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is a district of East Maui, Hawaii that stretches across the "up-country", the western-facing slopes of Haleakala, from Makawao to Ulupalakua. Most of the residential areas lie between about 500 to 1,100 m (1,800 ft to 3,700 ft) in elevation. The word "Kula" in Hawaiian means "open meadows."
The district has traditionally been one where "kamaaina" (local residents) have preferred to live, as distinct from the generally hotter and busier tourist spots nearer to sea level (e.g., Kihei and Lahaina).
There are many micro-climates created by the combined effects of elevation, rain shadow, and land contour. Much of the west slopes of East Maui are dry or semi-desert due to a rain shadow effect: the prevailing trade-winds are from the north-east and east and Kula is in the 'shadow' of these winds. At the higher elevations and at night, especially in winter, it can be cool with temperatures dipping into the 40's or high 30's. Frosts are virtually unknown except at much higher elevations (7,000+ ft) on Haleakala.
There is a distinctive weather feature known as the 'Maui vortex'. A wind vortex forms as the trade-winds pass around the north-west corner of Haleakala (over Pukalani) and blow southward down the central valley of Maui over Maalaea Bay and then circle back up-slope over Kihei bringing a "lei of clouds" late each morning over Kula. Around sunset, the downward breezes from the summit wipe out this lei of clouds.