Haleakala Sunrise
 

Aloha! We're traveling to Maui in March and sunrise at Haleakala is on our list. Is it better to go on one of the tours (Roberts Hawaii, Temptation Tours,etc...) or drive ourselves? We'll have a 6 yr old and 9 yr odl with us. Thanks in advance for your assistance!

Drive yourselves. Its a winding mountain road, but not difficult. Plus you can make stops on the way back if you want.

You'll have to leave your hotel 3 1/2 - 4 hours before the sunrise.

Take hot chocolate and or other hot beverages, gloves and cold weather gear. It will be cold. Also watch out for the bike tours going up and most importantly down. They share the road with cars and as you can imagine the bikes can get out of control on the way down...the advanatage of a tour is they do all the "hard stuff" for you

it is beautiful and not to be missed---i would do a tour to really enjoy it (i biked down it and it was awesome!!)---like the above poster said,it is verrryyy cold and windy--bring your hotel blanket!

Another vote for drive yourself. Why be on someone elses time schedule? If you drive yourself, you can lunch/linger in Paia town or where ever else you'd like.

Belle

Drive yourself! As someone said above, the road winds, but is not difficult or dangerous. Then stop at Kula Lodge for Eggs Benedict on the way down. YUM! And don't forget to take your hotel blanket (I would never lug cold weather jackets over there!) Have a great trip! (I'm jealous! ;;) )

HI..
I am with Bonniebroad on this one too..
Drive yourself, Take as many of the Hotel blankets as you can..Hot Cocoa is good for the kids and we have also brought Champagne and OJ for Mimosa's..:)
Kula Lodge is so yummy and everyone will love it!
I don't know if I would do it again but the bike tour is something that I want to do next time..
Have a blast!

Ask your concierge for the weather service number that you can call before you leave your hotel to find out what the conditions. We drove the 2 1/2 hours up there in the middle of the night only to find that it was pouring down rain and foggy. No sunrise for us! (IT was perfectly clear in Wailea).

I've heard it's great, though!

I would not have been comfortable making the drive myself in the dark, so would chose a tour.

My family went in the daylight, early morning, with my capable brother-in-law at the wheel of our van. Even that was a bit unnerving IMO.

Do take the good advice above... it's COLD up there!!!!!

Sunrise??? Why on earth would you want to drag yourself and your kids out of bed at that hour??
Sunsets are the best! Not as many people, all the downhill bikers are off the mountain, way less traffic and what a beautiful view!
Sunrise on Haleakale is dark, freezing cold, way to may people!

My husband and I also went for sunrise last year and after getting up at 3 am and making the long drive it was pouring and freezing. We did have breakfast at Kula Lodge on the way down though and it was great. We had the table in the corner looking out the windows and by then it was clearing up. We just got back from Maui last week and we were with my parents this year and took them to Haleakala in the late morning. It was a beautiful, sunny day and the views are spectacular. We were so glad we went back (but not for sunrise).

I second a sunset viewing and driving yourself - the sunset I saw was breathtaking - and we did come down in the dark but in my opinion was not a bad experience

I have to agree, done both many times, and sunset is by far the best! Instead of racing up in the dark in a string of vehicles, with two sleeping kids who DON'T want to be there, make it an end of the day trip. See the crater (gorgeous colors at that time of day), enjoy the lack of people, know the way back down the road (because you came up in the light!), and don't worry about bicycles.

BTW, I'd add that many folks who go up for that frigid dawn (that might be nothing but clouds, anyway)are in a hurry to get back down and be warm, and don't hang around to see any of the park. It's a long drive to the top, and you might not want to go up again, so the late afternoon is a good option!

We enjoyed the mid morning for the drive up. and stopped along the way at several interesting pull-offs along the road, various campsite and forest groves.

I appreciate you all taking the time to provide info. Mahalo!

We also went up midmorning as we weren't about to get up at 3:30 on vacation.

I will say that the road was, while curvy, very well marked and in very good condition, so if I really did want to see the sunrise, I would not be concerned at all about doing the drive myself.