We love mountains, and Maui has one of the best. Haleakalā is the third tallest mountain in the world – 28,000 feet (8,534 meters) from ocean floor to summit, but only about 1/3 is visible above the water line – 10,023 feet to be exact. When not shrouded by clouds, Haleakalā can be seen from most any vantage point on the southeastern part of the island.

A day trip to Haleakalā National Park was a ‘must do.’ Watching the sunrise from the summit is spectacular, or so we’ve been told. Leaving Kahului at 3:30 in the morning to make the 2.5 hour drive in the dark to get there is not. We opted for a slightly more civilized departure time of 8 a.m.

Beautiful sunshine at the park entrance, but the clouds became thicker as we drove up the 32 switchbacks leading to the summit. On the way, we hiked the 2.2 mile Halemalu’u Trail to get a good look at the crater. We were marginally successful with the view, but at 8,000 feet elevation, it was a good cardio workout!

After the hike, we continued to the summit.

We were literally in or above the clouds and couldn’t see as much as we had hoped. Nonetheless, it was still pretty cool, and now we have a good reason to return.

Haleakalā silverswords were numerous in the summit area, providing a striking contrast to the rocky volcanic landscape.

Classified as an endangered species, these beautiful succulents are found only on the slopes of Haleakalā. They live up to 90 years, bloom once, and die.

We made one more stop on the way down the hill at the Keonehe‘ehe‘e (Sliding Sands) trailhead, which marks the beginning of a long and steep hike into the crater. We walked down about 0.5 mile and, unfortunately, no views of the crater, so no compelling reason to continue.

Despite the cloudy conditions (but no rain), we enjoyed our visit to Haleakalā NP.

On a different day, we explored Maui’s Upcountry, the area located on the inland slopes of Haleakalā between 1,500 and 3,500 feet in elevation.

The views from the Ulupalakua Overlook were a treat.

Kula Botanical Garden

The 8-acre Kula Botanical Garden is a family-owned attraction that originated in 1968 as a display garden for a landscaping business. Now a tourist attraction, it’s not super special, just a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.

I wouldn’t make a special trip, but if you’re in the area, stop in.

Ocean Vodka Organic Farm & Distillery

The distillery, on the other hand, was worth a special trip, and not just because my shirt matched their signature sculpture. After a nice (but pricey) lunch at the café, we signed up for a tour and tasting – vodka, gin and 3 types of rum, all made from 30+ species of Polynesian sugar cane grown on their 80 acres of paradise. Our favorite was the dark rum.

Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Park

Our visit to this one acre roadside park was sparked by curiosity when we spotted it on Google Maps – what was Maui’s connection to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen?

Born in China, Sun Yat-Sen was brought to Oahu at the age of 13 by his older brother, Sun Mei. He enrolled and graduated from the private college prep school now known as Punahou School, where he was first exposed to a wide range of cultures and political systems.

Sun Yat-Sen continued his studies in China and became a doctor in Hong Kong. He was instrumental in organizing a revolutionary group that attempted to overthrow the corrupt Qing dynasty in 1895. They did not succeed. Sent into exile, he and his family sought refuge in Hawaii with Sun Mei, who had moved to Maui years earlier and established a large ranching business in the Kula area.

After ~10 failed attempts, Sun Yat-Sen and his group of revolutionaries finally achieved their goal of bringing down the Qing Dynasty in 1911, and he became the first President of the newly formed Republic of China.

The park was built in the 1990s, and it needs some serious TLC. But it’s a pleasant and quick 15-minute stop if you happen to be driving past, and the view was superb.

Maui hosts about 3 million visitors annually, and virtually everyone heads for the world-class beaches . . . after they stock up on food and beverages at Costco. Fewer than one in three people visit Haleakalā National Park, and even fewer explore the towns and attractions in the Upcountry area. Yet those destinations make perfect day trips if you’re looking to get away from the crowds and experience a more relaxed and rural vibe.

And speaking of rural, be sure to check out our next article about our visit to the island of Molokai!

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