Haleakalā National Park (Summit Sunrise)

Haleakalā

A 3,055-meter “House of the Sun” where you can watch the sunrise above the clouds, peer into a Mars-like volcanic crater, and stargaze from one of the best sites in the Northern Hemisphere.

Haleakalā (Hawaiian for “House of the Sun”) is a massive shield volcano that covers three-quarters of east Maui and rises to 3,055 meters. It became a national park in 1916, together with the Kīpahulu coast section. Watching the sunrise from the summit is Maui’s most famous experience. Mark Twain called it “the most sublime spectacle I ever witnessed.” The sun rises out of the clouds and turns the crater’s reddish-brown cinder cones gold. The crater, 11 km long, 3 km wide and 800 m deep, is in fact an eroded valley. Hawaiians have long chanted prayers here.

Reservations: Entering the park for sunrise between 3:00 and 7:00 a.m. requires a reservation on recreation.gov. Reservations open 60 days in advance, and a small number of extra spots are released 2 days ahead. There is a $1 per-vehicle booking fee, and tickets sell out fast. The park entrance fee is $30 per vehicle, valid for 3 days and covering the Kīpahulu section too. Sunset and daytime visits need no reservation. Sunset is just as spectacular and much warmer.

Getting there: From Kahului or Kīhei it is a 1.5 to 2 hour drive on winding roads (Routes 37, 377 and 378). Arrive about an hour before sunrise at the Haleakalā Visitor Center (2,969 m) or the Puʻu ʻUlaʻula summit lookout (3,055 m), which has a wind-sheltering glass pavilion. Summit temperatures are often 0 to 5°C with strong wind, so bring a down jacket, a hat and gloves (you can also bring a hotel blanket) and hot drinks.

After sunrise: You can hike the Sliding Sands Trail (Keoneheʻeheʻe) down into the crater; the round trip takes 1 to 4 hours, but remember the climb back up at altitude. Or join a bike tour that coasts down the highway from 2,000 m, about 40 km, for roughly $150 to $200.

At night the summit is a world-class stargazing site, with the Milky Way and the Southern Cross. Join a stargazing tour or go on your own; no reservation is needed.

Notes: At 3,000 m you may feel mild altitude sickness, so pregnant women and people with heart conditions should take care. There are no restaurants or gas stations at the summit, so fill your tank before you set out. On the way down, you can detour to the Kula lavender gardens and the Upcountry farms. If you plan to dive at the coast after reaching the summit, wait 24 hours.

Opening hours

All day (sunrise access 03:00–07:00 requires booking; visitor center from sunrise to 15:00)

Volcano · Sunrise · Stargazing · National park · Maui

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