Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
A 4am wake-up call is the last thing you want to wake up to. Yet, here we were on day one of our week-long vacation in Hawai'i getting up bright and early to see the sunrise on Haleakalā after getting in late the night before.
There isn't a whole lot to tell you about seeing the Haleakalā sunrise, but there are a few things worth keeping in mind:
1. The further away you are from the Haleakalā National Park, the earlier you have to get up. We were staying at Kula Lodge, where most Haleakalā sunrise voyagers stop on their way back down the mountain after sunrise for breakfast. More or less, we were already halfway up the mountain. More sleep ftw!
2. You need a $1.50 (at the time of this post) reservation to bring your car into Haleakalā National Park prior to sunrise. If you come after 7am, you don't need the reservation.
3. Parking is limited to two options. You can park at the visitor's center or you can park at the top of the mountain. The later you arrive for sunrise, the less choice you have.
4. Bring and/or wear warm clothing and blankets. It may be 80º at the beaches, but it is cold up on Haleakalā. Like 30º cold. And the sun isn't up when you arrive. And there is wind. Dress warm and then add another layer.
5. Another option would be to come up with a tour group. You would get to sleep on the bus the whole way there. Some tour groups let you bike down Haleakalā, which is certainly a long way down, but it's not as scary as it seems. The bikers we saw stayed on the main road with cars driving slowly behind them. Totally doable even if you aren't a mountain biker.
6. If you decide to drive, be aware that the roads can be steep at points, curvy at other points, and you may have cows cross in front of you. So, really … just stay aware.
7. When we left our hotel at Kula Lodge, the weather outlook was rainy and cloudy, but as you climb Haleakalā (in your vehicle), you (in our case) find yourself heading above the clouds and above the rain. So, while it may look like a bad day for a beautiful sunrise, it may be worthwhile to drive the distance just in case. (Check out my pictures!)
8. Crowds are a thing. While reservations will keep the numbers down, you should find your sunrise viewing position early. Most people will be sitting in their cars trying to stay warm until the last minute.
9. Make your reservation asap for a sunrise viewing. I was one of the first to have to make a reservation for sunrise (They just started this last year) and reservations filled up quickly! Try to book at least two weeks in advance if not earlier! You can make reservations up to 60 days in advance.
10. The park fee is an entirely separate fee. At the time of this post, the fee is $12 per person or $25 per vehicle. Your park pass will be good for three days. Save it and you can use it during your tour of the Road to Hana!
11. Finally, it was recommended to me (and thus I recommend it for you) that, if you live on the east coast) to visit Haleakalā on one of your first days in Hawai'i. With time changes and jet lag, it will probably be much easier for you to get up at the early time on day one than after your body has completely adjusted to Hawai'i time. And in our case, this was true.
After viewing the sunrise, we started heading down the mountain with our first stop at the Visitor's Center. Definitely stop here if you want to get a map of the park and get another view of sunrise.
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| view from the gift shop |
Being our first day in Hawai'i, we were thrilled to see a rainbow as we made our way down from the top of Haleakalā. And, as expected, not only did we find ourselves immersed in the clouds dealing with light rain as we descended, we also found that the temperature rose very quickly. Within the 26 mile trip, we saw the temperature rise from 30ºF to 60ºF. It only got warmer as the day went on.
If you get the chance to see a sunrise at Haleakalā, I highly recommend it. Just follow my tips and you will be all set!
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It's day four in the A-Z blog challenge! This month I'll be sharing all about my five year anniversary in Hawai'i – providing insight into the places I went, reviewing the hotels I stayed at, and telling my story. Today's letter was D for DAY one on Maui Island!
