HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK
P. O. Box 369 Makawao, HI 96768
Tel. (808) 572-4400 (open 24 hours per day, all year)

Haleakala National Park consists of 28,655 acres of which 19,270 are wilderness. The park preserves the outstanding volcanic landscape of the upper slopes of Haleakala rising to 10,023-foot elevation and protects the unique and fragile ecosystems of the Kipahulu Valley, the scenic pools along Oheo Gulch, and many rare and endangered species. Extensive network of hiking trails.

Visitors are required to obtain a permit at Park Headquarters before entering the crater wilderness on an overnight trip; day-use visitors may sign in at the trail heads. Park trails within the Crater District range from an elevation of 10,000 feet at the summit to 3,800 feet in Kaupo Gap. Visitors should recognize that at these elevations one may tire quickly and the return journey can be difficult and intensified by quick change of weather. Call for information or visit their site.

HALEMAUU TRAIL (10 Miles)

ROUTE: The Halemauu Trail begins on the west side of the crater and descends in a series of switchbacks to the crater floor and into the east end of Haleakala Crater. The first mile is fairly level traversing a high elevation native shrub type to the crater rim. The switchbacks negotiate the steep 1,500 foot cliff providing excellent views of the crater and Koolau Gap. At the crater floor the trail follows the west rim for one mile to the Holua cabin for a total of four miles. The vegetation in Koolau Gap and in the vicinity of Holua cabin is very sparse as it grows on rough lava. The cabin is located at an elevation of 7,000 feet. The trail continues another six miles across the crater floor to Paliku cabin.

SLIDING SANDS TRAIL (10 Miles)

ROUTE: The Sliding Sands Trail is the summit trail into the crater. It begins near the visitor center at 10,000 feet and follows the base of the south rim of the crater to the Kapalaoa cabin for a total distance of six miles. The first four miles of the trail descends through barren and loose cinder slides under the south rim to the crater floor at 7,400 feet. The trail is fairly level for the next two miles to Kapalaoa cabin, passing through sparse grass flats. This cabin rests directly under the south rim near the middle of the crater at 7,200 feet. From Kapalaoa the trail descends gradually to another four miles to Paliku cabin, located under a vertical cliff at the easternmost end of the crater at 6,400 feet. Paliku is wetter than the rest of the crater, with vegetation grading into grass flats and forested slopes from the drier high desert flora found in the west end.

KAUPO GAP TRAIL (8.3 Miles)

ROUTE: The Kaupo Gap Trail begins at the Paliku Cabin at 6,400 feet elevation and traverses the length of the gap to the Piilani Highway at 300 feet elevation. The first 3.5 miles of the trail passes through the National Park and ends at the park boundary at 3,800 feet elevation. This area is rough lava thickly vegetated with low native forest and brushland. From the park boundary the trail passes into the privately owned Kaupo Ranch pastures and descends sharply 4.8 miles to the Piilani Highway near the coast. This portion of the trail is well marked with the National Park signs. Hikers are cautioned to stay on the trail at all times. Scenery includes the cliffs on two sides of the gap in the upper portion and a panoramic view of the coastline in the lower portion. Weather conditions in the crater district vary from generally dry and warm summers with occasional windy weather to cold, wet, windy weather in the winter. Overnight temperatures in winter may drop below freezing and occasional snow may occur above 8,000 feet.  

HOSMER GROVE NATURE LOOP HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK

Hike through an exotic forest - home to native and alien species of birds, plants and insects (0.7 mile/30 minute round-trip). Great bird-watching. Free trail brochure at site. Drive-in campground.

KIPAHULU / OHEO GULCH HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK Kipahulu

A series of beautiful streams and pools beginning in a rain forest and ending at the sea. Swim with caution. Danger of flash floods. Call ranger station for information on hike to Makahiku Falls (0.75 mile/25 minutes one-way) and Waimoku Falls (4 miles/2 hours one-way). Drive-in campground.

SKYLINE TRAIL (6.5 Miles)

ROUTE: The trail begins at 9,750 feet elevation near the top of the southwest rift of Haleakala. The trail begins at the lowest point on the Science City Road, passes through an iron gate and down the ridge till it ends at Skyline switchback at 6,500 feet at the upper end of Haleakala Ridge Trail. The terrain is rugged and barren with over a dozen cinder cones and craters along the length of the rift. Vegetation is almost nonexistent to 9,000 feet with the mamane tree line beginning at 8,600 feet at Kanahau. The native scrub gets denser and more varied toward the lower end. Views to the east, south, and west are spectacular and the awesome landscape allows one to experience the mountain's primitive volcanic origin. The Skyline Trail provides access to the Kahua Road at Ballpark junction at 7,000 feet and to the Haleakala Ridge Trail and the Kula Forest Access Road at the lower end.

KAHUA ROAD (6.5 Miles)

ROUTE: The road begins on the lower Skyline Road at Ballpark junction at 7,100 feet elevation and travels east on the contour through rough lava country to the cinder cone Kahua. The ballpark is a large grassy flat which got its name during the 1930's, when the Civilian Conservation Corps used to play softball during leisure hours. A horse trail used to go to Kahua; later it was bulldozed into a rough road. The country is quite dry and barren with many lava flows vegetation being comprised of only the hardiest scrub species. The road is used primarily by goat hunters who use it as access to the rugged east Kahikinui hunting grounds. There is an overnight trail shelter with water at Kahua that can accomodate four people. On clear days one can see all the way across Kahikinui to the Kaupo Gap. Motorcycles and 4-wheel drive vehicles may use this road.

POLIPOLI SPRING STATE RECREATION AREA
Kula Forest Reserve, Kula

Miles of hiking trails at 6,200 foot elevation through a magical misty forest. Free admission. Park is always open unless weather conditions are very severe. Sample hike: Redwood Trail (1.7 mile/1 hour round-trip). Campground and one cabin.

POLIPOLI TRAIL (0.6 Mile)

ROUTE: The trail begins at Polipoli State Park and crosses on the contour of the Haleakala Ridge Trail. It passes through dense stands of cypress, cedars, and pines and ends in an open grassy swale.

KULA & KAHIKINUI FOREST RESERVE TRAILS ACCESS

These trails all lie within the Kula and Kahikinui Forest Reserves. Access to these trails is through the Polipoli Road. From the Kahului area proceed up Highway 37 past Pukulani to the second junction of Highway 377 just before the 14-mile marker. Turn left on 377 for 0.3 of a mile and then turn right onto Waipoli Road. Waipoli Road (which becomes Polipoli Access Road at the first cattle guard) climbs up the mountain through a long series of switchbacks until it enters the forest at 6,400 feet elevation. Due to the nature of the road and inclement weather conditions, a four-wheel drive vehicle is a must.

REDWOOD TRAIL (1.7 Miles)

ROUTE: The trail starts at Polipoli State Park at 6,200 feet elevation, winds through stands of redwood and other conifers past Tie Trail junction and down to the old ranger's cabin at 5,300 feet. The trail is completely within the planted forest and although there are no distant views the groves of trees are impressive and beautiful. At the end of the trail is an old CCC camp and a three-way junction, the beginning point of both the Plum Trail and the Boundary Trail. There are several plum trees and other fruit trees at this old camp area. One can find rustic shelter in the old CCC barracks building at trail's end and in a small overnight shelter located at the Tie Trail junction.

TIE TRAIL (0.5 Mile)

ROUTE: This is a short trail that joins the Redwood Trail with the Plum Trail. It begins 0.8 mile along the Redwood Trail and meets Plum Trail 0.6 mile from the ranger's cabin. It descends 500 feet through stands of sugi, cedar, and ash.

PLUM TRAIL (1.7 Mile)

ROUTE: The trail begins at the old CCC camp area and climbs gradually across the mountain until it joins with the Haleakala Ridge Trail. This trail is completely within a planted forest of ash, redwood, sugi and other species. Along the trail are numerous plum trees which bear during the summer.

HALEAKALA RIDGE TRAIL (1.6 Miles)

ROUTE: This trail starts above the park on the skyline switchback at 6,550 feet elevation and works down the crest of the southwest rift of Haleakala past the Plum Trail junction to the lower forest reserve boundary at 5,600 feet elevation. Much of this trail is not forested and there are many spectacular views in all directions. The trail passes alternately through rough cinders, native scrub brush, grassy swales and planted forest of pines, eucalyptus and other species. Three-tenths of a mile from the top, the trail joins the end of Polipoli Trail leading back to the park. At the 0.7 mile point a short spur trail leads down into a cinder cone at the bottom of which is a cave which has been developed into a trail shelter. At 1.2 miles there is a junction with the Plum Trail which heads north across the mountain slope. After winding through a last stretch of forest, the trail breaks out of the trees onto the crest of the ridge overlooking a beautiful portion of the rift valley and the pastured slopes below. A rustic trail shelter is located near the end of the trail near the forest fence.

BOUNDARY TRAIL (4 Miles)

ROUTE: The trail begins just past the Kula Forest Reserve boundary cattle guard on the Polipoli Road, descends via many switchbacks to the lower boundary and proceeds southward above the fence line all the way to the ranger's cabin at the junction of Redwood Trail and Plum Trail. At the 2.6 mile mark it joins with the Waiohuli Trail which also comes down from Polipoli Road. The trail crosses many gulches through native scrub, remnant native forest and planted stands of eucalyptus, pines, cedars and other species. There are many places along the trail where one can get good views of Kula and Central Maui.

WAIOHULI TRAIL (1.4 Miles)

ROUTE: The trail begins at the Polipoli Access Road at 6,400 feet elevation and goes straight down the mountain side to join the Boundary Trail at 5,600 feet. It passes through young pine plantings and open scrub and grasslands in the upper portion and through older stands of ash, redwood, and cedars below. A rustic trail shelter is located at the end of the trail above the forest fence overlooking Keokea and Kihei.

UPPER WAIAKOA TRAIL (7.0 Miles)

ROUTE: The trail begins on the Polipoli Access Road at 6,400 feet elevation and proceeds up Haleakala through plantings of mixed pine species. It passes by a natural cave shelter and climbs slowly across the mountain side, encountering scrubby vegetation and increasingly rugged terrain. It crosses the land of Kaonoulu to the land of Waiakoa where it reaches its highest point at 7,800 feet elevation. At this point the land is very rocky and nearly barren. These are excellent views of central and west Maui. From this point the trail descends via switchbacks to join the Waiakoa Loop Trail at 6,000 feet elevation. There is no water or other facility along this trail except for the natural cave shelter.

WAIAKOA LOOP TRAIL (3.0 Miles)

ROUTE: This trail begins at the game checking station on the Polipoli Access Road near the top of the switchbacks. The road travels 3/4 mile on the contour to a gate where the trail starts. The trail travels north on the contour for about a mile, switchbacks down about 500 feet, heads back south above the forest boundary and then switchbacks up 500 feet to the starting point at the gate. The vegetation is mostly native scrub and grass with some planted pines near the gate and extensive black watle in the lower portion. There are excellent views in all directions.

HAWAII STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAND & NATURAL RESOURCES
Division of Forestry & Wildlife
54 South High Street Wailuku, HI 96793 
Tel. (808) 984-8100

Free Maui hiking trail information including information on the state Na Ala Hele trail system and free recreation maps.

HAWAII STATE PARKS
Dept. Of Land & Natural Resources
54 South High Street, Rm. 101 Wailuku, HI 96793
Tel. (808) 984-8109

Hours: 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. (Closed Weekends and State Holidays) Information and free site maps on hiking in Maui's state parks.

MAUI COUNTY PARKS
Department of Parks and Recreation
1580C Kaahumanu Avenue Wailuku, HI 96793
Tel. (808) 243-7389

Hours: 7:45 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri. (Closed weekends/holidays) Free information on Maui's county parks.

NATURE CONSERVANCY OF HAWAII
81 Makawao Avenue, Suite 203A Makawao, HI 96768
Tel. (808) 572-7849

The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, a non-profit organization, has several preserves on Maui including the Kapunakea Preserve, and the Waikamoi Preserve. The Conservancy's mission is to protect the finest remaining examples of native plants, animals and natural communities in Hawaii by protecting the places they need to survive. Call for information on hikes, volunteer work trips, and memberships, or visit their site.