We spent our last day on Maui hiking around the dormant volcano that is actually taller than Mount Everest. Tried getting sunrise permits, which were all out. That meant a couple hours of extra sleep for us.

Haleakala Highway

Sharing the road with bicyclists as we took the winding road up to the top.

Silversword

We entered the sprawling park for free, thanks to Matt and his military service and saw a small scattering of the ahinahina in its natural habitat, the adaptive plants reputedly once covered the slopes like snow back in the day.

Pu’u ‘ula’ula

Panoramic view from 10,023′ of the crater with her different colored landscape and cinder cones populating the floor. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Observatories

Closed to visitation. No stargazing for us today.

Chukar partridge

Just looking for that pear tree now.

Sliding Sands Trail

Matt attempting to introduce waterfalls to the volcanic landscape.

Keonehe’ehe’e Trail

We would not be sliding down this trail today, as Matt had asked the park rangers earlier what the weather forecast held in store. Not good was the answer. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Sliding Sands Trail

Group photo left to right: Matt, myself, Ferlino, Analyn and Cisco.

Haleakala National Park

Ferlino walking the line. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Kalahaku Overlook

We stopped further down the road to gather another perspective of the crater. Ferlino getting some air time in the parking lot. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Kalahaku Overlook

Watching the contrail clouds roll into the crater. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Kalahaku Overlook

Matt looking out towards the twin volcanoes of the Big Island.

Kalahaku Overlook

When the very thing you are looking for is right in your face. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Kalahaku Overlook

One last parting shot. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Halemau’u Trail

Driving down the road, we somehow missed the Leleiwi Overlook and ended up in the parking lot for the Halemau’u Trail. Time to hike.

Halemau’u Trail

Making our way through the native shrubland, populated with nene, to the rim of the valley.

Halemau’u Trail

The group following the fence line until they regained the trail.

Halemau’u Trail

Standing on rainbow bridge, supposedly named more for the colorful plants that contrast with the volcanic rock than refracted light in the mist. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Halemau’u Trail

Making our way down to the very clear and cloud free crater. I guess the park rangers must be related to Guy Hagi.

Halemau’u Trail

The trail zig zagged over 18 times down the 1,000’+ cliff.

Halemau’u Trail

The trail started with long and winding switchbacks which afforded us spectacular views of the crater and the surrounding walls. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Halemau’u Trail

Perched atop a protruding lava rock. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Halemau’u Trail

The switch backs became shorter as we approached the gated grassy field at the bottom.

Halemau’u Trail

Setting foot on the crater floor, with only a mile of hiking left to the cabin.

Halemau’u Trail

Approaching the cabin with no reservations, just good intentions.

Holua Cabin

Group photo left to right: Ferlino, Analyn, myself, Matt, Nene, Cisco and Nene.

Nene

No feeding of the photo bombers.

Halemau’u Trail

After a short lunch break, we headed off to explore the nearby lava tube.

Lava Tube

Not this one? Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Lava Tube

This one. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Lava Tube

Climbing down with out the assistance of a ladder. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Lava Tube

Illuminating our way as we headed deep into the lava tube.

Lava Tube

Group photo inside the cave.

Lava Tube

Climbing back up through the cavernous conduit that used to carry molten lava. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Lava Tube

Matt standing underneath the natural skylight.

Lava Tube

Exiting the lava tube after traveling almost 900′ underground. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Halemau’u Trail

Analyn basking in the lava field views. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Halemau’u Trail

Time to pay the piper in terms of gaining all that elevation back that we had lost earlier.

Halemau’u Trail

One last photoshoot above the clouds. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

All pau

Making our way back to the car.

GPS Tracks

Our 12.3 mile hike above the clouds had us walking through native shrubland, switch backing down a steep cliff, and exploring the crater of a dormant volcano. Not a bad day. Post hike meal at Paradise Supermarket, home to the best Filipino food on the island. Thanks to Matt and the group for another fun filled weekend.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.

Taking advantage of Island Air’s discounted fares, I hopped on a plane to Maui to see an old buddy, Everett, and hike into Haleakala Crater. On the way up, we stopped at Komoda Store and Bakery in Makawao, famous for their stick donuts, but they were on vacation!

Leaving the clouds behind

Going up the winding road to the summit, we gradually started to climb above the clouds as we passed scores of bicyclists going back down.

Pu'u Ula'ula

Standing at the top of Haleakala or Pu’u Ula’ula (Red Hill) at 10,023 feet. The skies were remarkably clear and the thin air was nice and crisp, didn’t even need my windbreaker. You can see the tops of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa of the Big Island poking up from the clouds in the distance.

Panoramic view from the summit

Click here to see the larger image.

Keonehe'ehe'e Trailhead

We drove down to the parking area where the trailhead was located at. There are restrooms to use before you start heading out on the trail, but be warned as the air is quite chilly up there and the seats are not heated!

Haleakala Crater

As we started down the trail into the crater, we could see the clouds slowly spilling into the rim.

Haleakala Silversword

We came across a bunch of Silversword plants that looked like they had just flowered and they were on their last buds, so to speak.

Haleakala - House of the Sun

In Hawaiian legend, this is where a local fisherman, Maui captured the sun and forced it to have longer days in the summer and shorter days in the winter.

Cinder cones

There are numerous cinder cones scattered on the crater floor, most of them are several hundred feet high.

Paniolo Nazi

“What are you doing?” This rhetorical question was repeated ad nauseum at two Australian tourists that had wandered off the trail by this paniolo (cowboy) guide that was leading a group of tourists down into the crater. He followed it up with threatening statements that it was a $500 fine, even though he is not a park ranger. The horse droppings do far more damage, as they have introduced alien grass and vegetation into the crater. After descending almost 2,000 feet into the crater, we turned around and started to head back up. The thin air and loose volcanic dirt, hence the name “Sliding Sands”, made one work a little harder on the return trip.

All pau

As we got back to the top of the trail, we could look back and see that the clouds had advanced further into the crater. On some days, the entire crater floor is covered in clouds, now that must make for an interesting hike. The next time I make it over here, I plan on hiking the other trail, Halemau’u and spending a night in one of the cabins which would give more time to explore the crater and the lava tubes.