Even those who have never been to Hawaii have already heard about the fantastic landscapes, the diversity of the climate and the amazing "relaxation" of the pace of life on these islands. The Hawaiian archipelago is the only island in the world that is so far from the continent. One of the unique places that will leave a lasting impression is the Haleakala National Park.
Hawaiian archipelago
Consisting of 24 volcanic formations and atolls, the archipelago includes several large and many small islands. Hawaiian legends explain the volcanic origin of their land in their own way. The goddess of fire, Pele, the patroness of Hawaii, pursued by the goddess of the sea, hid from her in the bowels of the earth. From time to time, Pele reminds of his existence, throwing fiery lava and burning stones from volcanic craters.
The Hawaiian Islands are home to some of the world's most active volcanoes. The most active and unpredictable volcano is Kilauea. The second active volcano in Hawaii after Kilauea is Mauna Loa. Mauna Kea, Hualalai and Haleakala are dormant. The rest of the volcanoes are considered extinct.
Many people associate a visit to the Hawaiian Islands with beach bliss and a leisurely resort life. But this is a misconception. Hawaii has a lot to see. Of course, the main attraction of the islands is nature, in all its imaginable and inconceivable transformations. Volcanoes will be an integral part of all national parks of the archipelago: extinct, dormant and even active. The seismic situation is monitored every minute, and when entering the volcanic territory of any national park, it is necessary to visit the information center. Here, tourists are presented with data on road traffic and possible hazardous areas.
International Biosphere Reserve
For a trip to the Haleakala National Park, we will be interested in the second largest island of the archipelago - the island of Maui. It is here that the dormant volcano Haleakala is located - the main attraction of the island. At the end of the last century, Maui's park was officially named the International Biosphere Reserve.
To the volcano, which formed the eastern part of Maui, there is a good road, marked in blue on the tourist map of the island. Unlike the roads that wind along the coast, where vegetation riots alternate with steep slopes, and the eye does not have time to follow the changing pictures of nature, the road to Haleakala volcano gradually lifts travelers into the clouds. The higher the serpentine rises, the more noticeably the air temperature drops and the feeling that nature “falls asleep” appears.
The silhouette of a giant volcano is visible from afar. Buses loaded with mountain bikes crawl along the steep road. Cyclists will be leaving on their own. The event under the slogan “cycling from the volcano” can be confidently called extreme. After 3,000 meters of crazy descent, the brakes of the bike become so hot that touching them can get burned. The steepness of the volcano's slope also attracts horse-riding enthusiasts. Instead of two wheels, there are four hooves, a saddle and a bridle.
Hawaiian legends
Haleakala, according to ancient Hawaiian beliefs, was the home of the sun, conquered by the god Maui. An ancient legend says that the sun moved very quickly across the sky, and Maui's mother did not have time to dry the canvas she weaved. The son decided to put things in order. From his sister's hair, he weaved a long rope and a loop, with which he lashed the luminous ball. To free itself, the sun had to promise to move more slowly across the sky. In this way, Maui has provided humanity with long days. After the heroic deed of Maui, the volcano was named Haleakala - "House of the Sun".
The luminary obediently gives rays to its own dwelling - the largest crater in the world. Its width is 4 km, its length is more than 12 km, and its depth is more than 800 meters. Here you can feel like the last person on the planet who has been forgotten by the Almighty. It will seem that you are lost at the summit connecting the earth to the sky.
Tourist routes
From the heights of the dormant volcano, views resembling the lunar surface open up. Hiking trails with a total length of about 50 kilometers lead tourists past the cones of volcanic rocks. At the top of the crater is the Haleakala Volcano Visitor Center. It is open from sunrise until 15:00. In addition to exploring the exhibits and photographs of the history and geology of the area, tourists can capture sky-high views from their own cameras from the observation deck.
Despite the variability of the weather with low temperatures and gusty winds, the Haleakala volcano attracts travelers both before dawn and at sunset. There is an opportunity to camp and even stay in a car with an overnight stay.
Gradually, fog from the sea envelops the slopes of the volcano. The luminary has fulfilled the day's "norm" and is going to hide in its crater. The last act of a magical performance: the rays of the setting sun paint the volcanic islands in the middle of the ocean in dozens of colors. An earthly paradise that arose from the underworld. The incredible starry expanses of the night sky overhanging the Haleakala summit are considered almost cult among amateur astronomers. This fact is taken into account by the local population. A telescope or binoculars can be purchased from virtually every vendor on the island.
The desert slopes of Haleakala surprise with unexpected plant life. There is a plant that is only found in Hawaii, at the foot of several volcanoes. Endemic Achinahina or "Silver Sword" is an amazing plant of extraordinary appearance and shape. She lives for 25 years, while blooming only once, releasing hundreds of flowers from a single stem.
The territory of the park
The territory of the National Park is conditionally divided into two parts: the top of the Haleakala crater with the adjacent territories and the Kipahulu coast. In the coastal zone of the park, tourists are recommended to visit the Hosmer Grove, where a huge number of rare plant species brought from different parts of the world are concentrated. Unlike the harsh west coast of Hawaii, the east coast enchants with its tropical nature. Here our idea of Hawaii is confirmed by the dense, impenetrable jungle. Blooming heliconias and bougainvillea, colorful wild orchids, ginger, balsam and anthurium. After a half-hour journey along the path through the jungle, the sound of water is heard more and more clearly. These are waterfalls of unspeakable beauty, carefully hidden from view in the labyrinths of the rainforest.
After a trip to the Haleakala National Park, its popularity becomes explainable to absolutely everyone. Hawaii, in particular Maui, has been recognized as the "best island in the world" by a respected Conde Nast Traveler poll for 12 consecutive years.
