According to legend, the demigod Maui lassoed the sun across the sky as he stood on the volcano's summit to slow its journey across the sky to make the day longer. This volcano is known as Haleakala or "House of the Sun".
Today Saturday, 6/4/2022, we would attempt to catch the sunrise on top of the 10,023' dormant volcano but not before we complete the most challenging task first - making the reservation.
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| Sipping my 3-in-1 coffee at 2:26 am |
I was up at 1:45 am to get myself ready for this event. But before we could even get to this point of going to see the sunrise, getting the reservation was quite an ordeal.
Due to limited parking spaces, the National Park limits the number of vehicles going up the volcano from 3:00 am to 7:00 am. In order to get to the summit, a
reservation is required. The number of available parking spaces are released daily at 7:00 am local time (Hawaiian Standard Time) for a visit 60 days or 2 days in the future.
So on Thursday, 6/4, Joanne was in front of our Mac at 10:00 am Pacific Time (there is a three hour time difference) to score the $1 parking reservation. Unfortunately she failed at the first attempt even though we had rehearsed this attempt a few weeks before. There were faster fingers despite how fast Joanne was.
However, patience and a bit of out of box thinking paid off. We continued to refresh the reservation screen in hope some people would not complete the transaction (we did not when we rehearsed this attempt). At 10:15 am, we saw three tickets became available again. Joanne snatched one up right away and we had our ticket up the mountain on 6/4.
We printed the reservation out and sealed it in a gallon ziploc bag. This was the first item to go into my carry on.
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| Our ticket up the mountain for 6/4 |
Packing for the sunrise
Now that we scored the parking reservation, the traveling party had to be educated on the microclimate of Maui. In order to stay outdoors for an extended period of time at the 10,023' volcano, gear that would keep ourselves warm needed to be packed.
Grandma did not understand why base layers, hiking pants, fleece/down jacket, light hiking shoes, wool socks, and beanie hats would be needed to visit "Hawaii". But these were the items that we helped Grandma pack.
For the two teenagers, the R.E.I look was not what they were after. They managed with layered hoodies and sweats. That will do.
Sunrise at the Summit of Haleakala at Haleakala National Park
It would take us at least an hour and half to go from Kihei to top of the mountain. So in order to get to the spot for sunrise shortly after 5:00 am, we would need to leave no later than 3:30 am. We left the apartment at approximately 3:15 am. Our alarm was set at 1:45 am.
Joanne prepared some sandwiches for the traveling party to eat after the sunset. We had our 3-in-1 coffee and left the apartment in total darkness.
The drive would take us from Kihei to Kahului, then cut over east via the 37 to Makawao, then up the mountain road to the entrance of the National Park.
Darkness actually help me stay focused on the road rather than looking at the steep drop off on the side. We made pretty good timing and made it through the Summit district of the National Park entrance at around 4:30 am. The park ranger checked our name against the reservation list and we were cleared to enter.
We had to pay for parking but we would save the parking receipt to be used two days from now on the Kipahulu entrance of the Haleakala National Park.
We winded our way through the countless switchbacks and made it to the parking area of the summit just before 5:00 am. The temperature was cold but not freezing. We got into our proper gears and made the short hike to the Summit Observation Deck (Pu'u'ula'ula view point) just around 5:00 am. A pretty good sized crowd was already there.
We waited for the sunrise outside the observation deck. The pre-dawn twilight was already in session. The crowed thickened as we got closer to the time of sunrise.
At the moment of sunrise, the park ranger sang a native Hawaiian chat as the sun was rising. This sacred moment was drowned out by a blasting car alarm so no one could hear the actual chat. It is truly hard to find peace even on top of a volcano.
Yes watching the sunrise at Haleakala was definitely a magical experience, but it also felt a bit like going to a rowdy rock concert.
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| At the summit observation deck parking area, 4:50 am |
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| Looking east from the parking lot, the civil twilight has already begun |
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| 5:01 am, made it to the Observation Deck |
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| 5:11 am, the cloud below us is now more visible |
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| 5:18 am, everyone is jostling for a good spot |
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| 5:20 am, the sky is getting pretty bright, iPhone camera is having a more difficult time processing the exposure of this shot |
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| Grandma is layered up in blanket but having a good time |
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| Sun peeking out shortly after 5:30 am |
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| Sunrise on Haleakala, 6/4/2022 |
A Quick Tour of the Summit District
After the sunrise event, we took a few more pictures of the summit observation deck and the nearby telescope observatory before heading lower to use the restroom at the summit visitor center (9,740') located by the edge of the crater.
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| Grandma in full R.E.I gear and fashioning a floral beanie hat |
Upcountry Maui
The rolling hillside community between the summit of Haleakala and the coastal town of Paia is Upcountry Maui where beaches give way to lavender farms and rustic ranches.
We made it to Grandma's Coffee House around 7:30 am. The small store serves up non pretentious hearty portion of local food to hungry and sleep deprived visitors descending from Haleakala.
After the big breakfast, we checked out the Fong Store next store which is a family owned grocery store that has been around for three generations.
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| The rustic Grandma's Coffee House |
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| Upcountry and backcountry |
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| The no frill kitchen |
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| Upcountry vibe |
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| The rustic establishment has been serving food in the community since 1918 |
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| The Bulls eye, Coconut Crusted French Toast, Loco Moco, and One Big Pancake served over paper plates |
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| The Loco Moco |
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| The "Fong Store", the Chinese immigrant owned grocery store has been around for three generations. We spoke with the owner she is the grand daughter of Henry Fong |
We had planned to visit the Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm but it does not open until 10:00 am. Since we had some time to spare after breakfast, we decided to visit the Kula Country Farms as well which was already open.
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| View of Maui South Shore from Kula |
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| View of Central Valley |
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| View of the west Maui mountian |
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| Kula Country Farms |
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| It's strawberry season! |
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| MM's picks |
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| The farm store |
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| Fresh ginger and other produce |
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| View of west Maui from Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm |
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| Lavender June blossom |
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| A real country feel |
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| Lavender on the hillside |
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| A botanical garden is on site |
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| The King Portea |
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| Yellow Portea |
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| Outside the Gallery Gift Shop |
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| Taking a respite behind the Gift Shop. We ordered the Lavender scone, Lavender Herbal Ice Tea, and Lavender Lemonade |
We made it back to our apartment around noon after visiting the farms in Upcountry. We picked up a few items at Foodland Kihei for Grandma. We would continue our afternoon plan - hitting the beach while Grandma took a much needed rest in the apartment.
This is one of the most well known beaches at Maui. We got here shortly before 2:00 pm but the weather was cloudy with scattered shower. The weather did not deter us from setting up the umbrella and unfurling the beach towels.
We set up camp here on the quiet Big Beach and took a much needed rest from an early morning start.
We picked up camp here shortly after 4:00 pm to head home but not before we get our daily shave ice fix. We tried the
Gus' Hawaiian Shave Ice right at Kihei but the winner of the battle of shave ice still went to Ululani's.
For dinner, we were heading to Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman in Wailea, a short 5 minute drive from our apartment. Wailea, though only a 5 minute drive from South Kihei, has a distinctly different vibe.
Unlike the relaxed, easy going, and sometimes rowdy feel of Kihei, Wailea is sophisticated and upscale.
Located in the Wailea hotel zone where some of the most high end establishments are located (Four Seasons, Grand Wailea, Andaz Maui just to name a few), the Monkeyed Kitchen by Merriman is a place that you would dress to look the part.
The traveling party took time to get ready, and we were at Monkeypod shortly before 6:00 pm. The wait was about 45 minutes so we sat outside and people watched until our names were called.
The modern and upscale vibe was a welcomed change for the teenage travelers after an early start of the day and an R.E.I-ish event of going up the volcano.
We sipped on tropical drinks and enjoyed the poke tacos while the live music played on.
Yes we are REALLY in Maui now.
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