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The ultimate guide to Haleakala Sunrise in Maui

I’m so glad you found this ultimate guide to Haleakala Sunrise in Maui. Whether you’re planning a Maui honeymoon or Maui family vacation, Haleakala Sunrise is easily one of the best things to do in Maui! Today, I am going to share everything you need to know about Haleakala Sunrise.

Hale means “house” and akala loosely means “sun,” so Haleakala means “house of the sun.” What a fitting name! 

Before we get started, let me introduce myself. My name is Amy, and I’m a Hawaii Travel Agent. I’m one of the top travel agents for Hawaii, and creating fantastic custom trips in Hawaii is my passion! Contact me today to help plan and book your Hawaii vacation.

DO I NEED A RENTAL CAR IN Maui?

You’ll definitely need a car in Maui. Public transportation isn’t very reliable, and you don’t go to Maui to stay at your resort the entire time! Even if you plan to do your Haleakala Sunrise adventure on a tour, you’ll still need a car to explore Maui on your own. You’ll find the best prices anywhere at Discount Hawaii Car Rental. 

Don’t miss my itineraries for Hawaii if you want insider tips for your vacation, but don’t need to work with a Hawaii Travel Agent.

Where is Haleakala?

Haleakala (Haleakalā) is located on the eastern side of the island of Maui in Hawaii. You really can’t miss this volcano, with its summit rising over 10,000 feet above sea level. This iconic natural landmark is part of Haleakalā National Park, one of two of Hawaii’s National Parks. 

The other, Volcanoes National Park, can be found on the Big Island of Hawaii. We have a guide for that too! Guide to Volcanoes National Park

Please note that most of the best places to stay in Maui are located either in Wailea or Kaanapali, so you’ll need to drive a bit (or take a tour) to see sunrise at Haleakala for yourself. 

How to see Haleakala Sunrise

You do need to plan your Haleakala Sunrise adventure in advance. Whether you take a tour (more on that later) or drive yourself, you’ll want to have a game plan in place. As a Hawaii Travel Agent, I recommend Haleakala Sunrise on your first or second day in Maui. 

The reason for this is that you’ll have to wake up early, and I do mean early! The sunrise time varies slightly, but is often around 6 AM, and considering that you’ll have to drive to Haleakala and be there before sunrise, this usually means getting up around 2 AM or 3 AM.

Don’t worry too much, you may be up early your first day or two in Maui anyway, thanks to jetlag! Although there are ways to help with jet lag in Hawaii, it may be impossible to avoid it entirely. Since Hawaii is anywhere from 3-6 hours time difference from the mainland, you may find yourself awake at 3 or 4 AM with no problem.

If you plan to drive yourself, you’ll want to ensure you have a reservation and Google the distance between your resort and Haleakala summit. Don’t forget to bring some food if you need it, because nothing will be open. The tours offer breakfast and sometimes lunch, which is why I typically recommend a tour unless you’re very comfortable waking up early and driving unfamiliar roads at night. 

Reservations are required and often sell out, so make sure to get them as soon in advance as possible! If you do a tour, they take care of reservations. If you plan to drive yourself, you can get reservations here. 

The best Haleakala Sunrise Tours

There are several options for Haleakala Sunrise tours available, so I’ll share some of my favorites!

Valley Isle Excursions has one of my favorite group Haleakala Sunrise tours.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can enjoy a sunrise tour and then bike down with Bike Maui! This has been a favorite for many clients, and don’t worry, you’re only biking downhill! 

Now, if waking up at 2-3 AM isn’t your thing, you might try a sunset tour. While a sunset tour isn’t quite as magical as a sunrise tour, it also does not involve waking up so early!

What to wear for Haleakala Sunrise

It might surprise you that it gets very, very cold on the summit of Haleakala! While Hawaii has warm weather year-round, the higher summits do get cold, and sometimes it will even snow! 

I always bring a sweater or jacket, and I’d recommend pants. You could bring a hat or gloves, but if you don’t want to lug your cold-weather gear to Hawaii, a blanket will also work! 

More Haleakala Sunrise tips

• The drive to Haleakala is rough, whether you take a tour or go out on your own. If you tend to have any motion sickness, bring something for it! What has helped me the most is my Emeterm Motion Sickness band! It’s the only thing that truly works, and I love it so much that I have two! I use the green (waterproof) one for snorkeling but I also have the pink band for Haleakala, Road to Hana, etc.
• Be mindful of the altitude change, it’s about 10,000 feet!
• Don’t forget to bring some water, coffee, or snacks! You likely won’t find any food on the way.
• Many still regard Haleakala as a sacred space, so please be mindful of that and respectful.
• Keep an eye out for the rare Haleakala Silverswords, but don’t touch them! Silverswords live up to 90 years! They only flower once.

What to do after Haleakala Sunrise

You’ll find some of the best hikes in Maui within Haleakala National Park! Here are some of the best hikes if you’re feeling up to it and have driven yourself. Otherwise, you can head back to the warmth of the lower elevations! I have a blog post with 50 things to do in Maui to give you some ideas on what to do.

Haleakala National Park Hikes:

• Sliding Sands Trail (Keonehe‘ehe‘e Trail). This hike is up to 11 miles round trip and considered moderate to strenuous. Highlights include: Crater views, cinder cones, unique volcanic landscape

• Halemau‘u Trail. This hike is 7.4 miles round trip and considered moderate. Highlights include scenic switchbacks, crater overlook, and native plants

• Pipiwai Trail. This hike is 4 miles round-trip and considered moderate. Highlights include the bamboo forest, waterfalls, and Waimoku Falls

• Hosmer Grove Trail. This short hike is only a 0.5-mile loop and is considered easy. Highlights include seeing native birds.

• Kuloa Point Trail is another easy 0.5-mile round-trip hike with highlights including ocean views, cultural sites, and Ohe‘o Gulch overlook.

The ultimate guide to Haleakala Sunrise

I hope this guide to Haleakala Sunrise gave you some clarity on what to expect and all of your options for Haleakala Sunrise. 

More Maui guides and Maui travel tips:

• The ultimate guide to the Road to Hana
• Snorkeling Molokini Crater: is it worth it?
• The ultimate guide to Upcountry Maui
• The Best Time for Whale Watching in Hawaii
• The Ultimate Guide to the Hana Lava Tube in Maui
• What is the best luau on Maui?

Ready to plan your Hawaii vacation or Hawaii honeymoon?

It can be overwhelming planning a Hawaii vacation! Contact me today. I’d love to work with you! To offer the best service, I only take on a select number of clients per month, so please reach out early!

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