Halealakā means “house of the sun” in Hawaiian (hale = house; lā = sun) so it comes as no surprise that watching the sunrise from the summit of the eponymous volcano tops the list of things to do while visiting the National Park. I’ve seen my fair share of spectacular sunrises and in part what makes watching the sunrise from Haleakalā special is the collective nature of the experience, witnessing an event that has doubtlessly changed little since the time when demigod Maui slung his legendary lasso over the sun from that very summit.
I felt like the Last Man, neglected of the judgment, and left pinnacled in mid-heaven, a forgotten relic of a vanished world […] It was the sublimest spectacle I ever witnessed.
Mark Twain, Roughing It, LXXVI
The view has enchanted tourists and travel writers for centuries, and has held deep spiritual significance to cultural Hawaiians for many more generations back. The prospect of watching the sun rise over the unobstructed horizon as it washes the volcanic crater valley below in golden light makes the early morning wake up call and long drive up to the highest point in Maui more than worth it.
Planning for a Haleakalā Sunrise
Watching the Haleakalā Sunrise from 10,000ft
In late November 2023, we followed in the footsteps of countless visitors up the summit of Maui after spending the night camping on the ridge of the volcano at Hosmer Grove. We awoke to a sea of stars piecing through the blackness of a clear night, joining in the queue of car headlights outlining the path of Haleakala Hwy around 5am as we wound upwards to the summit.
Dawn had just begun to break as we pulled into one of the few remaining parking spots. There was still over an hour to wait until the sun itself would make its debut. The temperature hovered in the low 40s°F (4°C) and all around us people crowded together, wrapping beach towels and blankets and anything they could find in their car to keep them warm. We, meanwhile, were warmly dressed in layers and yet still my fingers felt numb as I fumbled around with the camera settings in between sips of hot tea and stuffing them into the pockets of my down jacket. Everyone else must have been freezing.
A rainbow of light appeared on edges of the horizon as the sky slowly warmed from jet black to a deep indigo. As the light arched further towards the firmament, the clouds and waters below slowly came into focus.
To the southeast, the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island were visible rising out of the waters across the Alenuiha’ha Channel.
Finally, the sun first made its appearance as a sliver of white lining the clouds, and within a few minutes had bathed the entire mountain in a warm glow. A ranger began an oli, a traditional Hawaiian chant, to welcome the sun.
And then, it was over. Crowds quickly dispersed but there was still so much more to see. To the west, the crater shadow cast over the entirety of Maui – I found this to be the most magnificent view. The white dome of the observatory began to glow. By the time we had descended to the visitor center the parking lot was emptying. This was going to be our first day in the crater, and we were eager to get started.
Haleakalā Sunrise Logistics & Planning
How to get a reservation to watch the Haleakalā sunrise
Due to the increasing popularity of the sunrise, and limited parking available at and near the summit, entrance to the National Park is by reservation only before 7am. Only 150 vehicles are allowed to enter for sunrise each morning due to parking constraints. Reservations cost $1 per car and are available at recreation.gov.
Your best opportunity to secure an opportunity to watch the sunrise from 10,000ft is when they first become available 60 days in advance. While they can sell out quickly during peak travel times, I have often seen spots available more than a month after release.
The remainder of the allotted reservations are released two days prior at 7am HST. If you are hoping to secure a last minute reservation, you’ll want to be logged into rec.gov and ready to click the button at precisely the right time; these tend to go within seconds. Walk-up reservations are not available.
Campers registered to stay at Hosmer Grove campsite do not require an additional reservation to see the sunrise as the campground is already within the national park boundaries. Camping here the night before is our favorite way to access the sunrise as it shortens the early morning wake-up call and subsequent drive considerably!
Where to park?
There are two parking areas near the summit of Haleakalā. The Pu’u’ula’ula, or Summit Observation Deck, parking lot is located at 10,023 ft and provides the best access to 360° views from the viewing platform. It is only a short walk up a series of paved steps to get to the observation platform. Parking here is limited and fills up early.
If you can’t find a parking spot at the Summit Observation lot, a second larger parking lot is located at the Summit Visitor Center. This parking lot is at lower elevation and has access to restrooms, as well as oversized vehicle parking. Viewing areas from the visitor center are not technically located at the summit proper, but do provide somewhat better views of the crater interior lighting up with the morning sun.
How early should you arrive to watch the sunrise?
You want to arrive at your desired parking lot no later than an hour before sunrise. This gives you time to find a parking spot and walk to a viewing location without feeling rushed. If you are hoping to watch the sunrise from the Summit Observation deck, plan to arrive closer to two hours before sunrise, keeping in mind that there are fewer than three dozen parking spots at the upper lot.
The drive to Haleakalā’s summit from the resort cities of Kahalui or Kehei takes approximately 1.5 – 2 hours in the minimal early morning traffic. If you are prone to altitude sickness or sudden changes in elevation, you should consider stopping at each viewpoint along the way to get out of the vehicle and take a short walk to help you acclimatize to the thinner air.
What to take to the summit for sunrise?
Conditions at the summit will be considerable colder than the weather you’ll have been experiencing elsewhere on the island, due both to the altitude as well as the pre-dawn hour. Even when the forecast for lowland Maui is upwards of 70F (20C), temperatures during the sunrise can be close to freezing (32F or 0C). Winds at the summit can make it feel even colder.
We saw numerous people huddling together in beach towels trying unsuccessfully to get warm. By comparison, we were still somewhat cold in our wool base layers underneath down jackets. Fortunately, we had pockets to put our hands since we didn’t bring gloves. Do not be caught unprepared! If you are planning to watch the sunrise at Haleakalā, pack warm layers. It WILL be colder than you expect it to be during your Hawaiian vacation.
You should take:
- Sunrise permit and photo ID. You will need to show confirmation of your sunrise reservation using your email confirmation. Cell service is limited at the summit, so take a screenshot of your reservation when you’re still in range. The permit holder will also need to show photo ID
- America the Beautiful Park Pass. A Haleakalā sunrise permit does not cover the entrance fee into the national park. An Interagency Pass covers the fee for your entire vehicle not only at Haleakalā National Park, but all over National Parks as well as other public lands for at least an entire year. Without a pass, the entrance fee is $30 per vehicle payable in advance for at the gate with a debit or credit card.
- Warm layers. Seriously. It is cold at the summit in the dark. Take a jacket, wear a sweater, bring a hat. It’s hard to enjoy the beauty of the sunrise if you’re shivering at the summit.
- Breakfast. There is no food for purchase anywhere with in the National Park, so if you get hungry you are in for a long drive back to the lowlands. Plan ahead and bring some breakfast snacks with you to wait out the sun. If you own a Jetboil, take it with you to the summit! There is really nothing better than having a nice hot cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate at the summit of a Hawaiian volcano as you watch the sunrise over the horizon.
- Camping chairs (optional). If you arrive early enough to get a premium parking spot at the Pu’u’ula’ula parking lot, you’ll be waiting a while for the main event. We found that sitting in camping chairs provided several benefits: 1) it meant we didn’t have to stand in the cold the entire time 2) it provided us with a built-in buffer from people crowding around and 3) by watching the sunrise from a comfortable seated position it gave the people behind us a better viewing experience since they could easily see over our heads.
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What to do after sunrise?
After watching the sunrise from the summit, there is still so much more to explore in Haleakalā National Park! Take a day-hike into the crater via the the Sliding Sands Trail or Haleamau’u Trail or go birdwatching at Hosmer’s Grove.
Looking for information about extended trips in to Haleakalā? Read our complete guide and trip reports for Backpacking in Haleakalā National Park
Have you experienced sunrise at Haleakalā Summit or have questions about an upcoming trip? Leave us a comment!