Thompson Road is a one-lane road in Keokea, (Kula) Maui Hawaii.
It is one of our favorite places to go for a walk.
Many say Thompson Road is like going back to old Hawaii.
This is one of the reasons why are walks are always Peaceful and Serene.
It feels like you are walking under the clouds.
We are always amazed on how the sky is so blue.
Walking downhill is my favorite and Lots of Golden Fun.
I love when the sun shines on my face with the cool wind.
This is not my first time to blog about Thompson Road.
Last April, I posted a photo of me behind Oprah’s estate, which is located on Thompson Road.
Click Here if you missed reading that post.
What’s the story behind Thompson Road and in relation to Oprah’s Estate?
For many years, Thompson Road led you to the Thompson Ranch owned by Charlie Thompson. Charlie Thompson was a cowboy, born in Kealakekua to a Hawaiian woman and a German tanner. He moved to Maui in 1902, where he married, and outlived, three Hawaiian wives and many children. After he died at 90 years old in 1969. The 500 acres of his own property went to his wives, 400 acres were sold immediately and 100 acres went to his last wife. After her death it was distributed among her children and 50 acres were sold. On of the children Jerry acquired the last 50 acres with the ranch house.
Jerry tried to maintain and keep up the ranch but due to inheritance taxes (1.3M) he was forced to sell the ranch house (and moved to the last 30 acres of his father’s land). A couple who bought it created a Bed n Breakfast called Silver Cloud Ranch.
However, Oprah had great interest on the land and the Bed n Breakfast and bought it from them. Meanwhile, Jerry still owns the last 30 acres and kept the trail rides but that wasn’t enough to make ends meet. A realtor approached Jerry and informed him of a buyer which he described as “This person has more money than God.” Oprah paid Jerry for the last of his father’s land. It is sad but life goes on with Jerry and his family. With the money, they were able to purchase a land. They build a home and re-establish Thompson Ranch (even though it is on Polipoi Road).
What are Oprah’s plans with the Thompson Ranch? For years, she did extensive renovation of the 12 bedroom B&B. There were reports that she plans to open a high end B&B for her friends and wealthy customers who would like to experience Maui countryside living. Oprah also built a house behind the B&B. Click Here to read all about it.
Oprah has always great intentions on what she does. This year, April 2012 she created an LCC for Oprah’s Farm. It was confirmed this week by NY post that Oprah is definitely going to start growing & selling organic produce in Maui, Oprah’s Farm/ Oprah’s Organics/Oprah’s Harvest. Where? Unsure since she own many properties on Maui. However, upcountry(Kula, Maui) farming is a optimal choice due to the soil and weather. We just hope the local farmers will not be affected by Oprah’s new endeavors in organic farming. Also, Oprah plans to open a road that connects from Upcountry to the South end of the island. A road that’s only intended for her use. We are are not sure if this is a good idea. It will be unfair. Also, if she allows the public to use it, the serenity of Upcountry Maui will be ruined. We also hope that she would not rename the Thompson Road to Oprah Road. There’s much history behind Thompson Road and keeping the name makes it just right.
Lately, during our walks many workers go in and out of Oprah’s Kula Maui’s estate.
Oprah literally turns everything she touches into Gold.
Kula is a Hawaiian word that means gold.
As always, my mom can not contain herself from taking photos of flowers.
It’s amazing how these beautiful flowers grow and survive in this rugged environment.
You might not see these flowers as you drive by or walk on Thompson Road because they grow in such inconspicuous ground/space.
If you plan to visit Maui, Hi and have plans to stay upcountry.
A very quaint property on Thompson Road called Star Lookout is a great place to stay.
Definitely, you’ll have a majestic stay and experience country living.
You’ll see the sweeping panoramic views of Maui.
Witness the amazing sunrise from Haleakala and breathtaking sunsets.
After the sun goes down, you’ll see more stars than you ever knew existed with twinkling lights tracing the coastlines and towns below.
Thompson Road is bordered on each side by historical lava rock walls.
There are multiple stories about of strength and power of these walls.
The basic structure was formation of rocks piled on top of each other.
These walls have endured many years of Maui micro-climates and still stand strong.
I always have a Golden Walks every time I’m on Thompson Road.
LOVE the off leash walking of 2.5 miles.
I’ve met many courteous dogs during our walks and one of them is a Golden dog.
After our walk, we usually go to Grandma’s, a family owned restaurant
famous for their coffee, baked goods and breakfast meals.
Mom loves their almond coconut banana bread.
Hope you enjoyed another edition of Sugar’s Golden Tours, Thompson Road Kula, Maui HI
Lots of Golden L♥VE n Woofs
SUGAR
Great post! Thompson Road sounds like an amazing place for a walk. Do you get to taste sum of that yummy almond coconut banana bread? We hope so. Happy thursday! XOXO
We sure did enjoy the tour you gave us today Sugar!! What a lovely place to go for a stroll!! Sure hope that Oprah keeps in mind that a road “just for her” wouldn’t be such a great idea!! I hope she plans to keep the “Old Hawaii” alive and kicking!! xoxo Chloe and LadyBug
Lovely blog…and photos…and I DO LOVE DOGS!
GREAT, all is great!
What a fabulous post, thanks for showing me your place, I think it’s very nice there. Wish I could travel to all this wonderful places ;o)
What a lovely tour. And I love golden retrievers. I have my own Goldie Girl. She would love to walk there off the leash of course. Th bread sounds yummy. Beautiful photos, I am so happy I came across your blog.
Lovely scenery!
Beautiful pictures. That’s very interesting history. Surely she wouldn’t rename the road to Oprah road. That would be so….obnoxious!
It looks beautiful and it is too bad rich people always try and ruin things for others. HOpe it works out well and it remains so beautiful.
Sugar you could almost touch the clouds in one picture.
thank you for taking us on this most wonderful tour. Oh me now Mom wants to fly across the Pacific
Hugs Madi your BFFF
thanks for sharing all the beauty of the countryside and I do hope the rich lady does not make the road private so you can still walk on it. maybe she will just sell to the other rich folk and it will not hurt the local farmers.
What a lovely area!!
What a beautiful place for a walk! Maybe one day we will make it out there to visit you.
June
WOW you gave a great education in this post. I love hearing about Oprahs life now etc. SO thank you very much! Tell Sugar we said, HI!!! The little cutie!
Laurie
Thanks for the tour Sugar. I may never get to Maui, but I feel that I have experienced a little today.
Cindy
What an informative and pretty post! That looks like such a nice walkie. Maybe I should come visit you in Hawaii!
Looks beautiful!!:) If I go to Hawaii, I would want to drop by Thompson Road
Cotton
Love the pup, very happy looking! LoL! =)
And WoW, the views are extraordinarily beautiful! =)))
I love your tours. Fell like I am there right with you. How cool would that be for real. I hope Miss Oprah keeps things as they should be (that’s just how I see it). On my bucket list: Visit Sugar and go for a walk.
Blessings,
Goose
Those are absolutely stunning photos… simply beautiful! We would sure love to go for a walk… or two… or two hundred!… there!
Thanks for the tour Sugar. I felt like I was there walking down your favorite path with you. Amazingly beautiful.
I can see why you love this walk so much. What’s not to love. Thanks for the wonderful history lesson too.
Have a woof woof day. My best to your mom. 🙂
We certainly did enjoy the tour, Sugar. It’s a very beautiful place!
🙂
Thanks for the re-visit to the Upcountry!!! The lavender farm isn’t far from here right?? I do believe this is what people should experience when visiting Hawaii—Hawaii Old Style!!
We don’t know how you will ever be able to leave such a beautiful place! If we lived there, we would never leave! 🙂
What a beautiful road for a walk, Sugar!
We love Oprah!
Love ya lots,
Mitch and Molly
What a beautiful place for a walk Sugar! We sure hope Oprah doesn’t change things up too much since she can’t even live there full time. The flowers are beautiful too! Our mommy would love that bread too!
this was super interesting. I thought Oprah lived on Kuaii? She is on Maui?
what a lucky pooch you are sugar to get to walk in such a pretty area!
It’s a really beautiful area! Looking good, Sugar!
Forget Hana, thats gorgeous!!
Benny & Lily
Oh, Sugar, I sure did love your tour!! Oh, the beauty of Hawaii I just amazin’! I am always in awe of it.
Kisses,
Ruby
That is a beautiful place to take a walk. We don’t have anything like that here…just flat land and dirt!
Hey Sugar, Jet here.
You are a fantastic tour guide. Please thank Mom for the breath-taking pics.
Funny, Mom just read about Oprah’s organics plans about an hour ago… and now, here you are speaking of it. You are ahead of the times, Sugar. 🙂
If you learn more, would you share it with us via email for Mom’s Kitchen Counselor newsletter???
I have just figured out why Sugar is the happiest dog I ever saw — she gets the most beautiful walks!
Hi Sugar, I am not familiar with this part of the island-only having been up towards Hana once so I am so thankful you and mom shared this with us. I hope that Oprah does something that will benefit all the island and not just her rich friends(sorry, don’t mean to be offensive). I think does wonderful things and hope this is one of the same. Wishing you a beautiful night!
Noreen & Hunter
Super tour Sugar! The story about the Thompson family reminds me of George Clooney’s film “The Descendants”. I always think how lucky I am to have warm beautiful places to walk here in Florida but the views you have from Thompson Road certainly rival any of ours. Thanks for sharing. *snoogles*
Wow, Sugar! Almost makes me want to visit! You make every one of those photos look GOOD! And thanks for the history!
Hi Y’all!
Wonderful reading about Thompson Rd and ranch and Opray! Hope the area is always pristine and a beautiful place for you to walk with your person.
Y’all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
There are hardly words to say how beautiful it is there Sugar! My pawrents went to Oahu but never have been to Maui. As for Oprah, mom is not a fan. She says all that glitters is not gold. We hope people do not suffer for her “plans”.
Your Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
If Oprah lives there, it MUST be wonderful!!!
What a beautiful place to walk Thompson Road is with so much history! I sure hope they don’t change the name. Grandma’s sounds like a wonderful place to eat. 🙂
Another great lookin’ walkin’ spot, Sugar!
oh it is very pretty. I like the name of it too since Thompson is my last name 🙂
Beautiful, no wonder you love that walk so much! Thanks for all that history. We hope it won’t be changed for the worse.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
That was a really wonderful tour and history lesson, Sugar. I especially liked the ‘off-leash’ part of your walk—sounds like a perfect place to be.
We return to Maui for 3 weeks every year and enjoy Thompson Road! Grab a cup of coffee from Grandma’s and what a beautiful walk. We will be returning February 13 and maybe we will see you Sugar!
Beautiful writing about the Thompson ranch. Believe it or not, Charles Thompson is my grandfather, Blanche Thompson’s, grandmother. I have heard great things about the land. Very nice to see it thriving. Aloha.