We have family visiting and guess what! I was able to talk them into joining me for my favorite Maui
activity ~ driving up the volcano for a Haleakala sunset!
There are several reasons why driving up Haleakala for sunset is my most favorite Maui activity:
- I love watching sunset
- It’s silversword blooming season (July)
- Maui’s weather is warm year-round, and frankly, I miss cooling off from time to time (I may be a
little weird)
Check out this beautiful blooming silversword!
What to bring for a Haleakala sunset
- Bring your warmest clothes and maybe a blanket or towels for extra warmth. While the
temperature at this July sunset didn’t dip below 55F, there was a pretty gnarly wind. Several of my
mainland family members ducked into the shelter on Haleakala summit. They promised they had a
great view out of the wind, but, did they really experience Haleakala sunset if they were hiding from the wind? Just asking. - Pack a beach chair from the condo to sit. You will need to get to the summit parking lot early if you
want a parking spot. This way you have a place to sit and enjoy the view. Note: when we went, the
wind was blowing the chairs around unless we were firmly seated in them. - Consider bringing a picnic – again, you’ll be sitting and waiting for some time. The nearest
food/gas is an hour away. - Remember, you will need to pay admission into Haleakala National Park. Credit/debit cards only.
- Enjoy the silverswords! Right now two silverswords are blooming in the summit parking lot.
Silverswords have an incredibly fragile root system. Careful not to step on the dirt near them, it can
kill them which would be a real shame.
Other Haleakala considerations
- Watch out for Nene ~ Hawaiian geese and Hawaii’s State Bird. They are endangered, and like to
walk across the road. The park ranger told us several were unfortunately run over in recent weeks. - You may need to drop family members at the summit and head back down to the main crater
parking lot for a parking spot. Factor in time to walk back up to the summit. It’s not a long walk
(10-15 minutes), but you are at 10,000 ft elevation and some may get altitude sickness. - There are bathrooms at the crater parking lot, but not at the summit. You will need to trek back
down to the crater if nature calls. Some people just watch sunset from the crater parking lot. - Remember, sunset doesn’t end when the sun goes down. Often the best part is yet to come about
30 minutes after sunset when the afterglow colors are in full force. - Take your time coming back down the mountain and pull over in the pull-outs to do some
stargazing. You will see so many stars, and, if you’re lucky, the Milky Way! Download a stargazing
app for added fun. - Watch out for cows! Really! You are crossing through ranch land from about 4500 to 6500 ft
elevation. After dark cows like to hang out on the warm asphalt of the road. Drive slowly and be
ready to stop.
Check out my blog post on what to expect at sunrise on Haleakala! And don’t forget to pre-book your
sunrise ticket (they release them 60 days in advance, and then again 2 days prior)
Curious about my other favorite activities? Check out this blog post!