What to Expect When Visiting Haleakala

Haleakala, Maui, HI: Not gonna lie - I was not the biggest fan of the 2 AM wake up call to stand in the cold taking pictures of a sunrise. However, if you decide to do one thing in Maui: make it this! The views were spectacular and the experience was unreal!

Here are my tips for ensuring the BEST Haleakala experience:

Dress warm: it’s *#%*+^! cold up there! If you go with a tour, most should provide jackets and pants and even gloves, but trust me, you’ll want to make sure you have layers underneath. 

Don’t go too hard the night before: you will be getting up early! It’s about a 2 hour drive up the volcano and you need to arrive before sunrise. If you stay up late partying, chances are you’ll miss your wake-up call!

Bring a tripod: the sunrise itself is slow, so you’ll be watching it for awhile. To prevent having to hold your camera or phone the entire time, bring a tripod and set it up! That way you can capture the moment and still enjoy it in real life. 

Bonus tip: on our way back down, we actually rented mountain bikes and then did a zip line tour. If this is something you’re interested in, make sure you bring a backpack with appropriate clothes for these activities as well! Also, water and granola bars - you will be hungry and thirsty!

Until next time,