Maui Volcano Haleakala

If you never made it to the moon, this is your chance to have the same experience for the cost of a tank of gas and the $10 per car entrance fee to Haleakala National Park.

Standing at the summit, gazing over the volcano crater, is a unique experience that is worth the trip when you visit Maui.

How to Ruin Your Haleakala Trip

The most common reason for a wasted day on Halekala is getting to the summit after the crater has become obscured by clouds.

Make this an early morning trip because the clouds usually flow through the crater late morning.

From the summit of the volcano you can have a scenic view of the ocean and Maui, but miss the most beautiful parts of the crater below you because of the clouds.

So ignore your desire to stop at the visitor center (okay, maybe stop for a map and the last bathroom available before you reach the summit) and lookouts on the way up.

Just drive straight up to the summit and admire the beautiful unobstructed crater view.

Then visit the various visitor centers and stops on your way back down. If the clouds do roll in, you will have already seen the best views at the top.

Watch out for Haleakala Bicycle Tours

As you drive up Haleakala, watch out for groups of vacationers hurtling down the mountain on Haleakala bicycle tours.

Because of recent fatal accidents for bike riders, guided bike tours are suspended by the National Park Service while they complete a safety investigation.

Volcano Summit

When you reach the summit of Haleakala, the landscape looks like you just landed on the moon.

Because of the high elevation, you get to look DOWN at the clouds, rather than up.

At the volcano summit there are two observation buildings and lots of parking for your car.

Several outside observation areas give you different perspectives of the beauty of this sea of lava.

Haleakala Horse Rides

You can even ride horses down into the crater from the summit - Sliding Sands Trail is steep with lots of switchbacks, and the ride is not recommended for first time riders.

The company that provides the Haleakala horseback riding advises you to be prepared for ...cold weather (low 40's (F) in the winter) and for the trail (descends 2500' elevation along 3.8 miles).

That's also good advice for hikers into the crater.

Haleakala Hiking Trails

Once at the summit, we put on our jackets and took several hikes.

The most unique is Sliding Sands Trail, which starts from the parking area near the summit and goes down to the crater.

You can go for just a few minutes or several hours, depending on how long you want to hike.

The further down you hike, the more you are surrounded by nothing but lava rocks on all sides.

Haleakala Observatories - Science City

See the white round alien looking buildings in the upper right hand area of the horse riding picture? That's the Haleakala Observatories - Science City is the common name for these white buildings.

Haleakala's remote location in the Pacific Ocean and lack of artificial light in the surrounding area make for ideal viewing conditions. This is one of the top five sites in the world for astronomy and probably the best site for solar astronomy.

You can observe these facilities from a distance, but signs warn you to not approach or enter the area.

Endangered Plants and Animals

The silversword plant is a rare endangered species that only grows on the slopes of Haleakala, and blooms only once (usually in June or July) for about two months and then dies.

The silversword plant may live up to fifty years before blooming.

You may also hear the honking of the nene goose, an endangered species that lives on the wooded slopes of Haleakala.

Driving Down from the Summit

Combine the exercise from the hiking with the lack of oxygen at this high elevation, and we are relaxed as we drive back down from the summit.

Now we stop at the Haleakala National Park Visitors Center and check the gift shop and displays. An outside lava rock garden area includes several silversword plants.

Sunrise Country Market and Protea Farm

Now we make our stops, including a favorite - the Sunrise Country Market and Protea Farm. They have light entrees such as sandwiches, drinks, and snacks that you can eat at their picnic tables.

We also like the inexpensive prices for their unique flower protea arrangements.

Since we visit Haleakala early in our vacation (because we are waking up early anyway) we get to enjoy a protea bouquet in for our hotel room for our entire vacation for $16.

Kula Lodge

Another closeby stop is the Kula Lodge, which has a gift shop with unique local arts and crafts. There are also many flowering plants and trees on the grounds at this lodge.

It also has a restaurant whose decor makes us feel like we are in a wooden hunting lodge.

The burgers and sandwiches are about $10 for lunch, and the large wall of windows gives us a sweeping view of Maui and the surrounding ocean.

Planning Your Visit to Haleakala

Count on about two hours to drive from the west Maui area (Lahaina and Kaanapali) to the summit of Haleakala. You want to leave early in the morning to beat the clouds to the summit.

If you travelled from the U.S., schedule this trip early in your Maui family vacation - you will already be waking up in the middle of the night Hawaii time as your internal clock adjusts to the time change.

If you want to see the sunrise at Haleakala, you will need to leave in the middle of the night Hawaii time - around 3AM. We did this once but just mostly experienced cold and clouds.

Haleakala Tours

If you prefer to take a tour instead of driving, several Haleakala tour companies will pick you up at your hotel early in the morning and bring you up Haleakala in a tour van.

Many cruise ship passengers that stopover in Maui for a day are picked up by Roberts Hawaii at Lahaina Harbor.

Maui Volcano Videos

Click on the PLAY button in the image below to view my Maui volcano video of the Haleakala crater.

The Haleakala video below includes footage I could never get by hiking or driving. This birds eye perspective of the volcano is provided by the Blue Hawaiian helicopter tour company.

Click on the PLAY button in the image below to view the video.

For driving directions to the park, operating hours and seasons, details on camping reservations and hiking trails, visit the Haleakala National Park Service website (opens a new browser window on a different website).


Visit the Haleakala Observatories (Science City) website (opens a new browser window on a different website).


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