I remember reading a guide book while planning our vacation to Maui in 2010 about what to do if you wanted to visit Haleakalā National Park for the sunrise. It was best to go when you first arrived to the island as the time change was in your favor. Also, I would probably have to get up around 2:30 am to beat the crowds in order to see the sun rise over the crater. So, of course that is what we did.
My son, Mitchell, and I were in Hawaii for a week celebrating big birthdays (13 and 40). It was his first time to the state and my 3rd. That is to say, my second vacation but 3rd time there as my family lived in Honolulu when I was a child. My dad was stationed at Hickam Air Force base from when I was 9 months to 5 years old and I have gone back for my 30th and 40th birthdays. Yes, I have been saving up for my 50th since 2010.
An Early Start
Mitch and I got up that morning and put on everything we had brought to Hawaii. I knew that the one time we were going to need more than swimsuits and flipflops was when we were up on top of Haleakalā at over 10,000 feet so we layered on all our clothes for the drive up to the parking lot at the visitor’s center. It was the only time I wore the jeans, sweatshirt and rain jacket I brought but it was totally worth it.
We were alone on the extremely windy road that ascends all of those 10,000 feet in just 38 miles until we neared the park. We soon joined a caravan of other sightseers all there for the sunrise. We were lucky enough to get there early and score a spot inside the visitor center which made my son incredibly happy (and possibly me, too). We watched as others not as prepared as us gathered around shivering in the early morning air.
Mitch leaned over onto the windowsill and I stood behind him as we stared through the glass and waited for the day to begin. I think back to that moment as the sun slowly came up over the horizon and the soft low-lying clouds that were hidden in the darkness began to brighten and glow. I was so happy to be experiencing that moment with him.
I grew up the oldest of 6 and my family did not do any traveling together by air. We went camping and took a few road trips to visit other family but we didn’t go to Hawaii for spring break or Europe for the summer like a lot of my friends seemed to do. Being able to have this experience with my son when he was still young was important to me.
House Of The Sun
The higher the sun rose in the sky, the more we could peer down into the 19 square mile Haleakalā crater and see the surrounding landscape. Haleakalā is Hawaiian for “house of the sun” and is well deserved. We felt as if we were standing in the clouds and the sun was coming up to meet us.
We soon left the visitor center and walked out around to the pathway so we could get a better view. I had never seen topography like it in person and I know Mitch had not either. My heart was full as we shared this moment together. I have had similar sunrises on top of summits since then but none with my son which makes this one more special.
More Than Just A Sunrise
Once the sunrise display was over and the crowds began to disperse (most back to their cars), we took the trail that made its way up away to the ridge above. We explored just a small portion of the local plant life and took in the views down below of the expansive cinder moonscape that has been created over the years as the mountain has eroded.
It was, also, where we saw frost and ice-covered features on the terrain, one thing I had never expected to see on a tropical island. It is why I am not completely surprised to hear that the road and park is closed due to snow right now. It was a reminder that this was real mountain even if we drove to the top of it.
None of my pictures will do justice to the beauty we saw that day but this will always be one of my favorite pictures from that trip (aside from the one of us surfing together). I love this kid so. Of course, he’s not a kid anymore but I’ll never forget moments like this when he was.
We loved our visit to Haleakalā National Park so much, we stopped down at the visitor’s center were you first enter the park and bought our first National Park Passport. Our book has been collecting our national park adventures with stamps and stickers ever since.
I’d love to go back and explore more of our country’s 12th national park besides the crater, there are 35+ miles of hiking within its 34,000 acres and diverse wilderness areas.
Visiting Haleakalā National Park
Starting in 2017, you now have to make reservations to watch both the sunrise and sunset of Haleakalā but I highly recommend you make it a part of your vacation to Maui. Find out more information at the NPS website for the park. Use my tips above about going on your first (or second) day to the island and packing enough warm clothes to make exploring the summit and trails comfortable.
The topic for today’s Nature Writing Challenge was “love witnessed, experienced or shared on our public lands”. Since I already wrote about my wedding in a state park here, this moment of love with and for my son comes to you today.
Have you had a moment of love on public lands?
This post was written in one hour for the #naturewritingchallenge. Check out Twitter to learn more or see my other posts from the challenge here.
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