Visit Haleakala Crater on Your Vacation

When you see ads and stories about the beauty of Maui, those sparkling white-sand beaches are usually the first thing you see. Maui's beaches are certainly a star attraction, but Haleakala, meaning "the house of the sun," and it's crater are the crowning jewel of the island. At 10,023 feet above the ocean, the summit cradles a crater that many compare to the landscape on Mars.

In the crater, you can see the result of a series of volcanic bombs, ash, spatter and cinder in a myriad of brown, red and orange colors. Haleakala was erupting as recently as 1790 which is right around when George Washington was giving the first State of the Union address. Although we have found no sign that its activity will resume, many geologists predict that it will become active again at some point in the future.

The drive from our Maui condo rentals at sea level is a long one, but the scenery is well worth the trip. The views are spectacular and the landscape up on the mountain is a fascinating change from lower elevations. You will definitely want a reliable Maui rental car and you should fill up your tank before making your way up the mountain. The road is windy, so take it slow, especially if anyone with you is prone to getting carsick.

Visit the Haleakala National Park website for more information about trips to the crater, including fees and reservations. You may also want to check for exact sunrise and sunset times. You can email us at Rentals@KaanapaliBeachRentals.com for information on our vacation rental condos or Ken@KaanapaliProperties.com for real estate related questions. Thanks for reading this week! Aloha!