Things to do at Haleakala and Upcountry

Haleakala is a dormant volcano, not an extinct one, and its summit sits at roughly 3,055 metres, where dawn temperatures hover near freezing even in summer. m. Below the crater rim, the upcountry slopes around Kula and Makawao hold lavender farms, goat dairies and small-town storefronts at a cooler, quieter elevation than the coast.

Sunset at the summit needs only the park entry fee, no reservation, and the drive up from Kahului runs about two hours each way, longer than most visitors expect for a single-day plan.