Haleakala National Park
After leaving Joshua Tree National Park, we headed to Sequoia National Park. We set up camp but our plans were cut short due to the incoming snow storm. With roads in the mountains closing, we didn’t feel we would be able to get much done. What should we due until we can explore Sequoia? There are two national parks that we were dying to go to, but didn’t think we would have the opportunity to see anytime soon. So, we decided to drive the RV to Fresno, CA and hop on a flight to go see the two national parks we one day hoped to see in Hawaii!
Our first stop in Hawaii was the island of Maui. We made our way to Haleakala National Park. Haleakala is a special place where you can feel the bond between the land and culture of the island. The park is broken into two sections, one being of a volcanic landscape, and the other a tropical rain forest. Having the chance to explore this land and see plants and wildlife found nowhere else on earth.
The first part of the park we went to was the Summit District. The drive from the park entrance to the summit of Haleakala volcano takes around 45 minutes and is quite the adventure. It’s hard to put in words, but you climb a road the entire time until you hit the summit. Once you hit the top, you’ve reached an altitude of 10,023 feet. It is a breathtaking view to say the least. The weather wasn’t fully cooperating that day, but the views were still stunning and worth the trip.
The second part of the park we went to was the Kipahulu District. It took around 3 1/2 hours to drive to this remote part of the island. The drive into the district was nerve racking to say the least. Once we finally arrived, we were treated to Hawaiian cultural experiences, beautiful ocean views, and an unbelievable waterfalls. While in the Kipahulu district, we were able to get in both hikes. Our first hike was the Makahiku Falls. It’s a 4 mile round trip hike to the stunning Makahiku Waterfall. Our last hike of the day was the Bamboo Forest. It’s a 45 minute hike that ends at Waimoku Falls. It was a breezy day, so walking through the forest, you can hear the the bamboo making cracking and popping noises. It was the natural song of the forest.
This was probably one of the coolest national parks we have been to so far, and I can’t wait to get to our next destination. Before we head to Hawaii Volcano National Park, we have to make a stop at Pearl Harbor. It’s a big photo dump, but the pictures we took are below. LET’S GO!
