Are you considering an early morning drive to see sunrise over the crater valley on Haleakala? It will be breathtaking!
Here are 6 tips to make your morning go more smoothly.
1. Allow plenty of
time to get there. During the day you can count on a good 2 hours to drive up
the volcano from Kihei (yes, you really do have to drive all the way back to Kahului to drive up country, there is no public road 'up the mountain' from Kihei directly to Kula).
2. Allow extra time driving in the dark, especially as the
drive is unfamiliar to you.
3. Allow extra time for dealing with all those
'tourists!!' who don't know where they're going either.
4. And also, get there
early! There is a large parking lot, but it sure fills up fast at sunrise, and
you are not allowed to park on the side of the road up there. It would sure be a shame to miss
taking those sunrise pictures over the crater.
5. Remember, there are no
gas stations and there is no food/drink available in the national park (there is
an entrance fee - $10/car). Bring your own supplies.
6. Dress for the cool
weather (you will be at 10,000 ft above sea level and it will be cold)! Here is a handy website on expected sunrise and sunset times at Haleakala National Park.
If you prefer not to drive, ask about bus tours at one
of the many activity centers around the island (beware of timeshare related
'deals').Labels: Kihei, Maui to-do, volcano
