Haleakalā National Park, Maui

Haleakalā National Park is on the Maui Island of Hawaii, named after Haleakalā (“House of the Sun”), a dormant volcano. It is one of the most popular attractions of Maui. The summit area and the coastal Kipahulu area are two distinct sections of the park. The road leading to the summit is winding with many hairpin turns, but well maintained. The summit area includes the Haleakala Crater, an observatory, and the summit of the volcano. The winding coastal road leads to the Kipahulu section which is entirely different from the Summit area. This section has more than two dozen sacred pools, waterfalls, a bamboo forest, and of course, the coastal beaches.

These photos are from our 8 day trip to Hawaii during the first week of October, 2016.

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Quick Facts and Tips

• Best time to visit
  • Weather and good deals: Apr to May, Sep to Oct. Dec to Mar is better, but could be expensive
• Fly into
  • Kahului Airport is the main airport and has direct flights from the U.S. mainland
  • Kapalua Airport (west side) and Hana Airport(east side) are other smaller commuter airports
  • Honolulu International Airport, then take a short, 35-40 minute flight to Kahului or Kapalua Maui Airports
• Clothing
  • Weather is warm, so pack lightweight casual t-shirts, shorts, sundresses, tank tops, capris, skirts, swimsuits, sunscreen, sturdy shoes, rain gears and a light jacket for the cool evenings
  • Bring warm clothes as the Summit area is cooler than the sea level and it gets colder in the mornings and evenings
  • On the contrast Kīpahulu District is hot and humid, so wear accordingly
• Be sure to check the Park official website for the current trail conditions and road closures before heading out
• No gas stations on Haleakala Highway and within the park, have the gas tank filled before you hit the road
• There will be an entry fee and it is good for both parts of the park – the Summit District and Kīpahulu District
• No food stations inside the park, so bring food and water
• Roads are narrow, drive slowly and park only in parking lots
• Prepare yourself if you have motion sickness
• Best things to do in the Summit District
  • Enjoy Sunrise and Sunset at the Summit. Since 2017 it is required to get a reservation in advance for sunrise view at the Summit, but no reservation is necessary for viewing sunset at this time. You can make reservations of your sunrise visit online up to 60 days in advance here
  • Although the first glimpse of the Leleiwi Overlook trail might not look impressive, do the full trail to relish the panoramic view of the vast crater of Haleakala
  • Enjoy the picture perfect volcanic panoramic views at Kalahaku Lookout
  • Take the rugged trails with lava flows and cinder cones near Pu’u’ula’ula Summit area
• Best things to do in the Kīpahulu District
  • Hike a short and easy Kūloa Point Trail for the stunning views of ‘Ohe’o Gulch(Seven Sacred Pools) and the beautiful ocean vistas
  • Take a 4-mile round trip Pīpīwai Trail through a lush green diverse forest, a freshwater stream, a bamboo forest with views of gorgeous waterfalls
• Other Attractions
  • Road to Hana
  • Kahekili Highway
  • Iao Valley State Park