THE LAND AND IMPROVEMENTS 

If you are susceptible to extreme heat, and I have yet to meet anyone who isn’t, then the relative coolness of 3000’ is a blessing. People on the coast tend to congregate around their air conditioners, which, by the way, is the number one use of energy on the island.

Compare that with Olinda Point, on “Rainbow Ridge”. The summer days are hot but it always cools down enough to sleep comfortably in the evenings. At Olindapoint the land falls away from you from all points other than the uphill side. Stunning vistas and the feeling of “flying” are indescribable features of living on this promontory.

Elevation is a crucial element in understanding the geographical advantage of this land. Leaving Makawao on a drive up Olinda Rd. one first traverses a relatively flat section on which resides Oskie Rice Arena and Seabury Hall. Houses are closer together and the views are hampered by the houses, trees and land forms that exist on this flatter section. Approximately 3 miles up the topography steepens, the road passes onto a ridge and uses sharp switchbacks to climb it. This is the famous "Rainbow Ridge" and at the center and top of this ridge sits "Olindapoint". It is due to this steepness that the views from this land cannot be lost, no matter what happens on adjoining parcels. Continuing up Olinda Road one finds that the landform flattens out to some degree, so that gullies, ridges, trees and houses once again tend to block the view.

It is a blessing to have a seasonal change, and the plants love it. Any lower on the mountain and you find yourself in the marine layer and the extreme heat. Any higher and one finds oneself in a climate zone that is much cooler and often cloudy.

“Olinda Point” is the sweet spot.

Olinda Point is also in the ideal location in regards to north and south orientation on the island. Any further north and the island starts curving towards the Hana side, which is the windward side, with its increased wind exposure and rainfall. Half a mile to the North is Piiholo Rd., which is called a part of Olinda. In reality, it could not be more different. It is more north facing, its’ views are much more restricted, and it receives something like 400 inches more rain a year than does Olinda proper. It is wet, cold and rainy, and it’s inferior views are hampered by extensive eucalyptus forests. The road is brutal.

To the South is Kula and environs. This area always has an afternoon cloud, known as the "Kula Cloud", since it is in the lee of the 10,000’ mountain Haleakala. When the trade winds are blowing, which is the predominant weather pattern, this is just the way that it is. Beautiful mornings, cloudy by noon. When the connector road from Kihei to Kula (Keokea) is opened, and it already exists, "upcountry" will become "downcountry" overnight.

“Rainbow Ridge”

Rainbow Ridge is aptly named. The windward weather pattern, which makes locations to the North so challenging to live in, begins to burn off as it rounds the island and on a usual day leaves Olinda in sunlight. The leeward weather pattern starts farther south and again leaves Olinda in the sunshine. On a typical day one can enjoy the sight of both the windward and leeward cloud patterns growing and dancing without obscuring the sun on Rainbow Ridge. Pukalani, which means “Hole in the Heavens”, is due west of Olinda and is so named because it shares the same weather phenomena. So it is not too cloudy, not too wet, and because of its geographical advantage, does not share in the negatives that are clearly visible around it. Olinda Road dead ends into Haleakala Ranch so it will never receive a large increase in traffic.

The summit of Haleakala is a 45 minute drive from the house. Imagine being at 10,000’ in less than an hour! There is simply nowhere else in the state (in the country?) where one can access more ecozones with greater ease. It is this easy access to varied ecozones that allows me to honestly recommend Maui over Kauai as a place to live. You cant even drive all the way around Kauai, much less drive to the much lower (and much wetter) volcano on that island.

The nearest town to Olindapoint is Makawao (the cutest town on Maui), a three mile or 7 minute drive down Olinda Road. The nearest beach is in Paia, about 15 minutes away. The airport is about 30 minutes away. You can see all the shorelines and decide which surf spot would be the most advantageous on any given day. Above all, Olinda Road dead ends a couple of miles up the hill, so the traffic is, and will always be, relatively light.

So in a nutshell, “Olinda Point” is at the perfect geographical, climatological and societal location. The Trifecta of heat, moisture and population pressure are left behind in the lowlands. It is accessible to the necessities and yet is far

enough removed for privacy. It has the Best View of any parcel upcountry. This is not just real estate hype. I have sat on the point and studied this side of the island for over 14 years. I have challenged all realtors to show me a better view or a better location, they simply cannot. It is, in my humble opinion, the best place to live on the island.