A Day at Haleakalā National Park
Stargazing at Red Hill
Our day began at 2am, starting with a 1.5hr drive up Haleakalā National Park. Thankfully the national park remained open during the government shutdown and we were still able to enjoy our trip as planned.
Our first stop was the summit at Red Hill. Once we got to the parking spot, there were already some like-minded people with similar plans sleeping in their cars. At this stage we were treated with breathtaking views of the night sky including meteor showers. No photo can do it justice. Stargazing above the clouds, on a beautiful moonless night is an experience we’ll never forget.
This is one of my favorite quotes about the importance of “direct experience”
“Modern city-dwellers cannot even see the stars at night. This humbling reminder of man’s place in the greater scheme of things, which human beings formerly saw once every twenty-four hours, is denied them. It’s no wonder that people lose their bearings, that they lose track of who they really are, and what their lives are really about.“–Michael Crichton
Sunrise at Red Hill
Like everyone else, we went back to the car for a quick snooze with alarm set for 6:30am, up in time to witness our Maui summit sunrise. At 10,000ft elevation, Red Hill Summit gives you a 360° view of the dramatic landscape above the clouds. It can get cold fast, warm layers or sleeping bag recommended.
Hiking to the Craters via Sliding Sand Trail
This surreal experience is a must for any healthy individual visiting Maui. The ever changing terrain and sweeping views makes you feel like you are on another planet.
The hike is 11 miles with 3000ft elevation, but in reality it felt much longer and much harder. The air was thin and the trip back up was twice as long and punishing. For the inexperienced hiker, we highly recommend hiking to the first Crater and back, a much more manageable 5 miles.
