Haleakala National Park

Pros: vistas, some native birds, most visitors are on the road
Cons: not easy to get to Kipahulu

The most visible activity for Haleakala (the main accent is on the final syllable, a secondary one on the first syllable: HA lay ah kah LAH) is bicycling down from the summit from the rim (of what is not a real crater) at 10,023 feet. Though waking early...

Pros: You are on top of the world, in the clouds, almost indescribable.
Cons: None - wheelchair accessible and wilderness just can't happen.

One of our trips on Maui during our 3-week vacation to Hawai'i was to Haleakala National Park. This is a must do, in my opinion, and I believe if you don’t go you will be missing an awe-inspiring trip.

What is Haleakala...

Pros: You'll never see stars like these anywhere else
Cons: Dress warmly for the summit!

Haleakala National Park is one of the most diverse places I've ever visited. While it's technically possible to see the park in one day, most people who visit both the summit and the Kipuhulu Valley do so at a more leisurely pace. There is no direct...

Pros: Great trip to the top
Cons: Heed the signs

For me, the best part of Haleakala National Park is the drive to get there. Where else on Earth can you go from sea level to 10,000 feet in less than an hour? Haleakala in the ancient Hawaiian language means “House of the sun”. There are tour group...

Pros: Variety of terrain, earthshattering views
Cons: Not for the unadventurous

When we went to Maui this past Christmas, we were probably the only tourists that did not go to the beach. Instead we sought out the true beauty of Maui off the beaten track. My recommendation is for the adventurous individual who enjoys the beauty of...

Pros: Dramatic views
Cons: The surprising weather

Of course, Haleakala is the "House of the Sun",and justifiably so if you catch one of the many sunrise tours to the summit.
We chose to drive up as early as we could - so we missed the actual first rays of the sun peeping over the mountain peak....

Pros: Perhaps this is how Mars looks
Cons: No escape from the elements of nature

Haleakala, a tongue twister, eh! Located in the Hawaii'an island of Maui, it is a real interesting location for a national park.

Little did I know that I would be hiking down into some calderas when I visited the Polynesian island Maui, during...

Pros: Drop-dead gorgeous scenery, stars like a planetarium
Cons: Drop-dead tired on the hike back

Unlike most national parks, Haleakala does not have a lodge or luxurious accommodations. It's only accommodations are three wilderness cabins that you have to hike into. If you've ever stayed at the chalets in Glacier National Park, this experience is...

Pros: Views of the horizon.
Cons: Stomach churning ride up

Haleakala is just not what you expect when you go to Maui. All the advertisements are about relaxing on the beach and having a nice leisurely restful trip at some lush resort. If that's what you are looking for, Maui is a great place to find it, but ...

Pros: incredible sunrise, awesome view at and around crater and biking down the mountain
Cons: temps are a little nippy at 10,000 feet, but it's more than worth it

Beach sunsets have a beauty all their own, but watching the sun rise from atop Mt. Haleakala is a unique and wonderful experience. At first everything around you is black; you can't even see the crater before you because it's so dark. The stars are...

Pros: Stunning sunsets, beautiful sunrises...
Cons: None that I can remember.

In 1995, I had the pleasure of visiting the highest point in Maui. When I arrived at the gate where you pay the admission (I think it was $2), it said that it was free that day. It turned out to be a perfect day to go. I felt like what it must feel like...

Pros: Altitude, barren landscapes, sunburn
Cons: No Park patch, ranger was a little grumpy

I love National Parks. I'm a NP junkie, so it should come as no surprise that I'm going to like Haleakala. Here are my top 10 reasons to visit in no particular order:

1.) From the summit, you can very clearly see the island of Hawai'i.
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Pros: A heavenly experience you'll never forget
Cons: If you're going to hike..it's going to take a good bit of time..tiring altitude

My wife and I visited Haleakala national park in June 2002. It was an experience that I will never forget. If you appreciate nature, especially astronomy, then this is the place to visit. The landscape is so unearthly..thought I was on Mars. You will...

Pros: Beautiful scenery
Cons: Too many people during the summer.

If you ever make it to Hawaii this park has got to be part of your plans. If you go be sure to bring some swimming trunks. Don't worry the water is not very cold at all. Especially if you like cliff diving. I never did that, but almost everybody else...