Just 27 square miles short of equaling the entire size of Oahu, Mount Haleakala is a gentle giant — a dormant volcano that has inspired those who make the journey to its summit for centuries. Haleakala rises more than 10,000 feet above sea level, comprises 75 percent of Maui Island, and is home to desert-like conditions, rainforests, and everything in between. The name Haleakala directly translates to “house of the sun” in Hawaiian. A fitting name, considering the sunrises and sunsets from the summit are second to none.
Oh, and one more thing: the summit is such a popular spot to watch the sunrise that you’ll actually need to make a reservation to visit.
Early every morning, people gather at the summit to witness one of the greatest sunrises on earth, though don’t take our word for it — this is one natural wonder you need to experience for yourself.
Krishna Santhanam/Flickr
The sky as seen from the summit of Mount Haleakala is a wonder to behold, unlike any other view on earth — from dawn to dusk, the mountain seems to float above the clouds.
Wicked Little Cake Company/Flickr
The summit’s high elevation, a lack of light and environmental pollution, and dynamic weather patterns make this one of the most popular spots in Hawaii to stare into the sky any time of day, but particularly at sunrise.
lifetravelandmore/Flickr
Due to the popularity of sunrise viewing and a lack of parking at the summit, in February 2017, Haleakala National Park started requiring reservations to view this magnificent display of vibrant colors above the clouds.
Andrew Schaefer/Flickr
According to local legend, the demi-god Maui imprisoned the sun to the volcano in order to lengthen the day, which is how Haleakala got its famous nickname.
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While many refer to Haleakala sunrises as the most beautiful in the world, the sunsets and night sky as viewed from the summit aren’t half bad, either.
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Jason Carpenter/Flickr
This stunning national park covers an area of approximately 33,000 acres, and the Haleakala crater is a massive seven miles across, two miles wide, and more than 2,600 feet deep. That’s large enough for all of Manhattan to fit within the crater!
Joe Parks/Flickr
If you’re planning to visit the summit for sunrise, you’ll need to secure a permit up to two months before your visit. Reservations cost approximately $1.50 per car, are exclusively available here, and give you access to the park between 3 and 7 a.m.
Gord McKenna/Flickr
A few tips for visiting the Haleakala summit at sunrise: make sure you have plenty of gas (good luck finding a service station open in the middle of the night), and map out your route the day before you visit, as you’ll want to make sure you have enough time to reach the summit before sunrise, which currently is estimated to be at 6:20 a.m. Oh, and be sure to wear warm clothing — temperatures at the summit often dip below freezing, and are, on average, at least 20 degrees cooler than at sea level.
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It will cost you $20 per vehicle to enter the park in addition to the sunrise reservation fee, and is valid for three days — we suggest making a day out of the trip. Head up for sunrise, do some hiking (we suggest Sliding Sands), pack meals in a cooler or your backpack, and stay to watch the sun slip into the horizon and the stars twinkle above the summit. You can even stay at one of the few Haleakala Wilderness Cabins if you’d like — though they do book up pretty quickly.
Krishna Santhanam/Flickr
Wicked Little Cake Company/Flickr
lifetravelandmore/Flickr
Andrew Schaefer/Flickr
_Wiedz/Flickr
W. Tipton/Flickr
Jason Carpenter/Flickr
Joe Parks/Flickr
Gord McKenna/Flickr
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