Experience The Summit Crater of Haleakalā
For the record, the movie Moana is twice as enjoyable after visiting Maui.
Particularly the crater summit of Haleakala, where the demigod, Maui, was believed to have lassoed the sun. (Do you hear Dwayne Johnson singing in your head too?) The name Haleakala means “House of the Sun”, and standing on the rim of this massive crater, it’s easy to understand why the ancient Polynesians regarded this place as holy. But I’m getting ahead of myself, let me back it up a bit.
We left our hotel at 2:30 AM.
Yep, you heard me, 2:30! You see, from where we were staying in Wailea, it was going to take quite a while to drive up to the summit. Once there, we had to use our phones as flashlights to make our way up the steps to the viewing platform. It was so dark, we couldn’t see a thing, and thankfully so. That meant that nothing interfered with our view of the stars. This sight alone was worth the effort! We arrived early enough to get a good spot, so we waited and quietly chatted with other onlookers.
A fiery speck appeared, and time stood still.
Warmth spread slowly over the clouds below us, and we watched until the sun had fully risen above the horizon. We then made our way down to the rim of the crater. This particular volcano (one of two on Maui) has laid dormant since the 1700s. There are several trails in Haleakalā National Park, but the Sliding Sands Trail was one I knew we’d want to hike. Centuries of erosion have created this beautiful crater and from this vantage point, it’s easy to see how this trail got its name.
But hiking inside a dormant volcano proved more difficult than I’d expected.
The trail itself circles its way around the rim, then gradually descends into the middle. We’d been warned not to walk too far, and luckily we heeded this advice. Breathtaking views and a ready camera made for a leisurely walk down, but the way back was a different story. It’s easy to underestimate the enormity of this crater! Though not steep, the rim measures about 20 miles in circumference and it rises upwards of 2,500 feet above the crater floor. This, combined with the high altitude, means that the walk back takes at least twice as long!
Exploring Haleakalā is a must for any visit to Maui,
but don’t forget the water and give yourself plenty of time. Because we’d watched the sunrise, we were on the trail early and had it nearly all to ourselves. Afterward, we had plenty of time to explore the mountainous area outside the national park known as Up Country. We didn’t have time for the pineapple plantation, but I highly recommend visiting the lavender farm and its beautiful garden.
Pro Tips:
Tickets for sunrise at Haleakalā must be purchased ahead of time. They have a scheduled release and sell-out within minutes, so plan accordingly. You can only purchase tickets after logging into your account, so do this ahead of time to avoid missing out. Also, dress warm and bring blankets, if you can, as the summit gets extremely cold.
If that’s too much to mess with or getting up for sunrise just isn’t your thing, then go for sunset! It’s amazing too, and doesn’t require reservations.
So what do you think? Have you been dreaming of a Hawaiian vacation? Well, it’s time to make it happen!
Hi, I’m Elizabeth Dyer. As a travel advisor, I specialize in providing expert itineraries and stress-free vacations for people just like you! All they have to do, is show up with their bags packed. Sounds amazing, right?
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