Do you have any idea how long it would take us to get from Kahului to the top of Haleakala in order to watch the sunrise?
Actually, if you want to get to the summit AND have parking, you should leave at 3:00 am. We left from Kahului at 3:30 am and made it to the summit about an hour before sunrise, and the lot at the summit was full about 5 minutes after we arrived. If the lot is full, you have to park about a quarter mile down from the summit and walk up...at 10,000 feet. Feels like miles at that altitude. You can see the lower parking lot in the background on the right in the pic below.
Haleakala summit parking lot about an hour before sunrise. All full.
Packed
.We are going to the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island to watch the sunset over the island.
We did Mauna Kea for sunset last year. Amazing! If you're driving, the drive DOWN from the summit is NO JOKE! Also, go early and walk out to Lake Waiau, it's near the summit at Mauna Kea. Very special and highly spiritual Native Hawaiian site.
Also, Halema`uma`u Crater at night is AMAZING!
As we have never previously been to Maui, any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Get the app Maui Revealed. Best $8 you will spend. I also recommend Waimoku Falls. It's only a 2 mile hike to get to a 400 foot waterfall. it does require a 3 hour drive from Kaanapali. Make a day of driving out there (it's past Hana). There are a TON of sights, waterfalls, and photo ops on the Hana Highway.
