Known as a rare and sacred landscape the Haleakala national park is a special place with stories of an ancient and modern Hawaiian culture. Hawaii is full of breathtaking natural wonders but one of the most impressive is Haleakala National Park. Sunrises and sunsets are only two of many reasons to pay Haleakala National Park a visit on your trip to Maui. This park is an American national park located on the island of Maui in the state of Hawaii. Named after Haleakala, a dormant volcano within its boundaries and the island’s highest volcanic peak, the park covers an area of 33,265 acres. To see the parks true beauty it is highly recommended that you get up early one clear morning to watch the sunrise over the edge of the rim.
The park is divided into two separate sections: the summit area and the coastal Kipahulu area. At the summit the expansive views take in four islands on a clear day making it one of the most impressive experiences in all of Hawaii. Over half of all visitors visit Haleakala Crater. The summit area consists of the Haleakala Crater, the summit of the volcano, and the area surrounding the summit. The rain forest valley of Kipahulu drops thousands of feet down to the coast. The upper Kipahulu Valley is a biological reserve (no public access), home to a vast variety of flora and fauna, including some of the world’s rarest birds, plants, and invertebrates and it protects wildlife that exists nowhere else.
Visitors can reach the lower valley of Kipahulu via the Ha-na Highway. You can get there directly flying to Kahului in central Maui. The summit can be reached from Kahului from Route 37 to 377 to 378. Haleakala is about 2.5 hours by car from Kahului, 3 hours from Wailea and 3.5 hours from Lahaina. Kipahulu can be reached from Route 36 to 360 to 31. Driving time from Kahului is approximately 4 hours. There is no public transportation available to or in the park.
It is a natural area with unpredictable weather therefore it may be hot, dry, wet, or cold in any part of the park at any time better be ready for it. All park visitors are required to purchase a recreational use pass upon entering Haleakala National Park. The funds collected from the pass has helped the park to maintain restrooms, upgrade roads, create park exhibits, and enhance your experience there.