Hey everyone! 

As part of our five weeks in Hawai'i, we spent a week on Maui. When first booking our flights and cars, Maui was by far the most expensive. Our rental car alone for the week was supposed to be like $1400. So I took to Craigslist and found a local who was renting their car for $300 instead. It wasn't fancy, but the old Chevy Blazer did the job. That is, once you filled the radiator with water, used a stick to prop open the read gate, and didn't drive over 55 m.p.h. or else it would start shaking violently.

Maui is also home to a park that we really wanted to visit, Haleakalā National Park. Two big things we wanted to do was to watch a sunrise from the summit and camp in the crater. The campsite we wanted, Palikū, was reserved for the time were were there, so we settled for the closer spot at Hōlua for a night.

We drove up to the front country campground at Homer Grove and set up for the evening. Once we were all set up, we drove up to the summit to get a view from where we would be hiking the following day. It basically looked like Mars.

Haleakalā Crater Sunrise Panorama

The following morning, we drove back up to the summit in the dark to catch the sunrise. There was a large group of people who had gathered already, most people wearing cotton sweatshirts and socks on their hands. I think we were the only people there who had proper layers for the 10K ft chilly sunrise. It was very cool looking down on a sunrise and watch the clouds move over the island.

Haleakala Crater Sunset

Back at camp we made breakfast and packed for our overnight trip. During breakfast, two endemic Hawaiian endemic birds, the I'iwi and the 'Alauahio stopped by. Very cool that we were able to see these birds that are only in Hawaii.

Mau'i I'iwi Maui ʻalauahio

Back at the summit we started our hike down the Sliding Sands Trail. It was a mix of rock and sand, which meant that we were going to be hiking slowly. Probably a good thing since we were also at elevation. From a big view, the crater looks dead, and void of life. On a closer look, you notice that there are many plants that are highly adapted to the landscape, like the silversword. It's likely the one you'll notice too because of it's color and the fact there are signs everywhere telling you about it since it's a threatened plant.

Haleakalā Crater Panorama Silversword

We continued down the trail, but no matter how far we walked, the features didn't seem to get any closer. The crater is deceptively large and hiking in it, exposed to the sun at elevation, is a good way to learn that first hand.

Eventually we made it to some of the features within in the crater, which meant that we were near the junction to our campsite.

We wandered our way through the cones, taking in the views.

Once we were at the junction to Hõlua, we found a place in the shade to take a snack break and enjoy the views.

Our camp spot at Hõlua was sheltered enough if the wind picked up, but still had views of the sky, which was spectacular. 

Haleakalā Crater Moonrise

The next morning the wind had picked up, so once the frost on our tent melted, we packed up and hiked back to the car. We even had a nice ground-level rainbow that appeared from a cloud that wasn't raining. Not sure how that works, but it was cool to see.

Haleakalā Crater Rainbow

Back at the car we grabbed a photo at the sign and headed back into town for a night before driving the Road to Hana and the Kīpahulu district of the park.

One of the first popular spots on that side of the Island is 'Ohe'O Gulch, or the Seven Sacred Pools. We hiked around the pools checking out the different waterfalls from the base and the brink of each.

Seven Sacred Pools Seven Sacred Pools 2 Makahiku Falls, Maui 200 ft

Next on the list was to hike out to Waimoku, a 400-ft waterfall. Along the way, we got to climb in some trees and hike through a forest of bamboo.

Tree Lounging Kipahulu Boardwalk Bamboo Forest

At the falls, the sun hit the water just right that we got to see a nice little rainbow. On the way back through the bamboo forest, the light started poking through which created some nice sunbeams.

Waimoku Falls Waimoku Falls Portrait Kipahulu Boardwalk sun rays

Back at the car, while snacking a drinking, we saw one of the islands more elusive nonnative critters, the mongoose. First time seeing one, so even though it isn't supposed to be on the island, still pretty cool to see it.

Mongoose

Bonus pic: our trusty steed.

Trusty Steed

Backpacking trip notes: Overall it was a fun trip, but there are a couple things that would have made it better. If we were able to secure a night at one or both of the cabins, that would have been ideal. Camping at the back of the crater means that you have to hike through more of the features, too. I guess that just means there is something for us to do the next time we visit!