Activity Tips
Kevin Ditamore – Owner / Manager
Is 2am a little early for you to get up to watch a Haleakala Sunrise? We have great news for you! Sunsets at Haleakala are equally beautiful to sunrises, and a whole lot less crowded! Maui has a variety of beautiful landscapes, and a Haleakala tour really showcases this diversity. Going from sea level to green and lush pasture land, and then a volcanic crater … you see this incredible transition as you move up the mountain during this tour.
Once inside Haleakala National Park you will visit the Ranger’s Station at 7,000ft and then the Haleakala Visitors Center at about 9,800ft for the actual sunset. This being the highest point on the island, you can really see it all! On a clear day you can see the Big Island summits of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, and the islands of Kaho’olawe, Molokini, Lanai, and Molokai. It’s not just the views that make Haleakala special, the crater itself and the volcanic terrain make you feel as though you are walking on the moon. Haleakala is home to the endemic Silversword so keep an eye out for that along with the Hawaii state bird – the Nene, or Hawaiian goose.
After sunset and your return back down the mountain this tour includes dinner at the Café O Lei restaurant at the Dunes at Maui Lani golf course. This is place is a local favorite and it’s a good inclusion in the tour.
Haleakala Tours gain quite a bit of elevation in a relatively short period of time … almost 10,000 feet in the space of about 45 minutes. Just before the park entrance there is a series of dramatic switchbacks in the road, so if you are prone to motion sickness, be sure to take whatever remedy works for you – Dramamine, Bonine, Ginger, etc. This tour is not recommended for those that get extreme motion sickness that no remedy can cure. It is also not recommended for pregnant women.
Wear comfortable clothing on this tour along with good walking shoes. It is also a good idea to bring drinking water. Staying well hydrated really helps when you are going to altitude.