Watching the Sunset at Haleakala in Maui 2022

Haleakala is a volcano that makes up the eastern part of Maui and is the highest peak on the island at over 10,000 ft. At the top is a massive depression (often referred to as Haleakala Crater) with fourteen volcanic cones. Visiting Haleakala during sunset is a unique and special experience that is a must do when visiting Maui.

Watching the sunrise from the peak of Haleakala is more popular than sunset, so much so that you need a reservation (see sunrise reservation details here). You do not need a reservation to watch the sunset or visit during the day after 7am. The pros of visiting during sunset are that you can avoid a 3am alarm, don’t have to deal with reservations, and still get to watch the colors change over the island.

I visited Maui in July 2022 for a wedding and extended my stay to explore the island. However, I worked remotely during the early hours of the day and opted to watch the sunset at Haleakala. Below are my tips, itinerary, and general information from my experience.

Quick Info

$30 park entrance fee
Must bring warm clothes
The peak is above the clouds so views should not be obscured (I was worried about this!)
No reservation needed for sunset
There are dozens of switchbacks going up/ down the mountain which can be daunting to drive in the dark

What You’ll Need for Haleakala Sunset

You don’t need much to visit Haleakala, but most important is that you have warm clothes. Once the sun goes down temperatures can be as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Other than that, make sure you have snacks, drinks, and sufficient gas in the car.

When visiting Haleakala less is more. I made the mistake of bringing chairs and a large cooler to set up for sunset, and ultimately this ended up being a pain to carry. Unless you know you will set up right next to your car, I suggest keeping it simple.

Haleakala Crater in Maui — Haleakala Crater

Haleakala Sunset in Maui — Haleakala Sunset

Getting to Haleakala

There is one road to get to the peak of Haleakala, Highway 378 aka Haleakala Highway, on the northwest side of the mountain. There are dozens of switchbacks with steep drop offs going up the mountain which can be intimidating to drive, especially in the dark! I was glad to do the drive with daylight first. Though it is worth noting that the road is very well maintained.

Approximate driving times to Haleakala peak:
Time from Kahului: 1 hour 15 min
Time from Kihei: 1 hour 25 min
Time from Lahaina: 1 hour 45 min
Time from Kapalua: 2 hours

Even though getting to the peak of Haleakala is a bit of a trek, the drive is interesting with the landscape changing from lush foliage to a barren volcanic landscape as you climb. Possibly the best part of the drive is getting closer and closer to the clouds until you are above them.

I left Kihei just before 5pm for a 7:08pm sunset.

Once you reach the entrance to Haleakala National Park (this is where you pay $30) there is about 30 minutes left to get to the peak. There are two lookout points along the way, Leleiwi and Kalahaku. I stopped at Kalahaku which I thought was a worthwhile stop and gave me my first views into the crater.

Kalahaku Lookout on Haleakala in Maui — Views from Kalahaku Lookout looking north

At the top are two parking lots, one at the visitor center and one at the true summit. When I arrived at the peak around 6:30pm, the road to the summit was closed because the lot was full. There was a ranger organizing the parking in the visitor center lot; during sunset they allow 4 cars to park in bus parking spaces.

Note: If parking at the visitor center in a bus spot your car can get blocked in until others leave. My advice, go with the flow!

Visitor Center and Summit parking lots Haleakala Maui — Visitor Center and Summit parking lots

Watching the Sunset at Haleakala

At the peak there are a few spots to watch the sunset. Most people set up at the summit or do the short hike up Pa Ka’oao aka White Hill. I parked in the visitor parking lot so White Hill was closer and is what I opted for. The ranger advised that the views were essentially the same.

I think what makes a Haleakala sunset so special is that you can see not only the island of Maui below you, but also Lanai and Moloka’i in the distance. I also found the changing colors over the crater mesmerizing. Once the sun dips below the horizon there is another ~30 minutes of twilight and stars start popping up overhead.

Sunset from Pa Ka'oao/ White Hill Haleakala — Sunset from Pa Ka’oao/ White Hill Haleakala

Sunset at Haleakala featuring too much baggage!

What Else to Do on Haleakala

While the main event is watching the sunset, there are also great hikes and stargazing to do on Haleakala. The Keoneheehee to Halemauu and Sliding Sands trails are highly rated and start from the peak. Lastly, you can camp on Haleakala, see reservation here.

Haleakala Sunset Final Thoughts

I’m not going to lie, I was hesitant about going to Haleakala because I had limited time and wasn’t looking forward to the 3 hour (round trip) drive. I was also concerned about visibility and weather, until I realized the peak sits above the clouds.

My after thoughts are that the trip up Haleakala is worth it because where else do you get to watch a sunset over a series of islands from 10,000 ft up! If I could do things differently I would have arrived a couple hours before sunset and wandered along some of the trails. I’d also stay longer to enjoy more stargazing.

There are various tours that take you up Haleakala, though the majority are for sunrise. Some even include biking down the mountain.