In 1916, Hawai'i Volcanoes and Haleakalā were a volcanic wonderland combined into a single Hawai'i National Park. Haleakalā was separated in 1961 into its own national park on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Haleakalā National Park is both a lush, green paradise and a colorful, high-altitude, landscape of cinder cones and lava flows. Waterfalls plunge like long, white tresses over jaw-dropping heights into pools surrounded by tropical vegetation. Rare birds found nowhere else in the world flit from tree to tree, adorning the branches like gems in a tiara.

In this national park, you can hike through a forest “canyon” of spindly bamboo growing over 25 feet tall, gaze out upon sweeping ocean vistas, and watch what many call an “otherworldly” sunrise over Haleakalā crater before hiking down into that volcanic heart to discover life on the cinder plain, including the rare Haleakalā silversword.

Hawaiian for “house of the sun,” Haleakalā (huh·lay·ah·kuh·lah) is divided into two districts - Summit District and Kīpahulu District, each as distinct from each other as night from day. As the crow flies, these districts are separated by only 12 miles (19.3 km). To get from one district visitor center to the other, however, it’s about a 3-hour, 79-mile (127 km) drive along the narrow, winding Hāna Highway, with its hairpin turns and one-way bridges.

There’s plenty to do within the two districts. You can hike over 30 miles (48.3 km) of trails leading you through lush tropical forests and past sparkling waterfalls, or across a colorful and barren volcanic landscape dotted with cinder cones and a sprinkling of rare silversword. Bring your binoculars or telephoto lens to try and spot one or more of Hawaii’s endemic bird species: the rare nēnē (Hawaii’s state bird), the 'ua'u (Hawaiian petrel), and any one of only six remaining forest bird species. Arise at dark-thirty to view a sunrise at Haleakalā volcano summit (you’ll need a reservation for this), stick around to observe a fiery Pacific sunset, and remain at the summit past your bedtime to behold the Milky Way while enjoying a little star gazing. Ranger-led programs introduce visitors to Hawaii’s culture and stories as well as to this national park’s geology and ecosystems.

You might want to indulge in a side trip or two outside Haleakalā National Park. You can book a tour to go whale watching, take a surfing lesson, relax on the beach, go snorkeling, tour a pineapple farm, do a little shopping while checking out the arts community of Makawao, or enjoy the sights, sounds, and taste of a luau dinner and show.

While driving the Hāna Highway toward the Kīpahulu District, make sure to stop at the remote town of Hāna (population 731 as of 2022) along the way. Once a sugar cane plantation, this town is now considered one of the last unspoiled Hawaiian frontiers, according to gohawaii.com.

If you’ve never traveled to this national park, you’ll need to do a little planning. The pages below will help you prepare for your trip and provide ideas of where to stay and what to see. You might even learn something new.

Traveler’s Choice For: geology, birding, photography, hiking