One of the top items on the to-do list of the masses while visiting the island of Maui is to go to the summit of the shield volcano Haleakalā for sunrise. This experience, while absolutely worthwhile, has become more difficult over the years now requiring a permit that must be purchased well in advance of your trip should you plan on entering the National Park between the hours of 3am-7am. Another option many decide to pursue is to spend an afternoon exploring the crater and watching the sunset, which can be just as amazing of an experience.
On the day we drove up the volcano the weather unexpectedly turned and the cloud ceiling rose above the summit for the majority of the afternoon. This is fairly rare, but conditions included a constant heavy fog and mist that continually blew up through the crater and over the summit rendering visibility very low. However, these conditions allowed us to witness a very unique and spectacular phenomenon called a Brocken spectre or fog bow. One’s own shadow is featured predominantly in the center of the 360 degree white bow.
Brocken spectre
Haleakalā National Park offers miles of hiking trails beginning from various points around the rim of the crater. One of our favorite trails is the Sliding Sands trail, which begins just below the summit at the South end of the Haleakalā Visitor Center just before the road continues up toward the summit. This trail takes visitors deep into the crater and connects with other trails that one can hike for miles visiting numerous cinder cones and otherworldly landscapes. There are a few primitive cabins and campsites, but all are permit only through the National Park should you want to spend a number of days hiking the crater trails.
Haleakalā is also home to a variety of rare flora and fauna. A number of rare birds (such as the Nēnē) and plants exist in this ecosystem. One very rare plant known as the Haleakalā silversword, locally as ‘āhinahina, only grows atop this volcano above an elevation of 6,900 feet. After nearing extinction in the 1920s, it has since undergone strict monitoring and governmental protection and has successfully recovered to the present day.
Haleakalā Silversword (‘āhinahina in Hawaiian for “very gray”)
As our sunset was primarily filled with the heavy fog that still lingered around the summit, our focus was to wait a little longer in hopes that once the temperature dropped the clouds would follow. This is exactly what happened. As some of the last people atop the volcano that evening, we were able to witness the stars from one of the top four locations on the Earth to observe the night skies. It was nothing short of magical!
Satellites, shooting stars and the Milky Way were all visible even with the presence of the first quarter moon rising. A full cloud inversion existed below the summit making it appear as if a fluffy white blanket of cotton lay beneath us.
The Haleakalā Observatory is closed to the public, but houses the Maui Space Surveillance System as well as the Maui High Performance Computing Center, one of the most powerful computing systems in the world. The vantage point from the summit is a sight to behold and one quickly realizes why this is a truly magical place after the sun sets.
Just remember to throw a blanket, some warm layers, food and drink and a flashlight into your vehicle before you make the drive up. Your evening is sure to be a memorable one!
Please be aware on your drive back down the volcano that many miles are open range for the ranches and the local cattle WILL be on the road at some point just around a switchback. Unless you have your grill along, please be cautious and let these locals enjoy their evening. Your rental car company will appreciate it as well.
Haleakalā Observatory (Science City) Elev. 10,010 FT.