Upon arrival on Maui, you will notice the huge mass of land that rises gracefully and symmetrically from the seabed to a height of over 3,056 metres above the surface.

This is the Haleakala volcano, the landmark and one of Maui's main attractions. Dozens of craters, a lunar landscape, absolute silence and views for hundreds of miles are bound to leave a deep impression on you.

Kahului Airport car rental prices

Entry and permit price

Mount Haleakala is part of the Hawai'i National Park and as such, there is a fee for entry. Payment can only be made by credit or debit card.

Access to the National Park is available 24 hours a day,
Entrance fees are paid at the gate from a machine (at night) or during the day at a booth by the road,
30 usd for a private car, or 15 usd per pedestrian if travelling without a car,
55 usd an annual pass, which is still valid atVolcanoes National Park and Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park on the Big Island.

All the information you need can be found on the official Haleakala National Park website.

Is sunset or sunrise better from the summit?

The mountain towers high above any other point on Maui, making it a very popular spot for viewing sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise

Halekala is an extremely popular spot for watching the sunrise, which rises directly over the colorful craters. It's important to know that if you drive here, you must book your entry between 3:00 and 7:00 a.m. in advance at recreation.gov, the fee is 1 usd in addition to the national park entrance fee.

Reservations are always available 60 days in advance and usually sell out after the first few minutes of the new day!

Without a reservation, you can only hike to the summit without a car.

The trail starts at Hosmer Grove Campground and takes about 3 hours to hike to the viewing platform, and 4.5 hours to the very top. If you really want to hike, ideally arrive the night before and stay overnight at the campsite.

If you leave Kahului in the morning by car, leave at least 2 hours reserve, the road is long and winding. Most of the time you will leave around 3:30 in the morning.

Sunset

Sunsets are also popular, though not as much as sunrises, as the sun is on the other side from the photogenic craters. Even so, it is an extraordinary experience and no advance booking is necessary. If you don't feel like walking, you'd better set off by car so that you're at the top at least an hour and a half before sunset, otherwise there's nowhere to park and you'll have to walk for miles on the road.

Sunrise on Haleakala

Colours of the landscape at sunrise

Sunset

Hiking on Haleakala

The Summit Area is a popular place to hike.

Very short trails ideal for stretching out of the car are available, as well as long day hikes. Remember that you will be walking in alpine terrain at altitudes above 2,000m mostly without the possibility of shade. Adequate sun protection and water supplies are a must, as are good quality, sturdy hiking boots.

Maps and trail information

Haleakala Crater

Hiking Haleakala

Accommodation

The cheapest accommodation is available at the Hosmer Grove campsite at the entrance to the national park, where you can rent a tent site and use the facilities for 10 usd per night.

Alternatively, you can stay in a couple of private and very nice apartments in the village of Kula at the foot of the volcano, ideal if you are travelling in a group and looking for real peace away from the big resorts.

Studios and apartments are usually available for 4 people and when budgeted per person, expect prices around 92 eur per night. Take a look at these apartments for example:

How to get there

A good quality tarmac road runs all the way to the top of Haleakala volcano, marked with horizontal markings and bollards, so even driving in the dark is no problem. You can only get to the vicinity of the mountain by rental car, there are no public buses.

The road from Kahului, the largest town, to the very top is well signposted and is 61 km long and can be done in about an hour and a quarter. Expect the last third of the journey to be a sharp switchback up a steep hill.