Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
parking lot where there are about 40 parking spots. For views of the crater, return
to the larger visitor center lot just below.
Soon, the night sky will lighten and turn purple-blue, and the stars fade away.
Ethereal silhouettes of the mountain ridges appear. The gentlest colors show up in
the fragile moments just before dawn. The undersides of the clouds lighten first,
accenting the night sky with pale silvery slivers and streaks of pink.
About 20 minutes before sunrise, the light intensifies on the horizon in bright or-
anges and reds. Turn to look at Science City, whose domes turn a blazing pink. For
the grand finale, when the disk of the sun appears, all of Haleakalā takes on a fiery
glow. It feels like you're watching the earth awaken.
Come prepared - it's going to be c-o-l-d! Temperatures hovering around freezing
and a biting wind are the norm at dawn and there's often a frosty ice on the top lay-
er of cinders. If you don't have a winter jacket or sleeping bag to wrap yourself in,
bring a warm blanket from your hotel. However many layers of clothes you can
muster, it won't be too many. Also bring a headlamp or flashlight. These will help
you follow the short trail to the summit shelter.
The best photo opportunities occur before the sun rises. Every morning is differ-
ent, but once the sun is up, the silvery lines and the subtleties disappear.
One caveat: a rained-out sunrise is anticlimactic after tearing yourself out of bed
to drive up a pitch-dark mountain. So check the weather report ( 866-944-5025)
the night before to calculate your odds of having clear skies. If you can't get up that
early, come for the sunset which is also beautiful.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Summit Area
Haleakalā's astonishing volcanic landscape so resembles a lunar surface that astronauts
practiced mock lunar walks here before landing on the moon.
Often referred to as the world's largest dormant volcano, the floor of Haleakalā meas-
ures a colossal 7.5 miles wide, 2.5 miles long and 3000ft deep - large enough to swallow
the island of Manhattan. In its prime, Haleakalā reached a height of 12,000ft before wa-
ter erosion carved out two large river valleys that eventually eroded into each other to
form Haleakalā crater. Technically, as geologists like to point out, it's not a true ʻcrater,'
but to sightseers that's all nitpicking. Valley or crater, it's a phenomenal sight like no oth-
er in the US National Park system.
For a real-time view of the summit check out the crater webcam at Haleakalā Crater
Live Camera ( http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/haleakalanew/webcams.shtml ) .
 
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