My family of four stayed two nights at a chalet room at Kula Lodge on July 5-6. We chose the hotel in order to be as close as possible to the Haleakala summit. The lodge was OK and mostly clean (there were spiderwebs in the eaves of the loft, which the hotel staff dealt with when we pointed them out) but the room and furnishings had a tired feeling for the price. The staff was friendly. The location was a great starting point for reaching the volcano summit -- we left the hotel about 1-1/2 hours before sunrise to reach the top, which worked out fine. We ate at the dining room for one breakfast only. The food was over-priced and OK but undistinguished. The dinner menu was too expensive (unexciting-sounding entrees in the range of $25-30) to merit our taking our evening meals there; Paia, not too far down the road, offered better value. Suggest that near-by B&B or vacation rentals be investigated as alternatives, but if you're looking for a hotel close to Haleakala's summit this is the one and only place we were able to find.

We have stayed here twice--one night in 1997 and again at either end of a backpacking trip through Haleakala. We had a nice stay each time, although agree the rooms are a bit overpriced. There is no need for AC--the temps in Kula are not hot enough. If you feel you need a TV in your room, stay home! The location is wonderful as are the views. The food was excellent, although pricey and service was slow. But this is Hawaii and laid back is normal--so what's the hurry? You enjoy the view and the company you are with! The management was also kind enough to store our luggage while we were backpacking--at no additional cost to us. After the two nights in the crater, the bed and hot shower at the lodge felt like heaven! The Kula Lodge's location makes it much easier to get up to the summit of Haleakala for sunrise.

The best thing about this place is the view from the dinning room. The food is overpriced and mediocre and the service poor. The rooms have no insulation and are not quiet as a result. We spent our wedding night here but had a room not facing the hwy., and the adjacent room was empty, so noise wasn't a problem. Returning for our 2nd anniversary we were in the adjacent room and it sounded like we were on a median strip in the middle of a hwy. We could also hear the folks next door who were not speaking loudly. Realizing we weren't going to be able to sleep, we left 10 minutes after checking in but were not given a refund since "no refunds are given on reserved rooms". They advertise as a place for weddings. Don't bother. We had our reception there and the service was so slow it was laughable. Overall, they are out of their depth and unprofessional.

Again with the no TV! But the stars are just beautiful. I saw a shooting star that looked like a green stripe across the sky. Wow. A couple of drinks on the lanai watching the stars is a nice way to spend the night.

The room was well appointed with very comfortable beds. Being up country was a great contrast to staying in Kihei ( though I liked that too.) Though yes there were screens the fireplace could have been used to warm the room but the temp was so mild it wasn't necessary.

The restaurant is a bit pricey but the view at night was spectacular.
Had dinner 10 minutes down the mountain in Makawao at an italian restaurant that was great.

Bsaically, have a good atrtitudde and you'll have a good time.