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Programs

Both areas of the park offer guided walks and programs on the geology and natural and cultural history of the area.

In the Summit Area, 15-20 minute presentations are given daily in the Summit Building at 9:30am, 10:30am, and 11:30am. There is a guided Cinder Desert Hike on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:00am. The hike is two miles and takes about two hours. Meet at the Sliding Sands Trailhead at the end of the Haleakal Visitor Center Parking Lot. In addition there is a guided Waikamoi Cloud Forest Hike on Mondays and Thursdays at 9:00am. This three hour, three mile hike goes through The Nature Conservancy's Waikamoi Preserve. Meet at Hosmer Grove, just inside the park entrance.

At Kipahulu, programs include a one mile hike to the Bamboo Forest at 9:00am daily; half mile hikes or orientation talks at 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, and 3:30pm daily; and a 4 mile round trip hike to Waimoku Falls, Saturdays at 9:30am All programs and hikes begin at the Ranger Station.

Special Events

In the Summit area, special evening star watching programs are conducted in the summer months. Occasionally special all day and half day hikes, three day service trips, or full moon hikes are offered. Check at park headquarters or call (808) 572-9306 for current schedules.

In the Kipahulu area, cultural demonstrations occur occasionally. Check at the ranger station or call (808) 248-7375 for current schedules.

Recommended Activities

Sky watching is a great way to escape the world! Stop at one of the several overlooks on the park road or take a short walk away from the traffic noise to watch the clouds. The visual horizon in many places in the park is up to 115 miles out to sea. Even cloudy skies can offer amazing sights including rainbows, moonbows and halos seen around your shadow. Haleakala offers one of the most easily accessible places to watch planets, stars and moons after dark. Rent a pair of 10x50 or 7x50 binoculars at one of the island dive shops, pick up a star map at park headquarters or Haleakala Visitor Center, and see if you can find the moons of Jupiter.

Sunrise and sunset are both amazing events, but sunrise is more crowded. Arrive at least one half hour before each to watch colors change. A flashlight will come in handy and warm clothes are a must! Good sunset locations include the Halemauu Trail and the Summit. Sunrise can be seen from Leleiwi or Kalahaku Overlooks, the Summit, and Haleakala Visitor Center.

Bird and wildlife watching are great at Haleakala. In fact, Haleakala National Park is one of a few places to see rare Hawaiian forest birds. Walk along Halemauu trail or through Hosmer Grove on your own or join our guided Waikamoi Hike offered on Mondays and Thursdays, from 9:00am until noon at Hosmer Grove. After dark, watch the tree tops on moonlit nights for one of only two native mammals in Hawaii, the peapea, or Hawaiian Hoary bat. On summer nights stop at Leleiwi overlook and listen for the rare Uau, or Dark-Rumped petrel, calling for its mate along the cliffs below. During the winter months watch for Humpback Whales from the porch of the Kipahulu Ranger Station.

Biking on your own can be done on the park road, but not on any trails. Lights are required pre-dawn or after dusk. Helmets are strongly recommended. Gloves and rain gear will make your ride safer and more comfortable. Bikes can be rented on the island.

Skateboarding? Roller blading? Hang gliding? Gravity may tempt you, but for safety and the protection of the park resources, these activities are prohibited anywhere in the park.