Location: Upcountry Maui and Haleakala

Hosmer Grove Trail is located (just barely) inside Haleakala National Park. At approximately mile marker 10.5 on Highway 378, just after entering the park, you’ll want to turn left to the start of the Hosmer Grove trail.

At about 0.3 miles down the road (on the right) you may notice one of Hawai‘i’s famous sandalwood trees. The sandalwood has a long history in Hawai‘i and was once very precious in China for incense and aromatic woodcarvings. In the 1800s the Pacific sailing-ship trade practically obliterated the Hawaiian sandalwood forests. Today you can still find sandalwood pits in Hawai‘i where the trunks of the trees were stored. The pits were made to resemble the cargo areas of the ships the trees were transported in.

At this same location you’ll also find our feature attraction for this stop, a half-mile-long nature trail that winds through a very intriguing forest of introduced trees not native to Hawai‘i. It was back in 1910 that Ralph Hosmer planted this and other groves of trees like eucalyptus from Australia, sugi pine from Japan, deodar from India, Douglas fir and several species of pine from mainland United States, along with other species in hopes of introducing a timber industry as well as reestablishing the watershed. Today the grove presents the existing and continual dilemma of the struggle between native plants
and introduced species in the Hawaiian Islands. The Haleakala Park Service labors intensively to make sure none of the non-native plants escape the grove, and the native vegetation in the surrounding continues to grow and thrive.

A lot of the trees are labeled on the short walk through the grove. Pick up a brochure at the beginning of the trail that will guide you along. Or print a copy of the brochure and map now by downloading a copy of the NPS Hosmer Grove Brochure.

The Supply Trail also begins on the road that leads to Hosmer Grove. You can read more about that hike on our Supply Trail page.

Location: Upcountry Maui and Haleakala

Halemau'u Trail is located inside Haleakala National Park. At approximately 14.2 miles up Highway 378, you’ll see the parking lot for Halemau‘u Trail. This rather long trail starts at 7,990 feet in the native shrub land ecosystem and leads down into the crater before traversing back up all the way to the summit of Haleakala.

A hiker might choose to do a three mile round trip hike out to the edge of Haleakala's rim and return, or might use this as a starting point for an all day hike to the summit. If you do choose the all day hike, we highly suggest you start at the summit (see below). If you do stop at this location, keep your eyes open for Nene. They are frequently spotted here. For their wellbeing, please do not feed them, even if they beg.

Location: Upcountry Maui and Haleakala

At mile 17.5 on Hwy 378 you’ll want to pull into the parking lot on the right side of the road. The elevation here is around 8,800 feet. Cross the road on foot and take the short trail to the overlook for a panoramic view of the vast crater of Haleakala. Many folks don’t even notice this location because at first glance, even along the trail, it appears nothing is here. Don’t make that mistake!

You’ll notice that the view is very close to a more distant location, the moon. In fact, NASA has used this area for just that purpose. The astronauts that landed on the moon trained here.This gigantic depression is 7.5 miles long (east to west); 2.5 miles wide, and 3,000 feet deep. This crater is so massive that the entire island of Manhattan could fit inside. From the lookout you could gaze at the rooftops of the skyscrapers. You’d swear nothing was here until you hiked down the short trail. Then, suddenly, this scene pops into view before you.

Location: Upcountry Maui and Haleakala

Supply Trail is located inside Haleakala National Park. The Supply Trail starts on the road that leads to Hosmer Grove Trail and winds up through the native sub-alpine shrub land that dominates this elevation of Haleakala.

Despite it’s difficulty, this could be a good chance to closely observe the local plant and wildlife away from the road. The Supply Trail is fairly steeply graded from the start, but becomes even steeper as it approaches the connection with the Halemau‘u Trail at 3.5 miles in. You’ll have park your car in the Hosmer Grove campground walk back along the road to the trailhead sign.