗 Drive Up to O'o Farm — Kula

Kahului → 651 Waipoli Rd, Kula · ~40–45 min climbing to 3,500 ft · Dairy Rd → Hana Hwy (36 E) → Haleakalā Hwy (37) uphill

⚠️ Hwy 377 meets Hwy 37 twice — take the second left, past Rice Memorial Park between mile markers 13 and 14 (signed "Haleakala Crater"). Then Waipoli Rd comes up fast on the right; continue ½ mile uphill and turn left at the wooden O'o Farm sign. If you reach lavender fields, you've gone too far.

🍧 Ululani's dropped from today — it can't fit before a 10:30 tour. You already have it Aug 16 in Kahului.

10:30 AM

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1:30 PM

🌿 O'o Farm — Farm-to-Table Lunch Tour

O'o Farm · 651 Waipoli Rd, Kula, HI 96790 · 3,500 ft elevation · (808) 856-0141 · Park in the grass lot and wait — a guide comes to greet you

Guided walk through lush fields, coffee orchards & fruit trees → sit down to a 4-course gourmet lunch prepared with ingredients harvested that morning · Bi-coastal panoramic views

$155/adult · $77.50/child (5–12) ✅ Booked & confirmed Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes · Bring a jacket — cool & misty at 3,500 ft ⚠️ TIGHT CONNECTION — the 8:30 flight lands at 10:00 and the drive up is 40–45 min, so realistic arrival is ~10:55, about 25 min into the tour. Call O'o Farm at (808) 856-0141 to give them a heads-up, or ask Blue Hawaiian to move you to their first flight of the day.

~2:30 PM

🍽️ Kula Bistro — Takeout Pickup

4566 Lower Kula Rd, Kula, HI 96790 · On the way from O'o Farm to Kula Marketplace

Pick up dinner on the way up — bring food to the Haleakalā summit for the sunset picnic. Pack enough for a long, cold evening at 10,000 ft.

Stop on the way to Kula Marketplace · Meet guide at 3:00 PM

3:00 PM

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9:45 PM

⭐ Maui Stargazing — Haleakalā Sunset & Stargazing

Maui Stargazing · Meet: Kula Marketplace, 15200 Haleakalā Hwy, Kula · (808) 298-8254

Meet guide at Kula Marketplace → Mercedes Sprinter van up to Haleakalā National Park → scenic sunset picnic → 60–90 min professional astronomer-led telescope tour of the cosmos

🧥 Outerwear provided by Maui Stargazing: snowboarding pants, winter coats, hats & gloves · Wear your own warm base layers underneath (see packing list: closed-toe shoes + thick socks, long pants, long sleeve shirt, hoodie/sweatshirt)

~$250/person guided · $25/person cold-weather gear rental only (DIY option) ✓ Booked · #331903967 🌑 New Moon Night — absolute darkest sky, zero lunar interference. Milky Way visible. ☀️ Sunscreen & hats for pre-sunset · 📷 Tripods & cameras welcome at summit 💊 Consider motion sickness meds — winding road up Haleakalā can be intense

Notes & Reminders

🗺️ Map → 🧳 Packing List → 🖨️ Print Day (PDF) →

Wear dark-colored clothing for the helicopter — minimizes photo reflections
O'o Farm: wear sturdy closed-toe shoes for the farm walk · Bring a jacket — it's cool and misty at 3,500 ft
🍽️ Dinner — Kula Bistro takeout: pick up at ~2:30 PM (4566 Lower Kula Rd, Kula) on the way to Kula Marketplace · Bring food up for the summit picnic
🧥 Haleakalā layers: Maui Stargazing provides outer gear (snowboarding pants, winter coat, hat, gloves) — wear your own base layers: closed-toe shoes + thick socks, long pants, long sleeve shirt, and hoodie or sweatshirt
☀️ Pre-sunset: bring sunscreen and hats — the summit has intense UV exposure before dark
📷 Cameras & tripods welcome at the summit — great opportunity for long-exposure Milky Way shots on a new moon night
💊 Motion sickness: the road up Haleakalā is steep and winding — take Meclizine or similar beforehand if you're prone to car sickness
🌑 New moon tonight: the sky will be at its absolute darkest — the stargazing will be exceptional. Don't miss this.
Drive back down Haleakalā in the dark is winding with no streetlights — go slowly, watch for cows on the road

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