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Upcountry Maui and Haleakala Region
Location: Upcountry Maui and Haleakala
The Haleakala National Park ranges through five distinctly different climates zones. The road to the Haleakala summit, known as the Haleakala Highway, holds the world record for climbing to the highest elevation in the shortest distance of 38 miles. The dormant volcano's vast moon-like crater floor with its towering cinder cones is an incredible wonder of Maui.
From the 10,023 foot summit, the Big Island of Hawaii can be seen off in the distance, usually with a peak or two poking above the clouds. One mile inside the park is the Visitors Center. In front of the Center, the rare Silversword can be viewed. This is a threatened species of plant that only grows above 6,000 feet. The plant can live for up to 50 years and blooming ends its lifecycle. Read more on our Silverswords of Hawaii article.
So what does Haleakala National Park have to offer as you head up Highway 378 towards the summit? Let's take a Mile by Mile look up the highway.
The Haleakala National Park ranges through five distinctly different climates zones. The road to the Haleakala summit, known as the Haleakala Highway, holds the world record for climbing to the highest elevation in the shortest distance of 38 miles. The dormant volcano's vast moon-like crater floor with its towering cinder cones is an incredible wonder of Maui.
From the 10,023 foot summit, the Big Island of Hawaii can be seen off in the distance, usually with a peak or two poking above the clouds. One mile inside the park is the Visitors Center. In front of the Center, the rare Silversword can be viewed. This is a threatened species of plant that only grows above 6,000 feet. The plant can live for up to 50 years and blooming ends its lifecycle. Read more on our Silverswords of Hawaii article.
So what does Haleakala National Park have to offer as you head up Highway 378 towards the summit? Let's take a Mile by Mile look up the highway.
Location: Upcountry Maui and Haleakala
The summit area of Haleakala National Park has over 30 miles (48 km) of hiking trails. Trails range from just 10 minutes to long overnight trips. You might hike in the native shrubland, looking for native forest birds and endemic plants, or in the aeolian cinder desert, exploring the geologic history of the summit. Here are a few of the highlights.
Pa Kaoao Trail
This short trail (less than .5 mile round trip) leads to the top of Pa Kaoao, a small cinder cone. The trail offers one of the highest vantage points in the park and gives spectacular views of the wilderness of the volcano. Stone shelters built by the early Hawaiians that explored Haleakala long ago are still visible from the trail. The trail starts just outside of the House of the Sun Visitor Center at 9,740 feet.
The summit area of Haleakala National Park has over 30 miles (48 km) of hiking trails. Trails range from just 10 minutes to long overnight trips. You might hike in the native shrubland, looking for native forest birds and endemic plants, or in the aeolian cinder desert, exploring the geologic history of the summit. Here are a few of the highlights.
Pa Kaoao Trail
This short trail (less than .5 mile round trip) leads to the top of Pa Kaoao, a small cinder cone. The trail offers one of the highest vantage points in the park and gives spectacular views of the wilderness of the volcano. Stone shelters built by the early Hawaiians that explored Haleakala long ago are still visible from the trail. The trail starts just outside of the House of the Sun Visitor Center at 9,740 feet.
Location: Upcountry Maui and Haleakala
This trail is definitely not an easy hike, but it does come highly recommended as a good, if not the best, hike for the Haleakala summit area. The extremely strenuous trail descends 2,800 feet in the first 4 miles to the valley floor. The Keoneheehee (Sliding Sands) Trail starts at the bulletin board by the entrance to the Haleakala Visitor Center parking lot. For a good half-day (and yet still moderately strenuous) hike, we recommend the first 2.5 miles of the trail to the Ka Lu‘u o ka O‘o cinder cone before turning around and taking the trail back out. The round trip is a 5-mile trek, and given the elevation, it’ll feel like it’s longer. The final climb back up Haleakala’s Crater Rim will also be more than enough hike for one day. Total elevation gain/loss between the trail head and the cinder cone is approximately 1,400ft.
This trail is definitely not an easy hike, but it does come highly recommended as a good, if not the best, hike for the Haleakala summit area. The extremely strenuous trail descends 2,800 feet in the first 4 miles to the valley floor. The Keoneheehee (Sliding Sands) Trail starts at the bulletin board by the entrance to the Haleakala Visitor Center parking lot. For a good half-day (and yet still moderately strenuous) hike, we recommend the first 2.5 miles of the trail to the Ka Lu‘u o ka O‘o cinder cone before turning around and taking the trail back out. The round trip is a 5-mile trek, and given the elevation, it’ll feel like it’s longer. The final climb back up Haleakala’s Crater Rim will also be more than enough hike for one day. Total elevation gain/loss between the trail head and the cinder cone is approximately 1,400ft.
Location: Upcountry Maui and Haleakala
About half a mile beyond mile marker 8 you’ll find our next stop on the mauka side of the road, Kula Botanical Gardens. Kula Botanical Gardens is home to nearly 2,000 species of indigenous Hawaiian flora and fauna. The true king of this garden is the showy protea. Established in 1968 by Warren and Helen McCord as a display garden for Warren's landscape architecture business, the garden has evolved into a tourist destination that draws thousands of visitors every year. We continue to be an entirely family owned and operated business and take pride in sharing our garden with you.
The garden is located on the slopes of Haleakala and encompasses 8 acres of colorful and unique plants, amazing rock formations, a covered bridge, waterfalls, koi pond, aviary and new attractions including the carved tiki exhibit. Kula Botanical Garden has hundreds of varieties of plants for you to enjoy and photograph. Plants are labeled with their botanical name, common name, and country of origin. Included in the garden is a collection of native Hawaiian plants. Children especially will enjoy the Jackson Chameleon exhibit, Nene geese, African Cranes, and Aviary.
About half a mile beyond mile marker 8 you’ll find our next stop on the mauka side of the road, Kula Botanical Gardens. Kula Botanical Gardens is home to nearly 2,000 species of indigenous Hawaiian flora and fauna. The true king of this garden is the showy protea. Established in 1968 by Warren and Helen McCord as a display garden for Warren's landscape architecture business, the garden has evolved into a tourist destination that draws thousands of visitors every year. We continue to be an entirely family owned and operated business and take pride in sharing our garden with you.
The garden is located on the slopes of Haleakala and encompasses 8 acres of colorful and unique plants, amazing rock formations, a covered bridge, waterfalls, koi pond, aviary and new attractions including the carved tiki exhibit. Kula Botanical Garden has hundreds of varieties of plants for you to enjoy and photograph. Plants are labeled with their botanical name, common name, and country of origin. Included in the garden is a collection of native Hawaiian plants. Children especially will enjoy the Jackson Chameleon exhibit, Nene geese, African Cranes, and Aviary.
Location: Upcountry Maui and Haleakala
This 1.6 mile trail starts above Polipoli Springs State Park on the skyline switchback at 6,550 feet elevation and works down the crest of the southwest rift of Haleakala past the Plum Trail junction to the lower forest reserve boundary at 5,600 feet elevation. Much of this trail is not forested and there are many spectacular views in all directions.
This 1.6 mile trail starts above Polipoli Springs State Park on the skyline switchback at 6,550 feet elevation and works down the crest of the southwest rift of Haleakala past the Plum Trail junction to the lower forest reserve boundary at 5,600 feet elevation. Much of this trail is not forested and there are many spectacular views in all directions.
Location: Upcountry Maui and Haleakala
Right before mile marker 9 on Highway 377, mauka side, you’ll see the turn off for Waipoli Road. Waipoli Road includes several switch backs up the side of Haleakala to Polipoli Springs State Park, an infrequently visited but very beautiful state park on Maui.
Polipoli Springs State Park is located around 6,200 feet above sea level in the Kula Forest Reserve and encompasses nearly ten-acres of recreational area. This Upcountry park offers amazing views of both Maui below and the neighboring islands of Lana‘i and Kaho‘olawe. The towering trees, mature forest of redwoods, and other exotic native vegetation species such as plum, cypress, sugi, and ash are the highlights of the park. Several trails are also available.
Right before mile marker 9 on Highway 377, mauka side, you’ll see the turn off for Waipoli Road. Waipoli Road includes several switch backs up the side of Haleakala to Polipoli Springs State Park, an infrequently visited but very beautiful state park on Maui.
Polipoli Springs State Park is located around 6,200 feet above sea level in the Kula Forest Reserve and encompasses nearly ten-acres of recreational area. This Upcountry park offers amazing views of both Maui below and the neighboring islands of Lana‘i and Kaho‘olawe. The towering trees, mature forest of redwoods, and other exotic native vegetation species such as plum, cypress, sugi, and ash are the highlights of the park. Several trails are also available.
Location: Upcountry Maui and Haleakala
At approximately mile marker 18.7 on Highway 378, turn left onto a short road and drive to the parking area. The rim overlook, at 9,324 feet, provides another superb view of the crater floor. At one time, Haleakala likely resembled Mauna Loa on the Big Island with its pointed top. But as Haleakala’s eruptions diminished and erosion in the early valleys of Keanae (Ko‘olau Gap) on the north and Kaupo (on the south) began, they nearly almost merged together near the volcano’s summit, splitting Haleakala in two.
At approximately mile marker 18.7 on Highway 378, turn left onto a short road and drive to the parking area. The rim overlook, at 9,324 feet, provides another superb view of the crater floor. At one time, Haleakala likely resembled Mauna Loa on the Big Island with its pointed top. But as Haleakala’s eruptions diminished and erosion in the early valleys of Keanae (Ko‘olau Gap) on the north and Kaupo (on the south) began, they nearly almost merged together near the volcano’s summit, splitting Haleakala in two.
Location: Upcountry Maui and Haleakala
Near mile marker 10 on Highway 37 you’ll find a sign on the mauka side informing you of our next stop, the Enchanting Floral Gardens. The Enchanting Floral Gardens in Kula has eight acres of walking tours displaying over 1,500 species of tropical and semi-tropical plants and flowers from around the world. The more you stroll up the path the more rewarding it is.
The garden has a wide variety of exotic flowers such as proteas, orchids, hibiscus, jade vines and a variety of fruit trees. Some have complained the gardens are not maintained well, but overall we were pleased with it and found the price of $5 (per adult) reasonable.
It's a nice stop on a day trip to Haleakala or just when visiting up-country Maui. We also recommend Kula Botanical Gardens, located in the same vicinity.
Near mile marker 10 on Highway 37 you’ll find a sign on the mauka side informing you of our next stop, the Enchanting Floral Gardens. The Enchanting Floral Gardens in Kula has eight acres of walking tours displaying over 1,500 species of tropical and semi-tropical plants and flowers from around the world. The more you stroll up the path the more rewarding it is.
The garden has a wide variety of exotic flowers such as proteas, orchids, hibiscus, jade vines and a variety of fruit trees. Some have complained the gardens are not maintained well, but overall we were pleased with it and found the price of $5 (per adult) reasonable.
It's a nice stop on a day trip to Haleakala or just when visiting up-country Maui. We also recommend Kula Botanical Gardens, located in the same vicinity.
Location: Upcountry Maui and Haleakala
After leaving the Haleakala National Park Visitor Center at mile marker 20.5 on Hwy 378, you’ll definitely want to head up to the summit. Turn left out of the visitor center parking lot and at mile marker 21 you’ll come to another intersection. You’ll want to take a right to reach the parking lot for the summit (the left road takes you to visit Science City and the observatories, but they are off limits to the public).
The summit parking lot is built in the shallow crater of Pu‘u ‘Ula‘ula (Red Hill). This should not be confused with Pa Ka’oao or "white hill" which is located below near the Visitor Center. Before you walk up the ramp to the summit look around you and observe some of Pele’s fiery missiles. These chunks of lava were catapulted through the air during eruptions and hardened on their trip to the ground. The largest chunk is roughly four to five feet across.
After leaving the Haleakala National Park Visitor Center at mile marker 20.5 on Hwy 378, you’ll definitely want to head up to the summit. Turn left out of the visitor center parking lot and at mile marker 21 you’ll come to another intersection. You’ll want to take a right to reach the parking lot for the summit (the left road takes you to visit Science City and the observatories, but they are off limits to the public).
The summit parking lot is built in the shallow crater of Pu‘u ‘Ula‘ula (Red Hill). This should not be confused with Pa Ka’oao or "white hill" which is located below near the Visitor Center. Before you walk up the ramp to the summit look around you and observe some of Pele’s fiery missiles. These chunks of lava were catapulted through the air during eruptions and hardened on their trip to the ground. The largest chunk is roughly four to five feet across.
Location: Upcountry Maui and Haleakala
Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Park is a small roadside park in Keokea (makai) between mile markers 18 and 19. It is about 2,400 feet above the south Maui coast and scenic views here are excellent.
Who was Sun Yat-Sen? Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (1866-1925) was a revolutionary in China and a political leader who was often referred to as the “father of modern China.” Yat-Sen served as the first provisional president when the Republic of China was founded in 1912, after the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty a year before. The ‘Ulupalakua ranch donated the land for the park in 1989. Today the park features a bronze statue of Yat-Sen along with a few other memorial statues.
Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Park is a small roadside park in Keokea (makai) between mile markers 18 and 19. It is about 2,400 feet above the south Maui coast and scenic views here are excellent.
Who was Sun Yat-Sen? Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (1866-1925) was a revolutionary in China and a political leader who was often referred to as the “father of modern China.” Yat-Sen served as the first provisional president when the Republic of China was founded in 1912, after the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty a year before. The ‘Ulupalakua ranch donated the land for the park in 1989. Today the park features a bronze statue of Yat-Sen along with a few other memorial statues.
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