What a perfect little getaway. Husband and I have been to Hawaii many times and wanted something different, away from the wall of condo buildings by the beaches.

Makawao is a charming Upcountry town and the cottage at the Sacred Garden, a short drive away from town, was comfortable and quiet. It is very well appointed with cooking implements that allowed us to make breakfast every morning and dinner many nights. Large bathroom and good storage for our gear. The cottage is perfect for two people and perhaps a young child but any more would feel crowded.

The Hogans recently added wifi capabilities so you can check your email and post updates to make your FB friends envious of your visit. There is no television but a monitor with a DVD player for movies. Beautifully dark at night, we had spectacular star gazing every evening. We had not realized that there was a washing machine and dryer available to us -- a great surprise.

Eve welcomed us when we arrived in the evening and gave an overview of the grounds, what fruits were in season and ready to pick (tangarines and avos!) and offered any support we may need. Otherwise, we never saw her or Steve. There is a working nursery on the property and so a little bit of car traffic right by the cottage around 9 AM and 5 PM. By little bit, I am talking about three cars.

On Maui, you need to drive everywhere. The closest beach is in Paia, about 20 minutes away. Being in Upcountry, you are on your way up to Haleakala, a short drive from Kahului where you can get whatever provisions you need and we learned shortcuts to Kihei and the East Maui beaches.

The cottage (and the spirit of Jimi) was a memorable stay on Maui. If you are looking for the road less travelled plus want approving nods from the locals when asked about where you are staying, check out the gingerbread cottage.