Haleakalā National Park is a National Park in Hawaii. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 35 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Haleakalā
We matched 35 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Haleakalā. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (3)
Waterfalls (19)
Waterfall
Waterfall
Waterfall
Waterfall
WaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallBeaches (1)
Volcanoes (4)
Botanical Gardens (5)
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Botanical GardenState Parks (2)
Wilderness Areas (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Haleakalā the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 65° (ENE) at the June solstice and 115° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 296° (WNW) in June to 245° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 87° in summer but only 46° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:04 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:33 PM | 6:05 PM | 248° | 11h 01m |
| February | 6:55 AM | 7:26 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:24 PM | 257° | 11h 29m |
| March | 6:34 AM | 7:03 AM | 6:06 PM | 6:35 PM | 268° | 12h 01m |
| April | 6:07 AM | 6:36 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:44 PM | 281° | 12h 37m |
| May | 5:48 AM | 6:19 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:55 PM | 291° | 13h 07m |
| June | 5:45 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:07 PM | 295° | 13h 23m |
| July | 5:53 AM | 6:25 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:09 PM | 293° | 13h 16m |
| August | 6:05 AM | 6:35 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:55 PM | 285° | 12h 51m |
| September | 6:13 AM | 6:42 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:29 PM | 273° | 12h 16m |
| October | 6:21 AM | 6:50 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:01 PM | 261° | 11h 41m |
| November | 6:36 AM | 7:07 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:45 PM | 250° | 11h 09m |
| December | 6:54 AM | 7:27 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:47 PM | 245° | 10h 53m |
Computed for the park's reference point (20.7069, -156.1592); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Haleakalā, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 40° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:09 AM – 5:39 AM | 1.5 | 26° |
| March | 2:19 AM – 5:19 AM | 3.0 | 37° |
| April | 12:20 AM – 4:40 AM | 4.3 | 40° |
| May | 10:17 PM – 4:27 AM | 6.2 | 40° |
| June | 8:33 PM – 4:13 AM | 7.7 | 40° |
| July | 8:33 PM – 2:53 AM | 6.3 | 40° |
| August | 8:13 PM – 12:43 AM | 4.5 | 40° |
| September | 7:43 PM – 10:43 PM | 3.0 | 37° |
| October | 7:16 PM – 8:46 PM | 1.5 | 27° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
On any given day, the temperatures in the park can range from a high of 80°F (27°C) in Kīpahulu to a low of 30°F (-1°C) at the summit. In either area clouds and rain can quickly replace warm sunshine. Weather in the high-elevation summit and wilderness areas of the park is highly unpredictable and changes often. Cool temperatures, intense solar radiation, and rapidly moving clouds are characteristic. On average, the temperature drops about 3°F for every 1,000 foot rise in elevation.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 36% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (53%). August is the warmest month and February the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $30.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Located on the island of Maui, Haleakalā National Park extends from the 10,023 foot (3055m) summit of Haleakalā down the southeast flank of the mountain to the Kīpahulu coast near Hana. These two sections of the park are not directly connected by road, but both can be reached from Kahului. There are no gas stations within the park.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Guided Tours
- Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Swimming
- Shopping
Nearby parks
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