Hale Hookipa Inn

We’ve stayed in the Kona wing for 3 nights and thoroughly enjoyed the charming house and the amazing breakfast that Cherie serves. She is a great host, with lots of ideas what to do during the day. When she started to run this B&B some 22 years ago, she was among the first to do so on Maui. And she saved a historic house from being torn down for you to enjoy.

Cheri’s B&B is tucked away in central Maui, an ideal spot not just for accessing all the cool stuff around the island but also for keeping clear of the busy resorts along the coast. The house is gorgeous and has loads of Japanese fans for some reason (we even ended up in a photo shoot for a Japanese magazine during breakfast one morning). Cheri is super chill and opens up her home completely, offering an array of fruits for breakfast that are growing in her backyard. Our room was peaceful and airy, which was just what we needed when we crashed every night after long, exhausting days of hiking. The back porch is particularly meditative in the mornings, when you can sit quietly and watch the resident duck wander around, sipping your tea and taking in all the organic fruit growing everywhere. Highly recommend.

The 4 and 5 Star reviews describe Hale Hookipa well, and it’s even better once you arrive. It’s an enjoyable reflection of Hawaiian culture and practices. My adult son and I just stayed there 3 nights and it was a true pleasure as our base for day hikes on Haleakala and trips to the beach. We started each morning with coffee and a stroll in the secluded, beautiful yard and then breakfast with Cherie and guests; a real treat. We’ve already shared news of this gem of an inn with other family members. Looking forward to returning.

Cherie was the hostess with the mostest! The Inn is located up-​country and was close to everywhere we needed to go for the short time while we were there. She has a garden area where you can relax and drink your coffee that is part of her fabulous breakfast spread. Visiting from the mainkland — I was able to have all of the fresh fruits that I can not get at home (fresh mango, starfruit, passion fruit and dragon fruit) The breakfast was a nice way to start our day! The rooms are spacious and very clean! There is so much Aloha and culture in this Inn that I will definitely be staying here again on my next stay!

I’m so happy to see that this place is still going strong after all these years. I stayed here many moons ago (1998) and have found memories of using it as my base camp for all of my adventures around Maui. Also, Cherie was the best hostess ever, providing a delicious breakfast in the kitchen each morning, taking me on a cool local’s hike that I never would have found as a visiting tourist and letting me know about good places to go. Definitely a find for the fiscally-​minded solo traveler!

«I like that you have rules and I like that you enforce them.» These are the words written in the guestbook of Hale Ho’okipa Inn by the German couple who checked out a day before we did. Yes, there are rules – lots of them. And, yes, they are enforced.
I have yet to write a negative review. I’d rather spend my time promoting positive experiences and great places than dwelling on the decisions that didn’t go well. For Hale Ho’okipa Inn, I’m going to make an exception.
I knew we were in trouble when the sign at the front door read, «No Shoes Allowed». This is a pet peeve of mine. When I’m paying good money to stay at a place, I want to choose when I take my shoes off. Having to take them off or put them on every time I come and go is not a duty I welcome. More than anything, I want a room to be convenient to live out of while I’m there. Hale Ho’okipa Inn was not.
Thinking of staying here because of its proximity to Haleakala? Just know that there is the «procedure» for departing for a Haleakala sunrise experience too. You must park in a certain spot. (There is only one spot so hope you’re the only one planning to go up in the morning.) You must take a shower the night before; don’t even think about showering in the morning. And be prepared to lace up your hiking shoes outside by porch light. Remember, shoes are not allowed in the house. Showering the night before can also be an issue if you arrive back too late (since that is just as likely to wake up other guests), leaving anyone with a daily itinerary that has you arriving late and departing early with a bit of a dilemma.
Snacks in the room? You guessed it – forbidden. We found this out after returning to the room one afternoon and sharing a few rice crackers. The cleaning lady knocked on our closed door explaining that she heard us eating. She demanded that we cease this activity immediately. Seriously. By this time we were counting the hours until we could check out.
There is no doubt that some of the rules are dictated by the fact that the walls in Hale Ho’okipa Inn are paper thin. As a result, guests can hear everything everyone else is doing. The fact that the cleaning lady heard us chewing through a closed door is probably illustration enough, but this fact was reinforced one day while sitting in the bathroom. The couple in the next room happened to be having a conversation on the other side of the wall and I could hear everything they were saying as though I was on the other side of an open window.
In fairness, there are people that love staying at Hale Ho’okipa. If you’re a person, couple, or group that doesn’t get up too early, returns to the room before dark, and doesn’t mind all the rules, this might be a good match. The grounds are small but attractive and the inside of the house is clean and nicely kept. Still, for us, Hale Ho’okipa Inn proved to be such a bummer that it still casts a negative light on how we remember our experiences on Maui. My son lists Maui as his «least favorite island» and gives Hale Ho’okipa Inn as the reason why. In retrospect, we should have just checked out after the first night and written off the cost of the next two nights as the price of freedom.
If you’re thinking of staying in Makawao, I would suggest The Banyan Tree House as a good alternative. It was booked when I made the reservations for this trip, however we did stay here on an earlier trip. Its spacious grounds, large rooms, and positive vibe were everything that Hale Ho’okipa is not.

I loved it here. great rooms and wonderful people… plus a great deal.. This was my first trip to Maui and staying at this super cute b&b really made it amazing

What a wonderful place — a lovingly restored historic ranch house in a quiet residential neighborhood upcountry. The owner and her no. 2 were absolutely sweet and helpful. The place is charming, the breakfasts tasty and the other guests fun to chat with. And only a 15 minute drive from all the kiteboarding beaches.
I’ll be back.

If you’re looking for a charming Bed & Breakfast in Maui’s «Up Country» that won’t break the bank, Hale Hookipa Inn is a wonderful choice. It’s located in a quiet and distinctly not touristy residential rural area in Makawao. The B&B is a renovated historic plantation house originally built in 1924, that has a warm and breezy feel and a large shared living area. You can read about the history here:
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Each of the super cute bedrooms has its own shabby chic island décor. Some of the rooms have private bathrooms and some share a bathroom, so be sure to reserve the type of room/​bathroom that you want. While the vibe is relaxed and laid back, the entire place is immaculately clean, which impressed me. Extra credit because the owner/​manger is super sweet and helpful if you have any questions about the area or what attractions to visit.