Haleakala Sunset - Maui

While I was away from blogland, one of the trips we took was to Maui this past April.  Now this post may bore some of you, but I'm doing it anyway. You see, I'm a neurotic trip planner.  While we were planning this trip, I did a million few google searches on things to do and see.  

So this post is for fellow "thorough" trip planners like myself who may be googling as we speak.  Glad to be of service.

One of the MUST SEE things on Maui is experiencing sunrise atop Haleakala volcano which forms 75% of the island.  The summit looks down into a massive depression 7 miles across, 2 miles wide and 2600 ft. deep. 

So, sunrise atop Haleakala was our plan....until we realized that we'd have to wake up at 2:30 a.m. and make the drive.  After still more google searches, we decided sunset HAD to look pretty cool too...right? I mean, other than that little east/west thing, how different could it be?

We made the 2 hour trip to the top of the summit.  In just a few hours, we went from a sunny 85 degrees on the beach, to cool rain on the drive up, to crisp 30's high above the clouds.  Luckily, thanks to my OCD thorough google searches...see I told you....we were prepared and had warm clothes...shout out...Who Dats representing in Maui. 

Haleakala's summit is 10,023 feet.  At this altitude there is no greenery, only these beautiful Silverswords.  Sadly, digging them up and packing them in your luggage is seriously frowned upon.

Let me tell you something else....when you basically live a zillion feet below sea level (I mean, people from New Orleans are almost amphibious...seriously) trying to climb rocks at 10,000+ altitude is HARD.  Our legs felt like lead and we could NOT breathe.  That's my PSA to all of you....go slow.  Now is not the time to go running, trying to beat your husband to the top....ask me how I know?

Anyway, we bundled up, struggled to breathe and waited for the show...it did not disappoint.  I can't even begin to put this experience into words....just....WOW!!!

and then the sun disappeared slowly into the clouds

 

The plus to going at sunset, aside from not having to get up BEFORE the butt crack of dawn, is once the sun makes its exit, you can watch the stars come out....and boy do they come out.  We opened up the top on our rental convertible, cranked up the heater, reclined our seats and watched as the sky lit up.  We even saw the Milky Way belt, which for my Star Wars/SciFi geek husband was a bucket list kind of thing. 

So, if you ever find yourself in Maui....and I sincerely hope you do....Haleakala is a must do.  If you're a sunrise kind of person, God bless you, but if sunset is more your speed, don't feel like you cheated yourself, not even one little bit.  As I previously said...and quite eloquently I might add...WOW!!!

Mahalo

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