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Of the top Maui attractions, seeing a HaleakalÄ sunset that is in lelo Hawaiii (Hawaiian) literally means “house of the sun” – should be at the top of your list. From the summit, just over 10,000 feet high, watch the sun gradually sink below the horizon as the clouds turn to fiery colors and, after it’s all over, look out over the island of Maui as it slowly fades into darkness . It is a really unforgettable memory. However, setting it up can also be frustrating as the mountain is almost always full of locals and visitors who all want to see the show. To make your life a little easier, we’ve put together five tips on how to make your Haleakal sunset memory enjoyable.
1. The early bird gets it Really nice pictures
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
If you don’t mind the wait, get prime parking and front-row seating for the sunset spectacle if you climb to the top early. Knowing when exactly the sun goes down is also very important as it can affect your timing. As mentioned, the summit – and especially the ridge where most people take their sunset photos – gets denser the closer the sunset gets to the horizon. So if you want a really extraordinary picture, get there early.
2. Bring a jacket!
Who wants to see the sunset from the car? Nobody, that’s who! But if you don’t bring a jacket, HaleakalÄ’s cool climate will make your viewing experience … uncomfortable. And when the sun goes down, the temperatures rise too. This, coupled with a constant wind, makes a jacket – the bigger the better – indispensable.
3. Skip the summit parking lot
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
If you don’t think you’ll be able to make it to the summit of HaleakalÄ in time, it may be wise to skip the summit parking lot entirely. Not only will it almost certainly be full, but there will also be a long line of cars just waiting for the opportunity to turn back, which can cost you precious minutes. Luckily there is another parking lot down the street – a bathroom too! – which is rarely completely occupied. You have to walk up the road to the summit, but the hike should only take five to ten minutes and is a gentle incline.
4. Don’t dig up right away
Your first instinct may be to leave the moment the sun sets below the horizon, but don’t do it. You’d miss half the show! After the sun has completely set, the clouds take on truly wondrous colors, from pastel oranges to pinks and reds. This vibrant blaze of color is great for any last minute pics for the gram, and when your fellow actors get out, you have the option to do that mauna (Mountain) with fewer people around.
5. Stay for the stars
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
While the sunset is a feast for the eyes, the night sky over HaleakalÄ is almost as breathtaking. With the minimal lights of the city coming from Maui, our neighboring stars and galaxies paint the sky with a clarity and focus not found anywhere else. If you’re a fan of photos, this is the time to get fantastic long exposures. Of course when the sun is all the way down you will be cold up there, so be sure to pay attention to tip number two.
6. Make a reservation for Sunrise
Okay so it’s not that technically about the sunset, but if you want to avoid the crowds that the sunset collects, Make reservations for sunrise in Haleakala. If you only allow a limited number of entries to the park – all of which must have a reservation made – you can easily find a parking space and avoid having to share the summit with so many other spectators.
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