➳ Makawao

Start the day off in the Upcountry cowboy town of Makawao for breakfast and coffee.

We parked somewhere along Baldwin Avenue in front of the shops.

We went to Freshies for breakfast (vegan options!). After ordering at the counter, we posted up at a cafe table outside in the courtyard underneath the banyan tree.

There are other shops, art galleries, and places to eat here, but we didn’t linger long. I suspect you could spend a pleasant hour or so in late morning or early afternoon wandering the street.

Where Māui snared Kalā the Sun

The house of the sun

Haleakalā is Maui’s eastern volcano, which stands at a high of 10,023 feet, making it one of earth’s tallest volcanoes!

It is an active (though currently dormant) shield volcano that last exploded sometime between the end of the 1400s and 1600.

The park itself encompasses just over 33,000 acres and is comprised of two distinct regions: the Summit District (including the Wilderness Area) and the Kīpahulu District.

Places to visit in Haleakalā National Park

• Haleakalā summit and overlook all of Maui
• Sunrise at the summit (reservation required)
• Leleiwei Lookout — a view of the crater
• Hike
• Camp
• Stargaze
• Birdwatch endangered Hawaiian Honeycreepers
• Seven Sacred pools
• Waimoku falls
• Visit a bamboo forest
• See the Seven Sacred Pools
• Visit a Hale Hālāwai (Native Hawaiian public meeting house)
• Experience the anuenue, the Spectre of the Brocken — when you can see your own shadow, surrounded by a rainbow, on the clouds in front and below you!

Anuenue, the Spectre of the Brocken

Ancient Hawaiians believed they were seeing their souls, and the rainbow meant that their souls would be taken care of in Heaven after they passed into the great beyond

Things you should know before adventuring into Haleakalā National Park

• $30 per car (good for three days)
  ⁃ save your receipt to access the ‘Ohe’o Gulch within 3 days without having to pay another admission fee
• The park is remote
• Losing cell phone signal is likely
• Come with plenty of gas, water, and snacks
• Weather here is unpredictable — it can and will change at any moment

Haleakalā Weather

Just like the landscape, the weather here can be harsh, extreme, unpredictable, and ever-changing.

The summit is dry, cold, windy, and arid. It even gets snow on occasion. 30 mph winds are not uncommon—like windburn strong.

In summer, average temperatures range from mid-60s°F to lows of high-40s°F. In winter, average highs top in the high-50s°F with lows in the 40s°F. However, with the wind-chill temperatures can reach below freezing at any time.

Need to bring:

• plenty of water
• sun protection (sunblock, sunglasses, hat)
• layers for cold and wet weather
• snacks
• hiking boots
• bug repellent
• Shaka Guide

Driving Distances from Haleakalā

Distance from Kahului airport: 55 minutes
Distance to Makawao: 40 minutes
Distance to Pā’ia/beginning of Road to Hāna: 50 minutes
Distance to Hāna: 30 minutes (the back way)
Distance to Lahaina: An hour
Distance to Kāʻanapali: Hour-ish
Distance to Kapalua: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Distance to Kīhei: 1 hour
Distance to Wailea-Makena: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Sunrise at Haleakalā

Things to know about sunrise at Haleakalā

• Must make a reservation two months in advance and pay the $1 fee
• There are no guardrails or street lights on the road up to the summit
• It will take you 30 minutes to drive from entrance to the summit
• You’ll want to arrive at least an hour before sunrise
• Bring a flashlight

It’s at its best when there is cloud cover for the sun to illuminate as it rises.

Personally, I’d opt for sunset. Much less competition.
And, you’ll get a nice clear shot of the Milky Way.

Speaking of which, stargazing is spectacular at Haleakalā National Park.

If you do decide to go for the sunrise experience or are getting a later start, Grandma’s Coffee House, located outside of the park, is a must.

9232 Kula Highway, Kula

It’s about an hour drive from the park entrance, but worth it for those chill Hawaiian vibes, Kona coffee, and deck overlooking the island.

Hiking in Haleakalā National Park

Things you need to know before hiking in Haleakalā National Park

• You must stay on trails
• Groups limited to 12
• Always check conditions before heading out — preferably by speaking directly to a park ranger
• Make sure someone knows where you’re going
• As state before, cell phone coverage is spotty, so plan accordingly
• Altitude changes greatly here, so altitude sickness is something to be aware of

Hiking Safety Tip from the NPS

“If Lost: If you become disoriented or lost, attempt to fix your location using a map, compass, and landmarks. If you are unable to locate the trail, stay put! Use a mirror or reflective object to signal for help. Any signal done three times in a series is a universal distress call. Bright colors and reflective materials to attract attention.”

The Summit District and Wilderness Area

The Summit District is dry, stark, and otherworldly with layers of vivid colors.
Always open

As the name suggests, the Wilderness area is a very remote and extreme landscape. It covers nearly 25,000 acres, from the crater floor up 3,000 feet to the rim. Here you’ll find dry desert terrain transition to cloud forests, lush with
colorful plants and creatures.

It’s truly a unique place, unlike anything else on earth.

What’s a cloud forest, you ask?
(I was wondering the same)

According to Wikipedia, a cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist

forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level.

They are characterized by “an abundance of mosses” and have richly biodiverse ecosystems.

The Summit District and Wilderness Area Hikes

Keonehe‘ehe‘e / Sliding Sands Trail
2400ft in altitude change over 4 miles to the crater floor

Starts at the Keoneheʻeheʻe Trailhead, in the Haleakalā Visitor Center parking lot. Remember to use the restrooms and fill up on water here before you head out.

This trail is a chose-your-own-adventure kind of trail. You can do the whole thing or turn around at any point. Expect the hike back to take twice as long as the hike down, as you will be going back up.

There is an overlook a quarter of a mile in.

For a more moderate hike, continue on. After a mile, a series of switchbacks begin as you descend into the crater. The trail is steep and sandy, and extra difficult due to the high altitude.

Kīpahulu District

Lush coastal forest on the leeward (south west-ish) side of the volcano with waterfalls.
Open 9am-5pm

This area is home to several intact ahupua’a, a wedge of land, typically a valley from sea (outer reef) to summit, assigned to and protected by traditional Native Hawaiians to ensure that all inhabitants of an ahupua’a had all the resources they needed to survive.

Kīpahulu District Hikes

Kuloa Point Trail
Half-mile loop to see the seven sacred pools

Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls
4 miles roundtrip

One mile in you will find the ‘ohe (bamboo) forest. Another mile past that is Waimoku Falls.
This trail is unpaved and uneven.

Get involved and give back

Keep the voices of the forest alive and help ensure birdsong fills the forest canopy for generations to come.

Chocolate, coffee + booze: get buzzed in all the right
ways

Drink and enjoy responsibly, my friends!

• O’o Farm

SEED-TO-CUP COFFEE AND BRUNCH EXPERIENCE
Tour the farm and coffee tree orchards with freshly brewed coffee in hand as you learn the history of the farm and the coffee operation.

Monday – Friday
8:30am – 11:30am
$135 pp

FARM-TO-TABLE LUNCH AND FARMER FIELD TOUR also available!

Monday – Friday
10:30am – 1:30pm
$150 pp

• Maui Chocolate & Coffee tour

Visit the 16 acre working property and walk the grounds as you learn all about coffee and cacao from growing, harvesting, and processing. Tastings and some hands on experience included!

Only offering private tours, with bookings for as few as 1-4 people for $455. Tours take place at 10am and 1pm

• MauiWine

Tuesdays – Sundays
11am – 5pm

Spend half a day driving up to the scenic Upcountry winery and vineyard and soaking in those panoramic views.

“Take the scenic drive to ʻUlupalakua Ranch and MauiWine; you’ll be glad you did. The paved, pastoral road meanders along the near-top of Haleakala volcano. Massive eucalyptus trees and jacaranda trees bloom with purple blossoms in season. Here in Upcountry, life is slower-paced and everything is breathtakingly beautiful. Sweeping views of the ocean, Lanai, Kaho‘olawe, Molokini crater, and the West Maui Mountains fill your vision to the South and West. To the east, rolling hills of green frame Plantation-style homes, herds of sheep and cattle, and snaking lava rock walls. Arrive at MauiWine and walk the path, past the lawn where King Kalākaua re-embraced the tradition of hula. Approach the King’s Cottage Tasting Room and let the host guide you to your table. Meander under the same trees that would have greeted honored guests 150 years ago. Settle in with a glass and unwind as you take in the beautiful view over Maui’s southern coast. Take in the crisp mountain air. Feel the warm sense of hospitality and aloha.”

Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?

My friend Heather and I share a deep, deep love and appreciation of vino. We had every hope and intention of going here for a little day drinking, but decide to go on a whale watching tour instead.

Make sure to make reservations!

I’ll catch ya next time, MauiWine!

• Hawaii Sea Spirits Organic Farm and Distillery

End your day at the farm cafe at Ocean Organic Farm & Distillery before you make the drive back.

Now called the Ocean Organic Farm & Distillery, they have a greater purpose and mission beyond good spirits here: protecting the ocean through science and advocacy and inspire environmental stewardship by partnering with the Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF). How cool is that?

So you can have your booze and drink it, too? (Or, err, something like that) Yes, yes you can! And what kind of spirits do you ask? Vodka, rum, and gin.

They offer guided tastings every 30 minutes from 11am to 5pm, that you can book here. They also have a farm store and cafe on site serving salads, bowls, pizzas + sammies (peep their menu here). Live music from 4:30-6:30pm.