Maui Tropical Plantation’s 59 acres of fun includes five ziplines; occasional outdoor concerts; coconut-husking and pineapple-cutting demonstrations; and tram tours that pass fields of bananas, papayas, avocadoes, macadamia nuts and more.
History is also on display. Dating back to 1882, the Claus Spreckels, a steam locomotive named after a Maui sugar baron, transported freight and passengers between Kahului, Wailuku and Paia for Kahului & Wailuku Railroad.
The Kalakaua Car was one of six passenger coaches built in 1880 and used by Hawaiian Railroad Company for a route that ran from Mahukona to Kapaau on the northwest tip of Hawaii Island.
In 1883, King Kalakaua and his entourage traveled to Kapaau in the six coaches for the unveiling of the Kamehameha statue.Thereafter, the coaches were called the “Kalakaua Cars”; only this one remains.
The acclaimed Mill House restaurant offers dinner shows from time to time and twice-weekly Chef’s Table dinners featuring locally sourced fish and meats and seasonal produce from the plantation. Nearby, the Mill House Roasting Company serves Maui-grown coffee roasted in small batches.