Maui - Hawaii - page 722

ange legs and a curved salmon-colored bill. The ʻapapane, a fast-moving bird with a
black bill, black legs and a white undertail, feeds on the nectar of ohia flowers, and its
wings make a distinctive whirring sound.
Cycling & Mountain Biking
For experienced mountain bikers, Halea-kalā's Skyline Trail , which starts near Science
City, is the ultimate wild ride, plunging some 3000ft in the first 6 miles with a breathtak-
ing 10% grade. The trail starts out looking like the moon and ends up in a cloud forest of
redwood and cypress trees that resembles California's northern coast. The route follows a
rough 4WD road that's used to maintain Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area. At press
time, a new fence was going up below Science City; open the gate to continue on the trail
then close it behind you. Equip yourself with full pads, use a proper downhill bike and
watch that you don't run any hikers down. Crater Cycles Hawaii MAP GOOGLE MAP (
893-2020; www.cratercycleshawaii.com ; 358 Papa Pl, Kahului; downhill bikes per day $85, road
bike per day $65; 9am-5pm Mon-Sat) rents out quality full-suspension downhill bikes,
complete with helmet, pads and a map, for the Skyline ride. A roof rack is $5. Check the
Crater Cycle website for more details.
One-way downhill group cycle tours are no longer allowed to cycle within the park,
though they do offer tours that begin pedaling just below park boundaries. Another op-
tion? Rent a bicycle and head here on your own. Individual cyclists are allowed to pedal
their way up and down the mountain without restriction. Up is a real quad buster. If you
prefer to do it just downhill, most bicycle rental companies also rent out racks for trans-
porting the bike.
Sleeping
To spend the night at Haleakalā is to commune with nature. The camping options are
primitive: no electricity or showers. Backcountry campgrounds have pit toilets and lim-
ited nonpotable water supplies that are shared with the crater cabins. Water needs to be
filtered or chemically treated before drinking; conserve it, as water tanks occasionally
run dry. Fires are allowed only in grills, and in times of drought are prohibited entirely.
You must pack in all your food and supplies and pack out all your trash. And remember,
sleeping at an elevation of 7000ft isn't like camping on the beach. You need to be well
equipped - without a waterproof tent and a winter-rated sleeping bag, forget it.
Camping
Hosmer Grove Campground CAMPGROUND