Review:

Haleakala is home to one of the most unique landscapes on the planet, complete with towering cindercones, red and black sand, and wide open views. At sunrise, unpredictable things happen. Clouds shaped like a head of a woman are backlit by the rising sun. Gentle golden color illuminates the harsh rock. A bright orb rises above the clouds to start a new day. This is why thousands of people get up hours before sunrise for a long drive up the slopes of Haleakala to witness the event.

The weather at the summit is unpredictable and changes quickly. Lucky few select the perfect day to view the sunrise and get a clear view of the crater and the rest of Maui below. Others will see the sunrise just above the clouds that surround the slopes. Or you may get there and find yourself in the thick of a rainy cloud. It's impossible to tell before you reach the summit. Mornings at 10,000 feet are chilly and windy, so dress warmly. Arrive early so that you can find a parking space since this is the busiest time of the day. Also, there is no food, clothing or gas available in the park.

The sun rises earlier in the summer than in the winter. On January 1, the sun rises at 6:56am; on July 1 more than an hour earlier, at 5:41am. National Park Service has the exact times posted on their web site for all days of the year (www.nps.gov/hale). Most people head to the Visitor Center or the summit. There is a small structure at the summit with panoramic windows. The Visitor Center doesn't open until 7:30am.

Admission is valid for 7 days. You can stop at the park headquarters a few minutes after the entrance station to get more information about the park. There is a second visitors center located near the summit. The drive from the park headquarters to the visitors center takes about 30 minutes. Once you pay your fee and enter, there are no gas stations or food along the way. Therefore, make sure you have enough gas and food to get to 10,000 feet and back.

There are two visitor centers near the summit (and one down near Hana in East Maui). Haleakala Visitor Center is located at an elevation of 9,700 feet. It is open year-round from 7:30am to 3:30pm. There are restrooms, but no phone, food or gas. The building is ten miles from the park entrance and nine miles from the Headquarters Visitor Center. The drive usually takes 30 minutes.

TheHeadquarters Visitor Center is located one mile from the park entrance at an elevation of 7,000 feet. The center is open year-round from 8am to 4pm. Inside there is a replica of one of the most famous Haleakala plants - the silversword. There is no food or gas sold in the park. For more information, call the visitor center at 808-572-4400.

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