Haleakala Crater is the centerpiece of this 27,284-acre national park, established in 1916. The mountain has terrific camping and hiking, including a trail that loops through the crater.
Before you head up Haleakala, call for the latest park weather conditions (808/877-5111). Extreme gusty winds, heavy rain, and even snow in winter are not uncommon. Because of the high altitude, the mountaintop temperature is often as much as 30 degrees cooler than that at sea level. Be sure to bring a jacket.
You can learn something of the volcano's origins and eruption history at the Park Headquarters/Visitor Center, at a 7,000-ft elevation on Haleakala Highway. Maps, posters, and other memorabilia are available at the gift shop here.
Leleiwi Overlook, at about an 8,800-ft elevation on Haleakala, is one of several lookout areas in the park. If you're here in the late afternoon, it's possible you'll experience a phenomenon called the Brocken Specter. Named after a similar occurrence in East Germany's Harz Mountains, the "specter" allows you to see yourself reflected on the clouds and encircled by a rainbow. Don't wait all day for this, because it's not a daily occurrence.
The famous silversword plant grows amid the desertlike surroundings at Kalahaku Overlook, at the 9,000-ft level on Haleakala. This endangered flowering plant grows only in the crater at the summit of this mountain. The silversword looks like a member of the yucca family and produces a 3- to 8-ft-tall stalk with several hundred purple sunflowers.
The Haleakala Visitor Center, at an elevation of 9,740 ft, has exhibits inside, and a trail from here leads to White Hill -- a short, easy walk that will give you an even better view of the valley. Hosmer Grove, just off the highway before you get to the visitor center, has campsites and interpretive trails. Park rangers maintain a changing schedule of talks and hikes both here and at the top of the mountain. Call the park for current schedules.
Just before the summit, the Crater Observatory offers warmth and shelter, informative displays, and an eye-popping view of the cinder-cone-studded, 7-mi by 3-mi crater. The highest point on Maui is the Pu'u 'Ula'ula Overlook, at the 10,023-ft summit. Here you'll find a glass-enclosed lookout with a 360-degree view. The building is open 24 hours a day, and this is where visitors gather for the best sunrise view. Dawn begins between 5:45, depending on the time of year. On a clear day you can see the islands of Moloka'i, Lana'i, Kaho'olawe, and Hawai'i (the Big Island). On a really clear day you can even spot O'ahu glimmering in the distance.
On a small hill nearby, you'll see Science City, a research and communications center straight out of an espionage thriller. The University of Hawai'i and the Department of Defense don't allow visitors to enter the facility. The university maintains an observatory here, and the Department of Defense tracks satellites. COST: $10 per car.
