Haleakalā Sunrise Reservations

Reserve your spot to watch sunrise.

Photo credit: Asa Ellison

Make Your Sunrise Reservation

Since February 1, 2017, visitors in personal or rental vehicles coming up to view sunrise at Haleakalā National Park have been required to make sunrise viewing reservations in advance at recreation.gov.

• Reservations are available online up to 60 days in advance of your sunrise visit on recreation.gov.

• A visitor may only purchase one sunrise reservation per three-day period.

• A small number of last-minute tickets are released online two days beforehand. Last-minute sunrise reservations are released 7:00 AM HST. After the reservations initially released two months in advance sell out, the website will show tickets as "not yet released" until 7:00 AM two days in advance. Please see step-by-step instructions below for help with booking.

• Please note that calling the park directly, or visiting in-person, will not result in a reservation since staff at Haleakalā National Park are unable to make reservations for you.
• For questions, call the recreation.gov hotline at 1-877-444-6777.
• Viewing sunset does not require reservations at this time.

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Please note:

The reservation fee is not part of the entrance fee. Entrance fees will be collected upon entry to the park. Visitors with national park passes, please have your pass and ID ready to present at the gate for entry.

Reservations are only for sunrise and can only be used on the day that was reserved.

Weather is constantly changing at the summit of Haleakalā and we can’t predict whether a sunrise is going to be clear or cloudy. There will be no refunds or exchanging reservations for a different day.

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Step-by-step guidance on booking through recreation.gov:

1. Click Sign In or Sign Up to log in to your account or create a new one
2. Visit the page for sunrise reservations
3. Click the Book Now button under the first tab labeled Tour Park Details. This will take you to the next tab.
4. Click the Enter Date button under "Online** availability."
5. Select the tour date for ticket availability, and enter "1" for number of tickets. Click Find Tour Times.
6. Select the 3:00 AM - 7:00 AM option.
7. Enter the number of vehicles as "1" again.
8. Click Book Tour.
9. Have the permit holder present a valid ID and reservation upon arrival at the park entrance station.

 

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Haleakalā NP Sunrise Reservation System FAQs

Why is the park doing this? To ensure visitor and employee safety, protect natural and cultural resources, and provide a quality visitor experience at the summit during sunrise hours (3:00 AM to 7:00 AM).

When will you start taking reservations? Online reservations can be made now.

How far in advance should I make a reservation? Most sunrise reservations will be available up to two months ahead of time. Sunrise viewing is one of the most popular things to do on Maui so the spots book up quickly. Plan two months ahead and make your online reservations.

What if I am on Maui and did not know about the reservation system? Last-minute tickets are available online two days in advance. Last-minute sunrise reservations are released at 7:00 AM HST. For example, go online on Sunday if you want to make a reservation for Tuesday morning sunrise. The online inventory renews at 7:00 AM every day, but often sells out within fifteen minutes. Tickets are not available the day before, over the phone with the park, or in person.

What does a sunrise reservation cost? $1.00 per vehicle. The person whose name is on the sunrise reservation will need to present a paper copy of the reservation and their photo ID at the entrance station, on the day specified on the reservation.

How do I get into the park for sunrise? Make an online reservation via www.recreation.gov. The person whose name is on sunrise reservation will need to present it, with a photo ID, at the entrance station on the day specified on the reservation. Cars with sunrise reservations will need to display their reservation printouts on their dashboards. Also, be prepared to pay the entrance fee (or use a park pass) on the day of your visit. The entrance fee must be purchased with a credit card.

Do I need a sunrise reservation for any other time of day? No, you only need a sunrise reservation to access the summit during sunrise hours (3:00 AM to 7:00 AM). The sunrise reservation can only be used on the day specified on the reservation itself.

What is the difference between the sunrise reservation and the park entrance fee? The sunrise reservation allows access to the summit district between 3:00 AM and 7:00 AM on one specific day. The entrance fee provides entry into both districts of the park for three days—keep your receipt.

Can my sunrise reservation be used on a day other than the one specified? No. You can only enter the park between 3:00 AM and 7:00 AM on the date specified on your sunrise reservation.

Can my entrance fee be used on any days other than the day I arrive? Your entrance fee is good for three days, starting on the date of first entry, in both park districts. Keep your receipt to show at either entrance station.

Where are the four places to view sunrise? In order from highest to lowest elevation, the four viewpoints are: the Pu`u Ula ula or Red Hill summit (10,023 ft.); Haleakalā Visitor Center (9,740 ft.); Kalahaku Overlook (9,324 ft.); and Leleiwi Overlook (8,840ft). Leleiwi Overlook is accessed via a 10 minute hike from its parking lot. You are not guaranteed access to any specific parking lot; each parking lot will be closed when it is full.

What is the best place to view sunrise? All four overlooks have great views of sunrise over the crater, weather permitting.

 

Can I pick where I want to park or will I be directed to a particular parking lot? You will be directed by park staff to one of four open parking lots. All have great views of sunrise over the crater.

Why can’t we pay the entrance fee online when we buy our parking reservation? The recreation.gov website cannot currently accommodate purchases of both entrance fees and sunrise reservations at this time. If this changes, we may be able to accommodate online entrance pass purchases at a later time.

What if it is too cloudy to see the sunrise? Can I get a refund or exchange my parking reservation for a different day? No, your sunrise reservation is good for one day only. Weather is constantly changing at the summit of Haleakalā and we can’t predict whether a sunrise is going to be clear or cloudy.

Why 3:00 AM to 7:00 AM? This is when many of our visitors enter the summit district to view sunrise and is our busiest time of day there.

I am going to camp at Hosmer Grove (in the summit district) and not go to the sunrise viewing areas. Do I need a sunrise reservation? If you enter the park to camp at Hosmer’s Grove outside of the 3:00 AM to 7:00 AM window and do not travel up to one of the four highest parking lots between 3:00 AM and 7:00 AM, then you do not need a sunrise reservation. Vehicles in the four sunrise viewing parking lots (Pu‘u ‘Ula ‘Ula Summit, Haleakalā Visitor Center, Kalahaku and Leleiwi) between 3:00 AM and 7:00 AM must display their sunrise reservation printouts on their dashboards. In addition, everyone entering the Summit District of the park between 3:00 AM and 7:00 AM must have a sunrise reservation that is displayed on their vehicle dashboards, even if they do not plan on viewing sunrise.

I am going to hike into the crater at Halemau`u and not go to the sunrise viewing areas. Do I need a sunrise reservation? Everyone entering the Summit District of the park between 3:00 AM and 7:00 AM must have a sunrise reservation that is displayed on their vehicle dashboards, even if they do not plan on viewing sunrise. This is due to limited parking throughout the summit area.

Do you have plans to increase parking at the summit? In 2017 and 2018, the park will be developing a long term Sunrise Summit Visitor Management Plan, with public input. Many options to improve the visitor experience will be reviewed during this planning process.

What do we do if we drive up to the park for sunrise without a sunrise reservation? Visitors who come up to the park without a sunrise reservation will not be allowed to enter the summit district until after 7:00 AM They will be directed to turn around at the entrance.

What if I get up to the summit before 3:00 AM and don’t have a sunrise reservation? Will I be told to leave? If you don’t have a sunrise reservation between 3:00 AM and 7:00 AM you will be asked to leave the summit area and you risk being issued a citation.

Do commercial tours need a sunrise reservation? There is no change to the current Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) policy regarding sunrise tours. The new reservation system applies to noncommercial sunrise visitors only. CUA permit holders will continue to follow the procedures and limits required under the park’s Commercial Use Authorization.

Is it better for me to come up on my own or take a commercial tour? It depends on what kind of experience you are looking for and how far ahead of time you can plan your trip. Commercial tours park at Haleakalā Visitor Center, on the rim of the crater just below the summit. Private vehicles can park at one of four lots, as directed by park staff.

Who offers commercial sunrise tours? A list of current Commercial Use Authorizations is available at: https://www.nps.gov/hale/learn/management/currentcua.htm

What about Native Hawaiians who want to conduct cultural traditions at sunrise? Haleakalā National Park welcomes, and waives the entrance fee, for Native Hawaiians who wish to conduct their traditional cultural practices at sunrise or any other time of day under AIRFA, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. There will be no change to the National Park Service’s current policy regarding Kanaka Maoli who wish to conduct traditional cultural practices in the park.

How long will this new system last? This program is a “pilot” program designed to protect employee and visitor safety, natural and cultural resources, and provide a quality visitor experience at the Summit during sunrise hours. In 2017, the park will be developing a long term Sunrise Summit Visitor Management Plan, with public input. The plan is expected to be finalized and implemented in 2019.

How many spaces are available to sunrise visitors at the summit? 150 parking spaces serve the four sunrise viewing areas.

What about educational groups? They will be required to obtain a sunrise reservation via recreation.gov.

What about vehicles with handicap/disabled placards? All non-commercial visitors who comes up for sunrise will need to make an advanced reservation via recreation.gov. We will accommodate visitors with special needs to the best of our ability with our accessible parking spaces.

What if all the disabled spaces are full? Park staff will work with disabled visitors to accommodate their needs.

Can visitors walk or bike up without a reservation? Yes, however we do not recommend that people walk up the summit road since it is dark and crowded at that time of day.

Why are motorcycles charged the same amount as cars? During this interim reservation system, the sunrise viewing reservations are based on the number of parking spaces at the summit.

Under what authority are you allowed to restrict visitors to a national park? 36 CFR Section 1.5 restricts sunrise visitation as an emergency action to protect visitor and staff safety and park resources.