By Hawaii.com
8 May, 2026
The summit of Haleakalā. Photo courtesy of Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.
May 2026 Update: Visitors Center is temporarily closed for remodeling until May 17, 2026. The Haleakalā Visitor Center (summit district) parking lot will have limited parking due to a water infrastructure project. Expect traffic delays. The project will last several months.
Haleakalā is a dormant shield volcano that rises 10,023 feet above sea level and forms more than 75% of the island of Maui. It is the younger of the two volcanoes that formed Maui and is considered one of the world’s largest volcanic formations of its kind. Its summit towers above the clouds on most days and dominates the island’s geography, climate and ecology.
Haleakalā translates to “House of the Sun,” and Hawaiian tradition says the demigod Maui climbed to the top to lasso the sun in order to slow its journey across the sky so his mother, Hina, could dry her kapa, or bark cloth. According to the legend, this act helped create longer days and the seasons. Author Mark Twain famously described the sunrise from Haleakalā as “the sublimest spectacle I ever witnessed.”
Haleakalā holds deep cultural significance in Native Hawaiian history, spirituality and navigation traditions, making it a sacred natural landmark.
When I was a kid, my mom took my brother and I to the top of Haleakalā for sunrise. This was back before you needed a reservation. She woke us up in the dark of night and we drove almost two hours from our hotel to the summit, our ears plugging up along the way as we climbed 10,000 feet. When we arrived, a crowd had already formed, sitting on the ground with blankets and pillows. Even in jeans and a hoodie, I was freezing. Mom wrapped a blanket around the three of us and we shivered until the sky was ablaze with purple, hot pink and red-orange streaks. We were lucky, a spectacular sunrise like that is not guaranteed of course. But even on a cloudy day, greeting the sun on Haleakalā is still a significant experience.
Tickets must be reserved in advance at recreation.gov.
Create an account before tickets go on sale. Most tickets release 60 days in advance at 7 a.m. HST, a smaller batch releases 48 hours before.
Under “Tour Park Details,” click “Book Now.”
Under “Online availability,” click “Enter Date.”
Select your desired date, enter number of tickets and click “Find Tour Times.”
Select “3:00 AM - 7:00 AM”
Enter the number of vehicles as “1” and click “Book Tour.”
You may make one reservation per person per 3-day period.
There is a $1 non-refundable fee per vehicle.
The permit holder must be present with a valid ID and reservation when you arrive at the park.
Visitors who arrive for sunrise without a reservation will be turned away at the gate. The park does not allow walk-ins and there are no exceptions. Only show up if you have a reservation.
Tickets for Haleakalā are $30 per vehicle. You will pay at the gate. The park only accepts credit or debit cards. No cash.
The summit is 30–50°F colder than the coast. Wear warm layers, a jacket, hat and gloves. You will regret it if you don’t.
Most visitors arrive 30–60 minutes before sunrise. Check that day's sunrise time for Maui, since it varies.
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Haleakalā hiking trail. Photo by Getty Images.
If you cannot get a sunrise reservation — or do not want to wake up at 2 a.m. to visit Haleakalā — a midday, afternoon or sunset visit can be just as rewarding. Although much of the volcano lies beneath the Pacific Ocean, its exposed summit reveals a vast crater-like depression colored by red cinder cones, hardened lava flows and volcanic ash. The mountain is home to rare alpine and desert ecosystems found nowhere else on Earth, including endangered native Hawaiian species adapted to the harsh environment.
One of the advantages of visiting after sunrise is seeing the endemic ʻāhinahina, or Haleakalā silverswords, in full daylight. These spiky, silver plants grow only on Haleakalā’s volcanic slopes at elevations between 7,000 and 10,023 feet. Visiting during the day also means fewer crowds and no reservation requirement. Sunset above the clouds can be every bit as dramatic as sunrise. Although not as crowded as sunrise, sunset is a popular time to visit the park, so plan accordingly.
The endemic ʻāhinahina, or Haleakalā silversword, plant. Photo by Tor Johnson, courtesy of Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.
If you’re looking for a parking spot at the summit for the sunset, we recommend finding a stall two hours before the sun goes down during summer months and three hours before during winter months. The small, limited parking lot gets packed thirty minutes to an hour before sunset, and nobody wants to miss the show because they’re jammed up behind three cars all waiting for a parking stall. If you don’t want to worry about the hunt for a spot, the Haleakalā Visitor Center — a short walk away from the summit — has an ample amount of parking stalls.
There are several trails visitors can hike at Haleakalā, but keep in mind the summit is above 10,000 feet. Some visitors experience headaches, nausea or shortness of breath at this altitude. Anyone with respiratory or cardiac conditions should consult a doctor before hiking here. Since there’s less oxygen at such high altitudes, be sure to pace yourself and take ample breaks. Account for a longer hiking time on each trail to accommodate for a more leisurely pace.
Hiking Haleakalā. Photo by Tor Johnson, courtesy of Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.
Keonehe‘ehe‘e (Sliding Sands Trail): Starts at the summit, in the Haleakalā Visitor Center parking lot, and descends into the crater's cinder desert. Full trail is 11 miles but most visitors go 1–3 miles in and turn back. Going down is deceptively easy, but the ascent back at high altitude is significantly harder than it looks. Bring more water than you think you need. The lunar landscape is unlike anything else on Maui.
Halemauʻuʻu Trail: 2.2 miles round-trip. This trail enters the crater from a lower rim point and offers epic views. It can be combined with the Sliding Sands trail for a strenuous full-day traverse, which will require a shuttle or having two cars — one at the top and one at the bottom. The Haleakalā National Park service recommends "parking your vehicle at Halemau'u and hitchhiking up to Keonehe'ehe'e at the beginning of your hike. Upon concluding your hike, you will have immediate access to your vehicle at Halemau'u."
Pa Kaʻoao (White Hill): 0.2 miles, easy, near the visitor center. Best option for families with young children or those with limited mobility. Still delivers summit views and ancient rock wall shelters.
Leleiwi Overlook: 0.3 mile round-trip to crater viewpoint.
Hosmer Grove: 0.5 mile loop with native and endemic plants.
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First light from Haleakalā on Maui.
Kīpahulu is a completely different experience from the summit with lush rainforest, waterfalls and the famous Pīpīwai Trail near Hānā. Although it shares the same $30 entrance pass (valid 3 days), it is located on the opposite side of the island, accessible via the Road to Hānā. Because of this, you'll need to designate two separate days to visit both Kīpahulu and the Summit District of Haleakalā. Unlike Haleakalā, Kīpahulu is hot, humid and rainy, so you will need cooler clothes and a light rain jacket. Camping is available at Kīpahulu Campground and there are cultural demonstrations and exhibits you can engage with to deepen your understanding of the area.
Pīpīwai Trail: 4 miles round-trip. This is one of the best hikes in Hawaiʻi, going through bamboo forest to Waimoku Falls — a 400-foot waterfall. The trail is open approximately 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., so visitors should start no later than mid-afternoon. The 'Ohe'o Gulch pools (Seven Sacred Pools) are nearby but swimming is not permitted due to flash flood risk.
Haleakalā Crater. Photo by Taku Miyazawa, courtesy of Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.
Although driving up Haleakalā is cheaper and will give you more flexibility, we recommend visiting with an experienced tour guide who will handle all reservations, logistics, transportation and parking for you so you can focus on enjoying the summit. Especially if this is your first time, and you don't want the stress of trying to figure it all out at 3 a.m.
Note: Only specific companies are permitted to run nighttime stargazing tours at the summit.
Approximate drive time from major resort areas are as follows:
1 hour from Kīhei/Wailea
1.5 hours from Kāʻanapāli/Lāhainā
The road you will take is Highway 378 (Haleakalā Highway).
There are no gas stations or stores with food or supplies inside the park.
Stock up in Kula or Pukalani on the way up. The town of Makawao and the Pukalani Superette are both good pre-hike food stops.
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