Experiencing the Haleakala Sunrise: Everything You Need to Know

Experiencing sunrise on Haleakala is actually the most popular tourist activity on Maui, and yet it’s also one of the most restricted things to do. Being up at one of the highest points in the Hawaiian Islands just watching the sun break through the layers of clouds as the shadows climb, it’s very special. There are some things to know before you just get up early to drive up Haleakala for sunrise though.

We have all the information for how you can do the Haleakala sunrise experience and tips for enjoying the National Park following first light. If this is on your Hawaii bucket list, I know you’ll want to read on set yourself up for success. If you have any questions about doing sunrise on Haleakala or anything else about this beautiful mountain, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a memorable Aloha trip.

Is Sunrise at Haleakala Worth It?

There are lots of iconic experience you hear about when people talk about visiting Maui or just Hawaii in general. Whether it’s driving the Road to Hana and enjoying the black sand beach of Waianapanapa State Park or if they had a great time doing the hike to the Keanakako’i Overlook for erupting lava in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, sunrise at Haleakala always ends up being on this list. Is getting up at 4:00 in the morning and driving the winding road up the volcano worth it? Absolutely!

I love to be awake before sunrise, but when you’re watching the sunrise at Haleakala it feels very different from watching it at sea level. The sun seems to pierce through the clouds on the horizon, like it’s been caged. Something about watching it ascend, the cold air blowing on your face, and the howling wind.. it’s just so very dramatic. Once the sun is up, you can walk around the summit to the western side and watch the shadow of Haleakala shrink as it reveals the West Maui Mountains and Kihei below. It’s all just beautiful and feels like you’ve been a part of Hawaii itself waking up. I love it.

Tips for a Great Haleakala Sunrise Experience

Although sunrise may not be until 7:00 am (winter solstice tends to be this late) or happening at its earliest around 5:45 am, you’ll still want to begin your day around 4:00 am or so. The drive up Haleakala is a slow one, full of tight curves and you’ll need to be very careful and aware. When you get to the top of the mountain, if you weren’t one of the first ones to begin the drive up, you won’t get parking at the summit observation point. THAT’S OKAY, but the peak of sunrise viewing and the morning Hawaiian blessing happens up here at the top. It’s THE best place to be for the complete Haleakala sunrise experience.

If you’re concerned about getting to the summit of Haleakala and not finding parking at the tip top, there is a huge parking lot at the Visitor Center just below and you’ll be able to walk up from there. As sunrise approaches and everyone really starts to gather up at the observation point, you can be inside or outside. Inside is fine and you’ll be much more warm, but outside is amazing and it’s truly part of the experience. Also being outside gives you an unfiltered view of the clouds and sun as this magical morning unfolds in front of you. It can be a little crowded at the front, but people are very peaceful about it and everyone just is kind and respectful as they share space.

Note: if you were not able to get a parking space at the top and don’t want to walk up from the lower parking lot, you can watch the sunrise from the rim and visitor center and it’s still beautiful. The thing about being up at the uppermost observation point is that it’s SO MUCH HIGHER and you’ll actually have a view beyond the edge of the Haleakala crater off towards the Pacific Ocean and the sunrise when it breaks the horizon.

Being Prepared for Sunrise at Haleakala

Don’t just show up at the Summit of Haleakala for sunrise wearing your beach clothes and a smile. With pre-dawn temperatures often being in the high 30s or low 40s and then a windchill on top of that, the early morning hour on top of the volcano can be absolutely chilling. You’ll need to be dressed in layers, and for sure you’ll want to wear pants and a jacket. I also usually have gloves and a stocking cap because it can be so cold. Some people do sunrise at Haleakala wrapped in blankets, letting the wind blast them. Just be smart about staying warm so that you can enjoy your experience as much as possible.

When it comes to photographing sunrise at Haleakala, there are a few ways to go about it. You could set up a tripod if you thought you needed it, but a lot of people would like to be at the front of the observation point and taking up a much larger chunk of real estate isn’t the most kind thing you can do. I recommend using a small tripod for your phone if you want to capture a time lapse of the sunrise, and then just be ready to hold your camera steady if you’ve brough a DSLR or mirrorless with a big lens. There is definitely value in bringing a good camera with a big lens, but don’t make it into something that negatively impacts others’ experience.

Reservations for Sunrise at Haleakala

Yes, access into Haleakala National Park is restricted before 7:00 am every day. There are three ways that you can do sunrise at Haleakala: reserve your entry through Recreation.gov, reserve camping at Hosmer Grove within the National Park, or book a sunrise group tour. We all have different travel styles and budgets, so choose the option that works best for you.

My pick is to either camp at Hosmer Grove (the Kipahulu Campground does NOT grant you sunrise access) or secure a vehicle entry reservation. I pick this for our Haleakala sunrise experiences because it keeps us in control of our day and afford us the flexibility of what else we want to do while we’re still in the National Park.

Tour Options for doing Sunrise at Haleakala

There are quite a few tours available to experience sunrise at Haleakala National Park, whether you just want to be up there or if you want to make it into an adventure. Whether you’re staying in Kihei, Wailea, Kahului or Lahaina, there are options. Haleakala sunrise tours are not cheap because they include transportation, the driver guide, usually some sort of refreshments, and then either additional stops after sunrise or a biking adventure.

Yes! Biking down from the summit of Haleakala is one of the most popular tourist activities on all of Maui. If that’s what you pick for doing a sunrise trip, you’ll be picked up from your hotel very early and brought to the summit. After sunrise you’ll be set up with your bike and gear and then either go all the way back down the mountain with your guide or you’ll be given a time to meet back up with the tour, usually in the town of Makawao. Really, consider all of the options and weigh them out based on the amount of time they take, the inclusions and then level of activity you’ll have.

Here are some highly rated tour options for the sunrise experience:

• Group Haleakala Sunrise Tour
• Small Group Sunrise Tour – from West Side
• Self-guided Bike Tour w/ Sunrise
• Guided Bike Tour w/ Sunrise