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The mother of the demigod Maui lodged a complaint with her son: the day was too short to dry her bark cloth. So Maui went to the great mountain and snared the sun's rays and held them fast with ropes. "Give me my life," pleaded the sun. "If you promise to crawl more slowly across the sky," said Maui. And the sun still hangs long in the sky over the island of Maui, whose great mountain is called Haleakalā, "the House of the Sun."
Two centuries have passed since the last lava ran from Haleakalā Crater. Though dormant, the volcano is not considered extinct and, while no volcanic activity is evident today on Maui, Haleakalā may erupt again. The national park that shares its name stretches from 10,023-foot Mount Haleakalā north and far eastward to the cascading streams and quiet pools in Kīpahulu Valley, which opens onto the sea. Within its borders you'll discover cool lava rocks, cinder cones as high as 600 feet, striking silver plants that bloom only once in their lifetime, and other rare species that grow only in this fragile ecosystem.
No roads or trails connect the Haleakalā Crater area to Kīpahulu Valley, but both are accessible by paved roads from Kahului.
Across the Wilderness of Haleakalā Crater, 36 miles of trails access a land of stark contrasts and sudden weather changes; fog, rain, and chilly breezes are common hiking companions. Weather at high-elevations can be highly unpredictable and changes often. Cool temperatures, intense solar radiation, and rapidly moving clouds are characteristic. On overage, the temperature drops about three degrees for every 1,000 foot rise in elevation and often ranges from 50-65 degrees at higher elevations. These temperature can also feel much colder due to wind chill and damp, overcast conditions. Lower elevation areas closer to the coast receive daytime temperatures of 70-80 degrees and nighttime temperatures of 65-75 degrees. These areas average about 187 inches of rainfall per year.
Maps
Digital and paper maps are critical tools for wilderness visitors. Online maps can help you plan and prepare for your visit ahead of time. You can also carry digital maps with you on your GPS unit or other handheld GPS device. Having a paper map with you in the backcountry, as well as solid orienteering skills, however, ensures that you can still route-find in the event that your electronic device fails.
Online Maps
Printed Maps
Rules & Regulations
Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is generally prohibited in all wilderness areas.
This includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters.
Wilderness-Specific Regulations
Learn more about
why regulations may be necessary in wilderness.
Applicable Wilderness Law(s)
Date: October 20, 1976
Acreage: 19,270 acres
(No official title, designates National Park Service wildernesses) - Public Law 94-567 (10/20/1976) To designate certain lands within units of the National Park System as wilderness; to revise the boundaries of certain of these units; and for other purposes.
For more information (To download or see all affected Wilderness areas) visit our law library for 94-567 or special provisions for 94-567 or legislative history for 94-567 for this law.
Want to Volunteer for Wilderness?
People who volunteer their time to steward our wilderness areas are an essential part of wilderness management. Contact the following groups to inquire about volunteer opportunities. Groups are listed alphabetically by the state(s) in which the wilderness is located.