When it comes to the island of Maui in Hawaii, there are several experiences that make it onto the majority of visitors’ must-do lists, including sunrise or sunset at Haleakala. Sitting at 10,023 feet (3055m) above sea level, this dormant volcano sees at influx of visitors hoping to catch a spectacular sunrise or sunset.
We chose sunset and we were not disappointed, but the drive to and from the summit is not for the faint hearted and there are a few things you need to know before undertaking the journey. So, we’ve put together our tips for visiting Haleakala in this review.
Haleakala sunset viewing Maui
Haleakala means “house of the sun” in Hawaiian, and legend says that the demigod Maui lassoed the sun from its journey across the sky as he stood on the volcano’s summit, slowing its descent to make the day last longer. We were visiting Maui in summer so we had the advantage of both warm weather and longer days.
Visitors to Haleakala are usually keen to witness sunrise or sunset, although you can visit anytime of the day. Amelia sensibly suggested that sunset viewing would be a more relaxing way to visit Haleakala and I am so glad she did, as it is quite the windy climb to get to the summit. Choosing sunset allowed us to make the drive to the top while it was light, giving me time to get to know the road and conditions before returning in the dark after we’d watched sunset.
The Mars-like red desert at the top was a stark contrast to Maui’s tropical coastline we’d enjoyed for the majority of our stay.
Even in summer, jackets were needed and provided a welcome reprieve from the chilly wind at the summit.
It is important to note that there is limited parking at the summit and if you don’t arrive early enough you’ll miss out. It’s chaotic in the car park as people arrive in a steady stream and parking reaches its limit.
We arrived at 5pm for a 6.35pm sunset and managed to get one of the last few parking spaces.
If you plan on visiting Haleakala at sunrise or sunset here’s what you need to know –
Allow time to arrive well before sunrise or sunset because the drive up the crater takes quite some time, particularly if you get stuck behind a slow car.
I’d recommend arriving at least 90 minutes prior to the sunset to make sure you can get parking at the summit if this is your goal.
Reservations for sunrise are a hot ticket so book well in advance.
Sunrise reservations can be made online up to 60 days in advance of your visit on recreation.gov and are only valid for the day reserved. These tickets are released at 7:00 am HST.
A portion of reservations for sunrise on any given day will be released 2 days (48 hours) in advance.
If you make a reservation and the weather is not good, there is no refund.
A park entry fee applies at all times and if you are visiting at sunset you can pay it on arrival. The cost at the time of our visit was USD30. Credit card payment is required.
There are no toilets at the summit so stop at the Visitor’s Centre on the way to the top. The toilets are still open after sunset. I know because I didn’t limit my fluid intake and was desperate by the time we’d sat in the cold watching sunset and then had a hairy drive back down. Rookie error!
The accessible toilet stall is located within the men’s and women’s toilets. There is no stand-alone unisex bathroom.
Take your own food and drinks as there is nowhere to buy anything.
Pack a jacket as it is can be cold at the top, even in summer.
Take a chair or something soft to sit on because the rocks are rough on your backside if you sit on the ground. I speak from personal experience and I have a well padded rear.
There is one accessible parking bay at the summit parking lot.
Concrete pathways lead from the car park and around some of the area at the summit. The pathway to the highest point is steep and will require extra muscle-power for wheelchair users.
Leleiwi Overlook is a viewing area part way to the summit which provides excellent viewing of sunset and you’ll be able to remain in your vehicle and still have a good view. There is accessible parking at this spot too. This is a great alternative to the summit if you are travelling with someone who would be more comfortable staying in the car.
Watching the sun dip below the cotton candy-like horizon had the two of us feeling on cloud nine.
But, once the sun set we hightailed it back to the car to try to do part of the drive back while it was partially light. Being unfamiliar with driving on the right-hand side of the road, and because of the lack of street lights, it seemed a good option. The drive back was spectacular as the sky continued to colour for quite some time after sunset.
The drive to Haleakala was more intense than I had imagined but I am so glad we did it. We were staying at Wailea and it took us about two hours to drive there. I was probably a bit slower driving than most due to being unfamiliar with driving in Hawaii. My advice is to check maps and add at least a half hour to allow for traffic or slow vehicles heading up the summit and to be sure you don’t miss sunrise or sunset.
If you are travelling to Maui, make sure to allow time in your itinerary for a visit to Haleakala during your stay, it’s well worth the visit.
We travelled to Hawaii with Hawaiian Airlines. If you’re keen to know how we found that experience, you can read our review.
