Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Camping
For the truly rugged, camping is available in
Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area
high
on the slopes of Haleakala. The grassy camping area is small, basic, and down a lengthy
dirt road. The reward, however, is waking in the heart of the Polipoli forest and having the
morning all to yourself. Fees for camping are $18/campsite, and permits can be obtained
either by calling 808/984-8109 or online at
www.camping.ehawaii.gov
. Print out your per-
mit and bring it with you, as some of the parks won't accept electronic copies, and pack
in plenty of water and food since it's long way back to civilization. You can also book a
backcountry wilderness cabin for $90/night. This is sure to be an accommodation option
that no one you know has taken.
Those looking for rural tranquility in a cool Upcountry setting need look no farther than the
M
Star Lookout
(622 Thompson Rd., 907/346-8028,
www.starlookout.com
, $200). On
Thompson Road just minutes from Grandma's Coffee House, this single cottage provides a
ranch-style retreat with views over the Keokea pastureland down to the shoreline of South
Maui. A two night minimum is required. Perhaps Upcountry's best-kept secret.
Camping
Spending a night in Haleakala Crater is one of the most unique adventures on Maui. Cold,
arid, and beneath a blanket of stars, it's a foray into a backcountry world you'd never ex-
pect on a tropical island. The warmest and most accessible of all the campsites is
Hos-
mer's Grove,
at the 6,800-foot level just as you enter the park. No permit is necessary for
camping in Hosmer's Grove, so you can drive your vehicle into the parking lot that sits ad-
jacent to the grassy campground. For the three backcountry campsites within the park, you
must obtain a free permit from the park headquarters and watch a short safety video. All
gear must be packed in and out over a long and arduous trail, and while Holua campsite
is cold and dry, Paliku campsite is a few degrees warmer and set in forested surroundings.
There are also three
backcountry cabins
available which have basic cooking facilities and
bunk beds. Rates for the cabins are $75/night, and bookings open up exactly 90 days in ad-
vance. To make a reservation for a cabin, either call 808/572-4400, or visit
www.nps.gov/
