Haleakala National Park
Haleakala National Park is one the United States 62 national parks. Known as the 'house of the sun' and towering over Maui, this dormant volcano is 10,023 feet above sea level. On over 30,000 acres of land, Haleakala National Park has stunning landscapes ranging from rock gardens and red deserts near the summit to lush jungle and waterfalls at the Kipahulu side of the park in East Maui. There are two entrances to Haleakala NP; one is at the summit where visitors can go early to watch the sunrise or stay late to watch the sunset. The second entrance is after the town of Hana on the Road to Hana at Kipahulu; you will find the entrance booth on the ocean side of the road. Entering the park at Kipahulu gives you access to the Seven Pools aka The Pools of O'heo and to the Pipiwai Trail. Because Haleakala is a national park you will need to pay the national park fee or use your annual inter-agency national park pass. If you pay the park fee at Haleakala, save the receipt as it can be used at both entrances within 3 days of purchase.
Halaekala is home to more endangered species of plants and animals than any other National Park unit. The most famous are the Silversword plant, the Nene, a native Hawaiian goose, and the Hawaiian petrel, a seabird that nests in colonies near the summit. Because there are so many endangered plants, please remember to always stay on marked paths or trails, even just a footprint can cause irreparable damage to the fragile landscape.
Sunrise Viewing & Parking Reservations:
Many people suggest doing the sunrise at Haleakala on your first morning on Maui since the time difference between the island and the mainland normally has people up early anyway. I say it can be done any morning of your trip since my preference is to hit the beach on the first day! Either way you have two choices when visiting Haleakala, you can drive yourselves or take a tour. The drive time from South Maui is approximately one hour and from West Maui is approximately 1.5 hours. That means to see the sunrise which in winter is around 7am and in the summer is around 5:45 am, means getting up plenty early to make the drive! A parking reservation is needed to enter the park between 3am and 7am (separate from the park fee) and you can get it here: https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/253731
Please see the page for instructions and availability of tickets. If you decide to sign up for a tour, then all fees and parking reservations will be handled for you. After watching the sunrise you can opt to stay in the park to do some hiking or head down to Makawao or Kula for breakfast.
Seeing Haleakala during the day:
The drive up to the Haleakala Summit during the day is beautiful with stunning views of the island. Like the Road to Hana, this drive is meant to take your time on so you can see the changing landscape and make stops along the way at viewpoints. It is a long drive, so it's best to tie it in to a visit to Makawao Town or a few stop in the Kula area (Maui Wine, the Lavender farm, Ocean Vodka, or the Surfing Goat Dairy). There are also several hiking trails in the park, see them here.
Sunset at Haleakala:
If you prefer not to get up early, you can instead go to the summit for sunset. No need for a parking reservation. Before driving up make sure you can see the summit from the valley. If it is shrouded in clouds then save it for another day.
Activities at Haleakala:
Hiking: there are several great hikes to take while visiting Haleakala National Park. See more about hiking here.
Biking: there are companies that can take you up to see the sunrise then get you geared up for a thrilling ride back down the mountain! (update: there are new rules being put in place that tour companies will have to start the bike ride descent from outside the park entrance) - see more here
Camping: There are two camping sites within the park, one near the Hosmer Grove Trail and one in Kipahulu, and back country camping at Hōlua and Palikū campsites. Prepare for your camping trip accordingly - it gets really cold at night near the summit. Find more information here: https://www.nps.gov/hale/planyourvisit/wilderness-camping.htm
Halaekala is home to more endangered species of plants and animals than any other National Park unit. The most famous are the Silversword plant, the Nene, a native Hawaiian goose, and the Hawaiian petrel, a seabird that nests in colonies near the summit. Because there are so many endangered plants, please remember to always stay on marked paths or trails, even just a footprint can cause irreparable damage to the fragile landscape.
- A tip about the Haleakala Summit at any time of day - it's very cold and windy up there! Take extra clothing, a jacket, or a blanket with you. Especially at sunrise or sunset, the temperatures can reach freezing.
Sunrise Viewing & Parking Reservations:
Many people suggest doing the sunrise at Haleakala on your first morning on Maui since the time difference between the island and the mainland normally has people up early anyway. I say it can be done any morning of your trip since my preference is to hit the beach on the first day! Either way you have two choices when visiting Haleakala, you can drive yourselves or take a tour. The drive time from South Maui is approximately one hour and from West Maui is approximately 1.5 hours. That means to see the sunrise which in winter is around 7am and in the summer is around 5:45 am, means getting up plenty early to make the drive! A parking reservation is needed to enter the park between 3am and 7am (separate from the park fee) and you can get it here: https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/253731
Please see the page for instructions and availability of tickets. If you decide to sign up for a tour, then all fees and parking reservations will be handled for you. After watching the sunrise you can opt to stay in the park to do some hiking or head down to Makawao or Kula for breakfast.
Seeing Haleakala during the day:
The drive up to the Haleakala Summit during the day is beautiful with stunning views of the island. Like the Road to Hana, this drive is meant to take your time on so you can see the changing landscape and make stops along the way at viewpoints. It is a long drive, so it's best to tie it in to a visit to Makawao Town or a few stop in the Kula area (Maui Wine, the Lavender farm, Ocean Vodka, or the Surfing Goat Dairy). There are also several hiking trails in the park, see them here.
Sunset at Haleakala:
If you prefer not to get up early, you can instead go to the summit for sunset. No need for a parking reservation. Before driving up make sure you can see the summit from the valley. If it is shrouded in clouds then save it for another day.
Activities at Haleakala:
Hiking: there are several great hikes to take while visiting Haleakala National Park. See more about hiking here.
Biking: there are companies that can take you up to see the sunrise then get you geared up for a thrilling ride back down the mountain! (update: there are new rules being put in place that tour companies will have to start the bike ride descent from outside the park entrance) - see more here
Camping: There are two camping sites within the park, one near the Hosmer Grove Trail and one in Kipahulu, and back country camping at Hōlua and Palikū campsites. Prepare for your camping trip accordingly - it gets really cold at night near the summit. Find more information here: https://www.nps.gov/hale/planyourvisit/wilderness-camping.htm
