Ulupalakua hosts quarterly “Sunday Drive” events to share and honor different aspects of this unique and historic area.

ULUPALAKUA — Maui’s Winery and Ulupalakua Ranch Store invite the public to take a Sunday Drive to Upcountry for “Ulupalakua Cares” on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ushering in the fall season, the event celebrates Ulupalakua’s commitment to agriculture and open space.

Maui environmental organizations will offer informational exhibits with representatives on hand from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents and visitors can learn more about efforts to preserve natural resources, native plants and open space, and understand the innovative solutions these organizations are pursuing.

Featured organizations will include Ulupalakua Ranch, Friends of D.T. Fleming Arboretum, Maui Native Nursery, Leeward Haleakala Watershed Restoration Partnership, Maui Invasive Species Committee, Maui Coastal Land Trust and the Natural Area Reserve System.

Tree lovers will not want to miss the special Walking Tours of Trees on the historic grounds of the winery led by Ernest H. Rezents, professor emeritus of Agriculture at the University of Hawaii and Maui Community College.

Rezents will share his mana‘o (wisdom) as an ISA-certified Arborist and ASCA-registered Consulting Arborist during tours at 12:30 and 2 p.m.

Visitors may also enjoy tours of Maui’s Winery at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3 p.m., along with wine tastings in the King’s Cottage Tasting Room. All events are free of charge.

Maui favorites the Hula Honeys will add their vintage Hawaiian tunes and breezy jazz to the ambiance of “Ulupalakua Cares.” The Honeys will play from 1 to 4 p.m. on the winery grounds. 

A tempting array of picnic fare is available from Ulupalakua Ranch Store Deli & Grill, featuring Maui Cattle Company and Ulupalakua Elk Burgers, the ranch’s famous Ulupalakua Steak Chili and Beef Stew, and fresh wraps and salads made from locally grown produce. The store is also a great place to shop for gifts like cowboy hats, ball caps and T-shirts with the Ulupalakua Ranch brand.

Once sprawling over 40,000 acres of Upcountry Maui, today the ranch still runs 5,000 head of cattle on 18,000 acres.

For over 50 years, Ulupalakua Ranch has been a proponent of the care and conservation of endemic plants. Currently, more than 50 species of endangered or rare native trees are being nurtured on the ranch with the help of dedicated volunteers and partner organizations.

“Our goal is to restore the remains of what was once a vast and biologically diverse ecosystem found only in these islands,” says Sumner Erdman, Ulupalakua Ranch president.

“‘Ulupalakua Cares’ is a chance to share the work that we do, and that these outstanding organizations do throughout the year to ensure the health of the environment for many years to come.”

For more information, call 878-6058 or visit www.mauiwine.com or www.ulupalakuaranch.com.