Maui - Hawaii - page 716

The observation deck also provides an ideal angle for viewing both the Koʻolau Gap
and the Kaupo Gap on Haleakalā's crater rim. On a clear day you'll be able to see the
Big Island's Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, Hawaii's highest mountaintops.
Between May and October the ʻuaʻu (Hawaiian dark-rumped petrel) nests in burrows
in the cliff face. Even if you don't spot the birds, you can often hear the parents and
chicks making their unique clucking sounds. Of the 6000 to 11,000 ʻuaʻu remaining
today, more than 1000 nest at Haleakalā, where they lay just one egg a year. These
seabirds were thought to be extinct until re-sighted here in the 1970s.
A short trail below the parking lot leads to a field of native silversword (ʻahinahina),
ranging from seedlings to mature plants. On a dangerous curve, the overlook can only be
accessed while descending the mountain.
Haleakalā Visitor Center TOURIST INFORMATION
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( www.nps.gov/hale ; 6am-3pm) Perched on the rim of the crater, at a 9745ft elevation,
this small visitor center is the park's main viewing spot. The ever-changing interplay of
sun, shadow and clouds reflecting on the crater's interior creates a mesmerizing dance of
light and color. The center has displays on Haleakalā's volcanic origins and details about
the crater floor 3000ft below. Nature talks are given, and books on Hawaiian culture and
the environment are for sale. You can also buy a copy of the National Geographic
Haleakalā trail map here for $11.95.
By dawn the parking lot fills with people coming to see the sunrise show, and it pretty
much stays packed all day. There are drinking fountains and restrooms here.
Leave the crowds behind by taking the 10-minute hike up Pa Kaʻoao (White Hill),
which begins at the east side of the visitor center and provides stunning crater views.
Puʻuʻulaʻula (Red Hill) Overlook VIEWPOINT
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Congratulations! The 37-mile drive from sea level to the 10,023ft summit of Haleakalā
you've just completed is the highest elevation gain in the shortest distance anywhere in
the world. You've passed through as many ecological zones as you would have on a
drive from central Mexico to Alaska.
Perched atop Puʻuʻulaʻula, Maui's highest point, the summit building provides a top-
of-the-world panorama from its wraparound windows. On a clear day you can see the
Big Island, Lanaʻi, Molokaʻi and even Oʻahu. When the light's right, the colors of the
crater from the summit are nothing short of spectacular, with an array of grays, greens,