Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
akoa Loop Trail
is a three-mile loop with a 400-foot elevation gain which is open to both
hikers and bikers. To reach Waiakoa, travel up Waipoli Road off Highway 377, go past the
lavender farm, and park your car off the side of the road just past the hunter's check-in
station. The trailhead is 0.75 mile down a four-wheel-drive access road. Since this is also a
hunting area, wear bright clothing. Toward the top of Waipoli Road, the pavement changes
to dirt, and a good ride is to park your car where the Upper Waiohuli Trail and Mamane
Trail intersect the dirt road. From here you can ride a loop trail where you climb the dirt
road, turn left where the road forks, and continue climbing until you reach the trailhead for
the Mamane Trail, which offers a two-mile, single-track descent back down to your car. If
you want to tack on a few more miles before bombing down the Mamane Trail, ride Kahua
Road out to the hunting shelter and back before heading back down to your car.
BIKING THE VOLCANO
For those who are prepared, riding a bike down Haleakala can be one of the best
days of your vacation. Those who go about it the wrong way, however, may po-
tentially be setting themselves up for a miserable experience. Nobody wants to be
miserable on vacation, so here are some tips to ensure the ride is exactly the trip you
were hoping for.
• If you go with a rental company, you can no longer ride from the summit, and
instead must begin biking at the 6,500-foot level. If you want to bike from the
summit, you need to provide your own bicycle and transport.
• Seeing the sunrise isn't guaranteed. On 85 percent of sunrise excursions you will
actually be able to see the sunrise, but on the other 15 percent of days the crater
will be socked in with clouds. The variations aren't even seasonal, so all you can
do is hope for the best.
• If you're planning on joining a bike tour for sunrise, be prepared to wake up
really
early. Since companies will collect guests from the farthest hotels first, if you're
staying in Makena or Kapalua you can expect to meet your van driver at as early
as 1:45am. Given the odd hours, try to book this excursion on the first couple
days of your trip when you're still jet-lagged and waking up early. Depending on
where you're coming from and the time of year, Maui is 2-6 hours behind the
continental U.S., so when you factor in the natural jet lag it doesn't seem nearly
as early.
