Haleakala Crater, Maui, Hawaii

Abstracr Haleakala Crater occupies the summit region of east Maui, Hawaii (Fig, 1). The crater is the center piece of Haleakala National Park and access is via Hawaii 378, a well-marked paved road. The highway parallels the crater rim for 3 mi (5 km), and has several overlooks with parking areas. The crater itself is a Wilderness Area; access is restricted to travel on foot. An extensive system of hiking trails traverses the crater, with access at two points: Sliding Sands Trail leaves Hawaii 378 about 660 ft (200 m) south of the Visitor Center, and Halemauu Trail leaves Ha-waii 378 about 3,2 mi (5.1 km) south of Haleakala National Park Headquarters. As no brief excursions to the crater floor are possible, two options are recommended: (1) a half-day trip, which involves a stop at the Visitor Center for orientation, short walks along trails near the Visitor Center or at Red Hill, and then stops at several crater overlooks on the return drive; and (2) a full-day excursion (8 to 10 hours), which enters the crater via Sliding Sands Trail, travels across the crater floor, and departs via the Halemauu Trail. No drinking water is available in the crater. Park Headquarters should be contacted to obtain trail maps and up-to-date weather information. Accommodation in Haleakala National Park is geared to camping only; no restaurants or food concessions are available. Hosmer Grove Campground is accessible from Hawaii 378, in the northwest corner of the Park. Holua Campground is within the crater and accessible only on foot; users must have a camping permit from the park. Cabins are available within the crater, but these must be reserved by written request (several months in advance, since cabins are allocated by a monthly lottery). It is recommended that persons, especially those planning on overnight trip, write well in advance for more detailed information and maps to the Superintendent, Haleakala National Park, P.O. Box 537, Makawao, Maui, Hawaii 96768.