Haleakala worth the headache?
 

I need some honesty here. Is Haleakala really worth the headache of getting up early and spending most of the day in the car? I'll be traveling with my husband and two teens. I hate long car rides AND getting up early, which it seems are the two requirements for the trip. I did it 10 years and don't remember much about it (I was sick that day) but don't remember it being so spectacular. Is it more the fact that you're exploring a volcano than the actual scenery? We experienced the volcano in Mt. Etna when the lava was flowing so I'm not sure how different Haleakala will be in terms of volcanic landscape. Am i crazy to consider skipping this excursion?

It is not necessary be there for sunrise, so you don't have to get up that early. I went to Maui three times before I went to Haleakala, so I wouldn't feel bad about not wanting to go either. When I did finally go, we went on a sunset and stargazing tour, which was spectacular. Seeing the stars from that high up was really something.

Does it take a full 2 hours to drive to the peak?

It depends on where you are coming from, but that sounds about right.

It sounds like you REALLY don't want to go. To make it more appealing to you you could make it a "day out" with Haleakala being just one of the things you do. You could visit the north area too. Wandering Paia and Makawao are fun. Watching the windsurfers and kite boarders on the north shore would be fun for the teens. You could end the day with an early dinner at Mama's Fish House or upcounty at Hailemaile General Store.

If you don't want to go, then don't. With a husband and two teenagers, I'm sure your would enjoy some quiet "me" time sleeping in, or on the beach.

I really enjoyed it. Our family waited and went up leisurely after breakfast. No one wanted to get up in the middle of the night and make the drive in the dark. It was a very enjoyable half-day excursion start to finish from Lahaina.

For me yes I certainly do consider Haleakala "spectacular".

I still remember the first time I went up for sunrise in 1974. That's how strong an impact it left on me.

Having gone up many times since, but not again for sunrise, I've never had that same feeling.

Aloha, beatofhawaii.com

Sounds like you are answering your own question.

You know if you appreciate natural beauty or not.

I don't go to Haleakala at sunrise. I am a sunrise walk outside on the Lanai kind of gal.

Rent a tape for the car drive and get out along the way. That is the only way I do the drive to Haleakala

AND YES IT IS WORTH GETTING SICK ALONG THE WAY IF YOU APPRECIATE NATURAL BEAUTY. I DO IT EVERY TIME.

I'm glad to hear that it can also be a nice trip later in the morning. Everyone talks about sunrise which is what I wanted to avoid, but if it's a nice day trip, I think we'll probably go. You just don't reach much about it as a daytime visit - it's also positioned as a "gotta see the sunrise" trip. So thanks for the feedback - we'll make it a leisurely trip then!

As with sunsets, a lot has to do with the weather.. When the clouds are just right, sunrise over Haleakala can be spectacular. If the clouds aren't right (or there at all) it's a real snoozer. I'd much rather see sunrise over a cup of coffee and some doughnuts.

Haleakala's caldera, however, is really an other-worldly sight that shouldn't be missed in my opinion.

We went there last March. We went after breakfast - I am not a morning person. I just loved the trip. We stopped a long the way to take some pictures. My pictures of Haleakala are some of the best of our trip. On the way back, we drove down into Paia, had lunch at the Fish Market (we had lunch on the way to Hana there and loved it so much, we had to stop by for a return visit). Paia is a really neat town. I think the teenagers might like it. Stop by Hookipu Beach to watch the windsurfers also. My husband did the sunrise trip a few years ago and rode a bike down, but I think he enjoyed it just as much as our trip during the day.

I think the sunrise is absolutely worth getting up at 3:30 a.m. for (just call the weather info before you leave, make sure it is not clouded in.) I have done sunrise and sunset, and consider the former to be much more dazzling. I'm looking forward to doing it again when I go to Hawaii later this year! The drive on the way up, with all the stars, is amazing ...

Sunrise is definitley worth the trip and early wake up! To see the sun come up among the clouds is spectacular. I have never seen colors quite like it! In addition, you will see more stars than you have ever seen.

We went at sunset instead, and it was really worthwhile. (With 2 teenagers there was NO way that we would have made it for sunrise -- hard enough to get them moving before noon!) The drive back in the dark was kind of difficult, though.

Did anyone mention that sunrise is FREEZING on Haleakala (I mean be bundled up in blankets or sleeping bags freezing!)

We went after sunrise, around 8 am. It was still cold and glad we had hooded wind breakers with sweatshirts layered underneath. We stayed in Upcountry (in Haiku near Makawao). It took a 1/2 day, and the views were great. I did feel the over 9,000 ft. altitude, so just walked slow.

Be up there before all the clouds roll in, we arrived about 11am, it was great, wonderful views on the way up, then driving above then few clouds to the summit & seeing the Big Isl peaks above the clouds, in the distance. It was about 35deg colder than at the base. Great trip, then we drove down & around to the winery/Ulupalakua. Upcountry is a wonderful change.

If you've already done it and don't care to do it again, I don't see why you can't skip it. Just because it's listed as a "must do" doesn't mean you'll die without it!

Are you staying in Kaanapali? I once stayed in Kula, which meant I got a little more shut-eye since the drive up was shorter. After watching the sun rise, we went off on one of the trails on a hike. After that, we went to Paia to walk around, shop, and eat Komoda Bakery cream puffs!

Many-many moons ago, my older son and I signed up with a small tour company to come pick us up from the condo and drive to see the sunrise over the Haleakala. It was spectacular and we will remember the adventure forever!

Of course, the upshot was that we got into the mini van, curled up, and continued to sleep for the few hours that it took to pick up some other folks at their respective hotels and drive up the Haleakala. I have no clue how much it costs and/or whether one could still hire this service, but I would recommend.

Anna Roz

Your teens will like Paia. There are some good little shops for clothes, surfwear, bikinis, etc.

The Paia Flatbread Company is a nice place to eat lunch or a snack. They make their own version of flatbread pizza in a wood-burning oven. Light and delicious. Nice atmosphere and staff too. Moana Bakery is fun for brunch, and there is also a cute tex-mex place with outdoor seating right on the main corner.

If you are planning to hike into the crater, it is very interesting but the scenery remains the same all the way down so there is no need to go all the way unless you like a challenge.

I personally found the scenery and views on the drive to be the wonderful part of the trip so I wouldn't want to do it in the dark of morning The summit was nice and hiking down inside was interesting, but I truly loved exploring the upper slopes by car- the alpine look of the terrain combined with the sweeping blue ocean vistas was just magical.

Haleakala at dawn was the most memorable sunrise I've ever seen. It was probably an hour from the time the sky began to lighten to when the sun crested the horizon, very slowly revealing the otherworldly moonscape.

If you really pay attention, any sunrise is beautiful -- but Haleakala's summit is a really special canvas.

If you're coming from the mainland, go early in the trip before your body has made the time change -- you'll be awake anyway!

(Don't go if you're looking to commune with nature -- it gets crowded up there at sunrise!)

I went twice, but not at sunrise. You may not have felt well due to altitude sickness. The second time we went we stopped for a picnic about halfway up which slowed our ascent and we felt better as a result. The last time we went there were protea farms at the base of the mountain and I really enjoyed seeing these exotic flowers. I liked the cool weather and the kind of other worldly sense of the landscape.

Second on the hiring a tour guide and leaving the driving to someone else. They pick you up, you sleep. The tourguides who drive are entertaining folk to boot if you want to stay awake for the ride.

If you can afford to flop into a van and sleep - you should roll the dice and go up for sunrise. Bring blankets and sweatshirts, gloves too. Amazing. After you go, you'll be glad you did it. The first step out of bed is the hardest.

Yes.

The sunrise at the top is spectacular most of the time.

Drive the road yourself. No need to pay for expensive tours & you can stop anywhere you want on the way back.

We went during our honeymoon during the day- i think late afternoon. If you're there for a while- say over a week, and need a break from the sun and beach , it's a nice excursion. We saw a lot of wildlife on the way up. I think it was a bull (my memory is foggy) that came almost right up to our car on the way up. Once we got to the top, it was neat, but not life-altering. I'm sure it would have been amazing at sunrise, but we just didn't want to do it.

If you're coming from the mainland, maybe do it on your first day when your body clock is several hours ahead of the time?

You can sleep in when you get home.

It is worth it.

Go on one of the first days from the mainland to take advantage of the jet lag.

I was just there with my husband and two teens (who HATE to get up early). We drove up to Haleakala in the afternoon and had a wonderful time. The views are spectactular no matter when you go and my family was much happier not getting up at 3:30 am. We spent quite a bit of time up at the top and even hiked a little bit on some of the trails. The scenery is surreal--unlike anything you've ever seen, so do go, but I don't think you have to go at sunrise to have a great experience. Have fun!!

We did not want to get up early for the sunrise during our vacation. We drove up the mountain approximately 9am.We thoroughly enjoyed the trip.We pulled over to view the beautiful vistas & felt the unbelievable sensation of feeling like we were on another planet. We have no regrets. Pictures still give us chills. The only thing I wish we had booked the bike trip down. We saw many people enjoying the ride of their life. It looked like alot of fun. Have fun & enjoy your trip.

We did the sunrise. I had a painful inner ear infection and some issues with the fish I age the night before and I was STILL moved!!
It is a beautiful experience. After sunrise we ate breakfast in the car, did very very short hike (and I use the term hike loosely) on the Sliding Sands trail, and were back by noon-1 o'clock.
We weren't looking forward to getting up early to catch the sunrise either, but because of coming from the mainland we were pretty restless anyway.
If you decide to go, do it early in your trip.

And yes, it will take 2 hours to drive.