A Hidden Gem Upcountry
Maui's Most Unexpected Afternoon
Most visitors never make it Upcountry. That's their loss — and your opportunity. Tucked into the gentle lower slopes of Haleakalā in Kula, Ocean Organic Farm & Distillery sits on 80 acres of working farmland at roughly 1,000 feet elevation.
From this hillside perch you can see both coasts of Maui simultaneously — the north shore and the south shore — spread out below you like a map. On a clear afternoon it's genuinely breathtaking. Come near sunset and it becomes something else entirely.
There's a working distillery, a Farm Store to browse and buy, a tasting experience, a Distiller's Table pairing, and a Farm Café where you can sit on the lawn with a cocktail and just watch Maui unfold below you. We've done it multiple ways and loved all of them.
At a Glance
Location
4051 Omaopio Rd, Kula, HI 96790
Lower Kula · Upcountry Maui
From P410 (South Kihei)
About 30–35 minutes up the mountain
Best Time to Visit
Late afternoon — arrive 1–2 hours before sunset for the full show
Parking
Free, ample — dirt lot on property
Families
Kids welcome, close supervision required — this is a working distillery. Running and climbing trees on the grounds is not permitted.
Andrew's Take
"We like to go late afternoon, grab a table on the lawn, and just sit there with cocktails as the sun drops behind the West Maui Mountains. It's one of those places that surprises you — you come for the distillery and stay for the view."
Your Options
How Do You Want to Spend Your Time?
No ticket required to come and enjoy this place. You can browse the store, have a cocktail on the lawn, or go deeper — a curated tasting, an elevated pairing, or a special farm dinner. It's entirely up to you.
Option 1
Farm Store
Drop-In
Browse and buy the full lineup of spirits. No reservation, no commitment — just walk in, explore the bottles, and leave with something for the lanai back at P410.
No reservation needed
Option 2
Farm Café
& the View
Pull up a lawn chair, order a craft cocktail (or mocktail), and settle in. Fresh Maui cuisine — savory bites, shareable plates — made to order. To-go orders available by phone too.
Reservations recommended · Walk-ins welcome
Option 3
The Distiller's
Table
An elevated experience: a carefully selected cocktail (or mocktail) paired with locally inspired pupus-style bites. The food and the spirit chosen specifically to complement each other.
Reservation required
Option 4
Guided Spirits
Tasting
A progressive, guided sampling of the full lineup — vodka, rum, gin, the espresso martini, Brum Solera — with the story behind each one. The deepest dive into the distillery craft.
Reservation required
Option 5
Special Events
& Dinners
Curated farm dinners with multi-course dining and live music at sunset. Held periodically — worth checking their events calendar when planning your trip to Maui.
Check events calendar
All reservations via oceandistillery.com · Farm Café also on OpenTable
The Lineup
What They Make Here
Ocean Organic Vodka
The flagship. Organically grown Maui sugarcane distilled with deep ocean mineral water drawn from off the Kona coast. Distinctively smooth — this is what put them on the map.
Ocean Espresso Martini
A pre-crafted organic espresso martini — the newest addition to the lineup. Ready to pour and genuinely good. Look for it at their Farm Store.
Kula Organic Rum
Named for the land it grows on. A clean, approachable rum built from the same Upcountry sugarcane as the vodka. Pacific Organic Rum with a clear sense of place.
Fy Organic Gin
A Hawaii wet organic gin — botanically complex with a freshness that suits the tropical cocktail program. A surprising standout for gin drinkers who make the trip.
Brum Solera Rum
A World Solera Rum with age and character beyond expectation. If you're a rum drinker, this is the reason to do the Guided Tasting — you might not find it otherwise.
Ocean Vodka is available throughout Maui and across the mainland — but there's something different about tasting it where the sugarcane grew.
Planning Your Visit
How to Make the Most of It
Come late afternoon
Arrive around 3–4pm. Browse the Farm Store, grab a seat at the Café, have a cocktail, and stay for the sunset. This is the full experience — no reservation required for this version.
Pair it with Haleakalā
If you're doing the Haleakalā sunrise, the distillery is a natural stop on the way back down. You'll be done at the summit by 9am — the Farm Store opens mid-morning and the Café follows shortly after — check their website for current hours. It makes the most of the drive.
Book the tasting or table in advance
Walk-ins are welcome at the Café and Farm Store, but Guided Tastings and the Distiller's Table require reservations via their website. Book ahead — these fill up, especially on weekends.
Add Surfing Goat Dairy nearby
Just minutes away on the Kula Highway — a goat farm with artisan cheese and tours. Combine the two for a full Upcountry afternoon of Maui agriculture and craft food.
Plan Your Visit
Reserve a tasting, book a table, check the events calendar, and see what's currently happening at the farm.
Visit oceandistillery.comAlso Nearby Upcountry
Goat farm with tours and artisan cheeses — minutes away on Omaopio Road. A natural companion stop.
A short drive further Upcountry — lavender fields, gardens, gift shop, and expansive views of Maui's central valley.
Continue up the mountain from Kula. The distillery makes a perfect morning stop on the descent after the sunrise.