Haleakala National Park

Haleakala is the 10,023 foot (3,055m) tall inactive volcano which makes up over half of Maui. The National Park is a slice of the mountain from the summit down to the sea at Kipahulu to the east.

The top features are the view from the summit of the entire island and the view of the most recent cinder cones from Kalahaku Overlook.

Picture - Haleakala volcano seen from air on the island of Maui.

Picture - Crater at Haleakala National Park, Maui.

Picture - Craters dot the landscape of Haleakala National Park, Maui.

Picture - Observatory in Haleakala National Park, Maui.

View a slideshow of Haleakala National Park Pictures

Birders will enjoy the short trail at Hosmer Grove where some of the original species of Hawaiian birds are seen. The Grove itself was an early experiment at planting imported pine and eucalyptus trees. The other major activity for visitors is hiking the many trails of the park.

The road up is quite good although curvy and steep in places. The main impediment on the drive is the hundreds of tourists who after being driven to the top for sunrise, then bicycle down. Tourists who have also driven up for the sunrise (a highly promoted attraction) are then caught behind the bikers on their way down.

Like every mountain in the Hawaiian chain, clouds start forming after 10 a.m. While many visitors arrive prior to sunrise (having left their hotels at 3 a.m.), arriving before 9 a.m. provides all the same vistas, except the colors of the sunrise. The clouds tend to clear up again towards the end of the day.

Official site: www.nps.gov/hale/

Address: Box 369, Makawao, HI 96768, United States

Entrance fee in USD: Vehicle plus all occupants $10.00, Adult $5.00

Useful tips: Those with some health conditions should take into account the 10,000 foot altitude at the summit. Rental car companies advise use of lower gears on the drive to conserve brakes. Visitors should not let these warnings discourage them because the drive is quite easy. Some camping is available, but those wishing to do so should contact the park to make advance reservations. Hosmer Grove does not require reservations, but is first come first serve and is limited to three nights. The Grove has water, but other sites do not.

Parking: Free

Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.

Guides: Audio-visual presentations available. Interpretive sessions sometimes available.

Facilities: Gift shop

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Related Attractions

Haleakala Summit and Observatory

The many vistas around the Haleakala Summit and Observatory offer not only views of the volcanic formations but also the landscape of Maui and other islands such as the Big Island.

The summit is also noted for a succulant plant, the Silversword, found only on top of Haleakalai, which blooms once and then dies.

Haleakala Observatory, visible from the summit, was Hawaii's first astronomical research center.

Many companies run bicycle tours on Haleakala. Guests and rental bicycles are trucked to the summit for sunrise. They then coast to the bottom. Of course, this creates a great deal of traffic for those driving to the top. For those without a need to see the sunrise, bicycle traffic lightens up after 10 a.m.

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Haleakala - Hosmer Grove

A well-described circular 0.5mi nature trail, Hosmer Grove, winds through both a 1910 experimental forest of alien imports and beyond it an intact section of native shrubland, a good place to spot disappearing species of native birds. The trail is ideal for families with small children.

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