A Wilderness Experience

If you are prepared for a hike, the Wilderness is open to you. You may choose to spend a few hours enjoying the solitude and open space on a day hike, or you may want to plan an overnight backpack trip where you can share a temporary home with the Hawaiian species that thrive here.

An Encounter With Native Hawaii

Have you ever seen a native Hawaiian honeycreeper? Heard the haunting call of a Hawaiian dark-rumped petrel? Noticed the thin pink lines on the creamy petels of the nohoanu (Hawaiian Geranium)? Been surrounded by a truely Hawaiian ecosystem? A visit to the Summit Area may provide you with these experiences and many more.

A Tropical Adventure... or A Brush With History?

Streams, waterfalls, rocky coastlines, and lush vegetation greet you when you arrive in the Kipahulu Area of the park. But the attentive visitor will notice that aside from the natural beauty, there are many layers of history to experience here where Hawaiians have interacted with the land for hundreds of years.

An Explosion of Stars

Have you seen the Milky Way? Have you seen it so bright that you swear you could reach out and touch it? The summit of Haleakala is one of the best places in the world to observe the night sky. The park is open 24-hours a day so you can experience the wonder of a clear, high-elevation sky. Don't forget to dress for freezing temperatures!

A Ranger-Guided Discovery

Each day in the summit area, park staff provide talks to help visitors grasp the wild high-elevation world at the top of the mountain. Twice a week, visitors can join park staff on a guided hike to experience a rarely-seen ecosystem. Staff are always available during Visitor Center hours to help inquiring minds get the most out of their visit.

Click here to view some activity ideas. (99KB PDF)