Review:

Haleakala is a huge shield volcano  on the Island of Maui. The tallest peak of Haleakala or "house of the sun", is Pu'u 'Ula'ula, or Red Hill, at 10,023 feet. There is a massive 7-mile-long, 2-mile-wide, and 2,600-foot-deep depression at the summit, with steep walls.

The mountain (video) is mostly bare and forbidding looking and is part of the Haleakala National Park. The sliding Sands Trail and the Halemau'u Trail are the main trails leading into the volcano. The temperature at the summit drops to 40°F, and the air is very thin at the high elevation, making hiking to Haleakala fairly challenging, especially given the fact that the hike goes almost 2,000 feet downhill into the volcano and uphill on the way back. None of that is keeping hikers and tourists away, however, and coming for the sunrise on Haleakala’s summit is very popular. We enjoyed our stay at Kula Lodge & Restaurant on our way to watch the Sunrise in Haleakala National Park.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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