Sunset at 10,000 Feet - Haleakala

​Sunset at 10,000 Feet – Haleakala
 
Picture from February 13, 2026
 
We have been up to the summit of Haleakala a few times, mostly for sunrises. This trip to Maui we decided on the sunset version. While it did not disappoint, the sunrise views is definitely more spectacular. Sunrise requires a reservation to arrive between 3am and 7am and you will need to leave your accommodations early because the summit parking fills up fast and it is about 1 hour to reach the summit from Kahului.
Haleakala in the Hawaiian language means “House of the Sun”. It is a sacred place in the Hawaiian culture, deep in spiritual, cultural and historic importance. It is easy to see why it is the “House of the Sun” as it may be shrouded in clouds at sea level but once you get to the top 10,000 feet up it is clear (and much colder) providing extensive views of Maui and sometimes the big island of Hawaii.
On this trip we found an excellent place to stop and eat in Kula before going to the top. The Kula Bistro is a short detour from the path up to the summit but well worth the ten or fifteen minute drive. I had a prime rib sandwich and Shelly had the blackened Mahi. Both were delicious. Service was great and there is this young lady who sang a unique and interesting birthday song to the lady behind us.
 
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