Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel through five different climate zones within an hour? Probably not, but you have to admit it sounds pretty cool. Take a trip from sea level to the 10,000 foot summit of Mount Haleakala (House of the Sun) for an unforgettable journey through ever-changing environments. A friend described the trip by stating, “Once you reach the top, you’ll see God,” but I think I saw him the whole way. The beauty of each environment is as spiritual as it is breathtaking. It’s no mystery why native Hawaiians regard Haleakala as a sacred location.

Enjoying the Haleakala surroundings.

The adventure begins on Haleakala Road surrounded by sugar cane fields and farm land. As you ascend the mountain, you’ll soon find yourself driving through beautiful countryside filled with pastures and land that looks like it has more in common with a Colorado Dude Ranch than a tropical pacific island. You may have to stop and look at the ocean behind you to remind yourself that you’re in Hawaii.

Unlike the road to Hana, the road to Haleakala remained uncrowded the entire time. However, it’s still quite curvy with a lot of elevation gain. So if you get motion sickness easily, I would recommend popping a couple Dramamine pills to save yourself the headache.

Hopping across a creek in the Haleakala countryside.

Once we reached the cloud level the real magic started. There is a considerable temperature change. In fact, Haleakala is known to drop below freezing during the winter months and occasionally snow. With our heads still in the clouds, we decided to leave the car on the side of the road and do some random hiking for a couple hours through the fields. It was an unforgettable experience feeling the clouds move through us as we discovered new and unique plant life, caves, rock formations and creek beds over each little ridge. The air was so fresh and cool with a mystical illumination. A friend of mine found a stick that we quickly dubbed the “Gandalf Staff.” Jokingly, he held his hand to the top of the staff and said, “Could we risk a little more light?” referencing The Lord of the Rings, and amazingly the sun broke through the clouds. Hiking through this location was more enjoyable for me than the crater itself.

While continuing to the summit, keep your eyes peeled for the endangered Hawaii state bird, the Nene. The Nene is the worlds rarest goose, once on the brink of extinction, the goose was re-introduced to it’s native habitat of Hawaii in the late 1950′s. The surviving populations are small; estimated at just over 800 in the Haleakala National Park. We were not lucky enough to spot a Nene, but we did have the opportunity to see a few Ring-Necked Pheasants. However, they eluded my camera when trying to sneak up on them for a shot.

The beautiful countryside halfway up Mount Haleakala.

The air is thin and the sun can be harsh at the summit of Mount Haleakala. Bring sun block and don’t push yourself too hard on any hikes or you may run out of breath before you realize it. The sun is brutal above the clouds and the atmosphere is thin. But the view is awesome — like Zeus sitting on his throne above the clouds at the top of Mount Olympus. The crater itself looks like another world. It may be as close as you’ll get to Mars without leaving the planet. And it’s massive. In fact, it’s not really a crater at all, but a valley carved in to the summit of the volcano over thousands of years of erosion. Should you choose to hike one of the parks 27 miles of trails, take the proper percautions. Weather can change rapidly in such a harsh environment, it can be dry and windy during the summer and wet and freezing during the winter. However, you will be rewarded with some of the most spectacular views and sunsets the world has to offer. To obtain more information on the park, hiking trails and permits visit the Haleakala National Park website.

The "crater" of Haleakala looks like the terrain of an alien planet.

Haleakala is one of the most unique locations on the planet and a must-see while visiting Maui. This article only covers a tiny portion of all there is to see on and around Mount Haleakala. We’re looking forward to returning soon with permits and hiking through the backcountry trails.