Haleakala National Park
Makawao, HI 96768
Phone: (808) 572-4400
09/04/2007 Posted by btydew
Breathtaking! Spectacular! Mysterious! Spiritual! The drive up is fun and lovely - watch out for free-roaming cows! Yes, you take your chances about the weather up there. I have been very happy to have packed 4 or 5 layers of winter clothes (no matter the season,) and I have been sleeveless at the summit, as well. Bring lots of layers, lots of film or an empty digital card with full camera bettery, because you will need them! I recommend taking the Pony Express 4 hour ride down into the crater. The views are spell-binding, the guides very knowlegable, and you will never forget this trip. Pony Express also takes good care of their horses. If you are there for sunset, you will be lucky if there are clouds below. Put yourself between the sun and the clouds to see a very unusual sight - a rainbow surrounding your shadow! This is way cool! Yes, there are times when it is too cloudy up there to see anything, and it is true that the weather down below may be cloudy and even rainy, but crystal clear on top of the mountain. This is part of the fun! In any case, the sun and clouds play with the amazing colors of the soil up there. Do take the time to stop at the lookouts. Plan on spending 1/2 day at least to get everything this park has to offer. I try to avoid the morning crowds. All of those bike riders in the middle of the mountain road - just too dangerous for my taste. When it is clear, you can see for miles and miles. This is not to be missed, in my opinion. Aloha!
Pros: The view, the view, the view! Also very clean restrooms.
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