Now that you have decided to wake up early in the morning and see one of the most beautiful sunrises, a little preparation can go a long way. Read more about Haleakala Sunrise experience here: http://haleakalasunrisemaui.blogspot.com/. This page will provide more details about preparing for your trip.
Things to consider
- Check Weather
- Check Sunrise time
- Driving directions (from Kahului Airport)
What to bring
Clothes and Accessories
- Warm clothes. It gets really cold up there. Carry jackets, blankets and gloves.
- Sunglasses and Hats. On a good day, it can get really bright after the sunrise.
- Flashlight: It will come handy if you are planning to reach there early for star gazing.
Food and Drinks
- Coffee: One option is to get your own coffee from your hotel. If not, about 16 miles from the Airport, there's a coffee cart called 'Crater coffee'. This is the only place on the way up to get your coffee. It opens at 3:00 am.
- Water
- Snacks: The whole trip takes about 7 hours, make sure you pack some snacks like dried fruit, beef jerky, trail mix, and whatever you might like to keep you energized. If you do plan to spend few hours up there, bring some sandwiches - something hearty so you can have a solid meal.
Money
- $10 for park fees
- Some extra cash for souvenirs that you can buy at Visitor Center.
Photography
If you are into photography and plan to go beyond your in pocket devices
- Camera - Bring your best gear.
- Tripod - For sharp landscapes.
- Cable release - Prefer wireless.
- ND Grad filters - Don't overexpose the sky.
- Flash - For fill-in light photography of people against the sun.