While watching the sunrise on Haleakala is a Maui tradition, many people flinch at the idea of getting up in the middle of the night to drive up the volcano in time for the sun to appear. A lesser-known activity is to be at the crater for sunset! Unlike at sunrise, reservations are not needed if you go in the evening. And there's something magical about watching the colors of the sky fade into black as the twinkling lights of small towns below appear. Pack a picnic dinner and make an evening of it!
• At this time, there are no reservations required to enter the park in the evening.
• Plan for it to take at least an hour to drive to and from the condo, and get there in plenty of time to get parking.
• While watching the sunset is a much warmer experience than watching the sunrise, you will still want to bring warm layers.
• There are restrooms at the summit, but no option for food. If you want to do a picnic on top of a volcano, bring a meal packed in the cooler we provide or leave enough time to pop into Kula Bistro to order a take-out meal on your way up the volcano.
• Plan to stay on the top for a while after the sunset, as the colors may richen and provide amazing silhouette photography opportunities!
• Always be aware of weather conditions and check the National Park website for any alerts before heading out!
