Maui - Hawaii - page 718

Stop at the Park Headquarters Visitor Center to see what talks and programs are on the
day's schedule. All park programs offered by the National Park Service are free. Ranger
talks on Haleakalā's unique natural history and Hawaiian culture are given at the
Haleakalā Visitor Center and the Puʻuʻulaʻula (Red Hill) Overlook; the schedule varies,
but they typically take place between 7am and 1pm, and there are usually half a dozen
daily. On clear nights, stargazing is phenomenal on the mountain. Hour-long evening
stargazing programs are offered in the summer at Hosmer Grove, typically on Friday
nights, depending on staff availability.
A seasonal program schedule can be accessed at the park's website.
GOING DOWNHILL
For years downhill bike tours were heavily promoted. A van ride to Haleakalā sum-
mit for the sunrise was followed by a bicycle cruise 38 miles down the 10,000ft
mountain, snaking along winding roads clear to the coast. What a rush. And no
need to be in shape, since there's no pedaling involved.
But it becametoopopular. Some mornings as many as 1000 cyclists huddled at
the crater overlooks jostling for space to watch the sun rise. Then, group by group,
they'd mount their bikes and take off.
Residents using Upcountry roads were forced to slow to a crawl, waiting for a
gaggle of cyclists and their support van to pull over to let them pass. The narrow
roads have few shoulders, so the wait was often a long one.
Then there were the accidents. Sometimes the weather was bad, with fog cut-
ting visibility to near zero. Ambulance calls for injured cyclists became weekly oc-
currences. After two cyclist fatalities in 2007, Haleakalā National Park suspended
all bicycle tour operations. A compromise now lets the van tours come up for the
sunrise then drive back down to the park's boundary, where the trailers are un-
packed and riders begin a 27-mile cycle to the coast. However, another fatality in
2010 spurred the county to consider restrictions of its own. So, for downhill bike
tours, the road ahead remains a bumpy one.
For a list of park-approved bicycle tour companies offering vehicle tours within
the park and bike rides outside the park, visit the park website ( www.nps.gov/
hale ) .
Hiking
To really experience this amazing place, lace up your hiking boots and step into the belly
of the beast. There's something for everyone, from short nature walks ideal for families
to hardy multiday treks. Those who hike the crater will discover a completely different
angle on Haleakalā's lunar landscape. Instead of peering down from the rim, you'll be