Hiking the Haleakalā Cabins via Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands)-Halemauʻu Loop Trail in Haleakalā National Park on Maui, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 20.8 miles / 33.5 km
Camping in the wilderness cabins off the Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands)-Halemauʻu Loop Trail in Haleakalā National Park is one of the most beautiful and unique backcountry experiences not only in Hawaiʻi, but in the entire National Park system!
I say this because spending one or a few nights in either Hōlua, Kapalaoa, or Palikū Cabin is incredible for a host of different reasons—each being better than another depending on what you’re interested in seeing and doing inside of Haleakalā Crater. For this reason, I highly recommend reading my thoughts below about what the best Haleakalā cabins are and why.
All that aside, reserving an overnight permit for one of the three Haleakalā cabins is nothing short of a miracle—or so it may seem if you haven’t tried before. I would even go as far as to say that out-of-state residents should go out of their way to plan a trip to Maui around these permits—and yes, this is coming from someone who has tried for Haleakalā cabin permits many times, with some success and a lot of disappointment!
This is why I highly recommend reading both of the following sections below in detail, because what may seem like a straightforward reservation process is a little trickier to navigate than it may initially appear—especially for the most ideal overnight itinerary as outlined in this post!
My Print - Nēnē - (Branta sandvicensis)
How to Get Permits for the Cabins in Haleakalā Crater?
Permits for Hōlua, Kapalaoa, and Palikū Cabins are some of the most competitive backcountry permits of any place in the National Park system, comparable only to the Wonderland Trail in Mt. Rainier National Park.
This is because the Haleakalā Cabins are typically reserved 365 days a year, outside of a few select days that the National Park Service blocks off so they can utilize them.
That said, permits for all three cabins in Haleakalā National Park are released daily at 7 a.m. Hawaiian Standard Time, 6 months in advance. This means that, like any competitive backcountry permit, you need to be online prior to 7 a.m. HST, ready to hit refresh when the minute changes, and don’t be surprised if you do everything right and the permits you’re trying for disappear immediately. They really are that competitive, and in all of my experiences, I had to try for numerous mornings in a row before I successfully got the reservations I wanted in my cart, with weekends—especially long holiday weekends—being the most difficult to book.
Now, I think it’s important to mention that not all three cabins are equally competitive. By this, I mean that Palikū Cabin, at the far eastern end of Haleakalā Crater, is by far the best, most beautiful, and most competitive cabin—and for good reason! However, Kapalaoa and Hōlua are far easier to reserve, and campsite reservations outside of each cabin can typically be secured the week of a planned trip.
With all that in mind, Recreation.gov only allows parties to reserve two consecutive nights in Haleakalā Crater, which is why the best-considered itinerary is one night at Palikū Cabin, followed by one night at Hōlua Cabin. This is exactly what we did, and it’s because the best route in and out of Haleakalā Crater is to begin at Keoneheʻeheʻe and end at Halemauʻu, since it’s less elevation to ascend—and because Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) is not an enjoyable trail to go up.
Book Here: Haleakalā Cabin Permits / Haleakalā Tent Permits
What is the Best Cabin in Haleakalā Crater?
The answer to this question is easy: Palikū!
However, as for both Kapalaoa and Hōlua Cabin, it’s a little more of a toss-up.
By this, I mean that Palikū Cabin is by far the best and most beautiful place to camp in Haleakalā Crater, and it’s where I recommend spending your first night.
After that, what I can say is that Kapalaoa has a better view across Haleakalā Crater, and it’s in a better position for day hikes. However, Hōlua Cabin is better for enjoying sunrise through the Koʻolau Gap, and it’s in a better position for spending your final night in Haleakalā Crater, because the Halemauʻu switchbacks are much easier to ascend than the Sliding Sands Trail.
Haleakalā Crater Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Keoneheʻeheʻe–Halemauʻu Loop is located at either the Haleakalā Summit Visitor Center, just one parking lot below the actual summit, or at the Halemauʻu Trailhead, about 6.0 miles (9.7 km) down Haleakalā Highway from Keoneheʻeheʻe.
That said, I recommend against trying to get an early start if you are planning to begin from the Sliding Sands Trailhead, and I say this for a few reasons.
The first is because parking near the summit is very limited, and it’s why only those with sunrise permits are allowed to enter Haleakalā National Park between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. The second reason is that the hike down Sliding Sands is relatively easy and doesn’t warrant a crazy early start—even to hike all the way to Palikū Cabin. Therefore, go get a good breakfast at Colleen’s in Haʻikū and take your time, as a 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. start should allow for more than enough time, considering that Haleakalā Crater is certainly not as difficult as other backpacking trips in Hawaiʻi, like the Kalalau Trail on Kauaʻi.
Google Maps Directions: Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trailhead / Halemauʻu Trailhead
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Obviously, for camping, you will need general backpacking gear. For this reason, I wrote a separate post about what backpacking gear is worth the money, from my experience, and what the best alternatives are to save you money.
Read My Separate Post: Best Ultralight Backpacking Gear
In addition, here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Haleakalā National Park.
Hiking the Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands)-Halemauʻu Loop Trail
The Keoneheʻeheʻe Trail, more commonly called the Sliding Sands Trail, begins on the Haleakalā Highway side of the parking lot, away from the visitor center, as the trail first wraps its way around Pā Kaʻoao.
Unlike most posted distances in National Parks, I found these distances to be very accurate, with Palikū Cabin located almost exactly 9.8 miles (15.8 km) from this point.
This is where the Sliding Sands Trail initially wraps around to the south side of Pā Kaʻoao.
When the Keoneheʻeheʻe Trail reaches the south side of Pā Kaʻoao, the hike down to the floor of Haleakalā Crater gets a lot more fun as the views open up with the passing clouds—not to mention, the Sliding Sands Trail is entirely downhill from this point to Palikū Cabin!
From the Sliding Sands Trailhead to the Ka Moa o Pele junction at the bottom of the initial descent, the trail loses about 2,350 ft. (716 m) in elevation.
This is important to keep in mind because if you plan on hiking out of Haleakalā Crater via Keoneheʻeheʻe, this is the section that will have to be climbed in order to reach the trailhead.
This is the view looking down Keoneheʻeheʻe, which quite literally translates to Sliding Sands.
For those doing a multi-day trip, or even just day hiking, trekking poles may be necessary for some hikers, as the Keoneheʻeheʻe Trail is very soft and sometimes slippery on the way down to the floor of Haleakalā Crater.
At roughly 1.9 miles (3.1 km) into the Keoneheʻeheʻe descent, the trail enters one of many critical habitats for the endangered ʻĀhinahina (Maui Silversword).
That said, Silverswords can be seen throughout many different areas of Haleakalā Crater, which I mention to encourage everyone to stay on the trail.
Erosion around the base of Silverswords, along with trampling, are some of the leading causes of their demise in Haleakalā National Park, which is why I want to ask everyone to do their part by taking photos from a reasonable distance.
There’s certainly no shortage of places to see them, which is why I would simply encourage you to keep hiking if you want a better photo. At some point, whether here or elsewhere, you’ll find an ʻĀhinahina growing directly alongside the trail for a close-up view!
What is an ʻĀhinahina (Maui Silversword)?
This is an ʻĀhinahina—better known as the Maui Silversword—in full bloom, and it’s one of two Silversword subspecies endemic to Hawaiʻi. That said, this particular subspecies is endemic only to Haleakalā on Maui, while the other is endemic only to Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island.
Furthermore, the ʻĀhinahina is one of many monocarpic species in Hawaiʻi, meaning they grow slowly for many years, flower once, seed, and then die. This is why many monocarpic plants in Hawaiʻi have such limited reproductive cycles, and it’s what often makes them so rare.
All this to say, it’s important that you do your part by keeping your distance when hiking in Haleakalā Crater, as their habitat for survival is truly very limited.
This is where Kamaʻoliʻi, Puʻuopele, and the floor of Haleakalā Crater became visible for the first time through the clouds!
This is the looking toward Kamaʻoliʻi.
This is a perfect example of hikers climbing up the hillside to get a better view of the ʻĀhinahina, but I can pretty much guarantee that more plants will be much easier to see up close by simply hiking further.
This flatter stretch is a perfect example of where hikers can see Hawaiʻi’s ʻĀhinahina up close, directly alongside the trail.
The next hill, that can be seen in the distance, is where the final switchbacks begin to reach the bottom of Haleakalā Crater and the Ka Moa o Pele junction shortly thereafter.
It truly is something special to catch the ʻĀhinahina in full bloom, and I say this after countless visits to Haleakalā National Park in all different seasons, that seeing them on full display is not always guaranteed.
This is where the final descent to the bottom of Haleakalā Crater begins, losing roughly 550 ft. (168 m) over the next 0.8 miles (1.3 km) to the junction at the bottom.
In my opinion, these sections of the final descent are some of the most beautiful parts of the Sliding Sands Trail!
If you look closely, the Ka Moa o Pele junction can be seen in the distance on a clear day.
This is where the Keoneheʻeheʻe Trail reaches the floor of Haleakalā Crater.
That said, the trail will continue to lose about 1,075 ft. (328 m) from this point to Palikū Cabin at the east end of the crater, following a much more gradual downhill path.
West Keoneheʻeheʻe-Ka Moa o Pele Loop Junction
After roughly 3.9 miles (6.3 km), the Sliding Sands Trail reaches the Ka Moa o Pele junction, which heads north across Haleakalā Crater toward Hōlua Cabin and the Halemauʻu switchbacks beyond.
This junction is the most popular way for day hikers to link Keoneheʻeheʻe and Halemauʻu together, as it creates the shortest possible loop with both trails, at roughly 11.3 miles (18.2 km) one way.
In any case, go straight at this initial junction to continue hiking the Keoneheʻeheʻe Trail toward Kapalaoa and Palikū Cabin.
After the first junction at the bottom of the crater, the number of day hikers drops considerably, with mostly backpackers and trail runners continuing beyond this point.
After the Ka Moa o Pele junction, the Keoneheʻeheʻe Trail becomes very flat compared to the first 3.9 miles (6.3 km), making the elevation change to Kapalaoa Cabin hardly noticeable.
However, this is typically what trail runners refer to as a 'false flat,' as the uphill is certainly noticeable if you’re making your way toward either trailhead off Haleakalā Highway.
This is one of the last Silverswords I noticed before hiking the Halemauʻu Trail on the return side of the loop.
This is the view looking north across Haleakalā Crater toward Puʻuomāui on the left, Kamoaopele in the middle, and Halāliʻi and Puʻunaue, in the clouds on the right.
These are the cinder cones that the Halemauʻu Trail passes on the north side of the loop shown later in this article.
Kapalaoa Cabin is located just on the other side of the ridge straight ahead on the right-hand side of the trail.
East Keoneheʻeheʻe-Ka Moa o Pele Loop Junction
This next junction is the other side of the Kamoaopele Loop, and it’s the route that makes the most sense to take if you’re hiking from Kapalaoa Cabin to Hōlua Cabin or to the Halemauʻu Trailhead beyond.
In any case, go straight at this split to continue to Kapalaoa Cabin, just a short distance ahead!
On the far side of the ridge mentioned previously, the next junction and Kapalaoa Cabin beyond, can be seen in the distance for the first time!
Keoneheʻeheʻe-Kapalaoa Junction
This next junction, located just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) after the previous, is simply a route that cuts directly across the Haleakalā Crater Loop Trail.
However, since both routes that split just to the south of Puʻunole don’t lead anywhere specific, this trail is one of the least-trafficked among the three major routes that bridge the loop.
All that aside, go straight once again to reach Kapalaoa Cabin, which can be seen in the distance!
Kapalaoa Cabin
Kapalaoa Cabin is the first cabin encountered on the Haleakalā Crater Loop when beginning from the Sliding Sands Trailhead, which is located a few miles beyond the halfway point between the trailhead and Palikū Cabin.
Now, take this as just one person’s opinion, but Kapalaoa Cabin is my least favorite cabin to reserve, because of the limited views and because it feels awkwardly located far away from either trail out of the crater.
However, Kapalaoa is the best cabin to stay in when it comes to day hiking in Haleakalā Crater. This is because it’s conveniently located close to the trails that cut directly across the loop, making the quick hikes up the various cinder cones—along with the Silversword Loop Trail, closer to Hōlua Cabin—very practical roundtrip destinations.
After Kapalaoa Cabin, the Sliding Sands Trail begins a fairly steady descent to Palikū, at the east end of Haleakalā Crater.
This descent will be much more noticeable than the flat sections from the bottom of the crater to reach this point.
This is where the descent after Kapalaoa becomes much more noticeable, as it winds its way through an uneven ʻAʻā lava flow.
At around 7,150 ft. (2,179 m), it started to rain, and it didn’t stop until I got near Palikū Cabin, further down the trail.
While this may seem like a random occurrence, it’s important to know that the farther down in elevation you hike, the likelier rain becomes, which will become apparent as the vegetation changes dramatically from this point to an overstory ʻŌhiʻa forest near Palikū Cabin.
ʻOaliʻi is an interesting fern in Haleakalā, because while the species as a whole can be found outside of the islands, this subspecies is endemic to Hawaiʻi, where it can commonly be seen on the high alpine volcanic slopes on Maui and the Big Island.
I can speak from experience, don’t forget to pack a rain jacket when hiking to the Haleakalā Cabins!
On the contrary, a hooded sun shirt can be equally important, as there is essentially no shade for the vast majority of the loop through Haleakalā Crater.
Again, some hikers may prefer to carry trekking poles for the near-constant downhill on the sections east of Puʻumaile.
When ʻŌʻilipuʻu becomes visible in the distance, the end of the Keoneheʻeheʻe Trail and the beginning of the Kaupō Trail to Palikū Cabin are not far ahead!
In better weather, I would have been able to point it out farther back, but as I was hiking down to Palikū in the rain, ʻŌʻilipuʻu didn’t become visible until the last 0.4 miles (0.6 km).
Even in limited visibility, this barren ʻaʻā lava flow is a nice sign that the ʻŌʻilipuʻu junction—the far eastern end of the loop—is not far ahead!
This is the south side of ʻŌʻilipuʻu.
Keoneheʻeheʻe-Halemauʻu-Kaupō Junction (ʻŌʻilipuʻu Junction)
The ʻŌʻilipuʻu junction is the three-way intersection of the three major trails in Haleakalā Crater.
They are the Keoneheʻeheʻe Trail, taken to get to this point; the Halemauʻu Trail to Hōlua Cabin, to the left; and the Kaupō Trail from the south side of Maui, typically referred to as the 'Sea to Summit' hike.
That said, go right to begin the Kaupō Trail to Palikū Cabin, or go left to begin the return hike to Haleakalā Highway on the Halemauʻu Trail.
Kaupō Trail
In total, there are only 1.3 miles (2.1 km) to get to Palikū Cabin from the previous junction and only 1.1 miles (1.8 km) from ʻŌʻilipuʻu to the point where the Kaupō Trail branches away toward the Kaupō Gap.
This is where the Kaupō Trail begins to split away from ʻŌʻilipuʻu, and where the trail across the pāhoehoe lava flows can seem a bit vague for the next 0.1 miles (0.2 km)—especially when hiking through the clouds like this.
It doesn’t take long for the Kaupō Trail to become more defined after ʻŌʻilipuʻu.
What is the Nēnē in Hawaiʻi?
The Nēnē is the state bird of Hawaiʻi, of which there’s certainly no shortage in Haleakalā National Park!
That said, this wasn’t always the case, as Nēnē on Maui were nearly hunted to extinction in the late 1800s.
However, reintroduction efforts in the early 1960s, using remaining populations from the Big Island, were undertaken, and Palikū was chosen as the site to bring them back due to its remoteness and lack of pressure from both predators and hunters.
When the Kaupō Trail re-enters the ʻAʻaliʻi-Pūkiawe-ʻŌhelo dominated shrublands, like those before ʻŌʻilipuʻu, the rest of the hike to Palikū Cabin becomes much easier to navigate than the sections across the lava flows.
When the Kaupō Trail reaches this unmarked junction, it doesn’t matter which direction you decide to go, as both sides meet again shortly ahead.
This is where both sides of the trail come back together.
Palikū Cabin-Kaupō Junction
With just 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to go before reaching Palikū Cabin, the Kaupō Trail branches away toward the Kaupō Gap.
This is again what’s referred to as the 'Sea to Summit' hike on Maui, and it’s also an adventure that’s often and vastly underestimated in terms of difficulty—mostly by those who don’t live in, and aren’t familiar with, Hawaiʻi hiking.
That said, I truly say it time and time again across my blog: Hawaiʻi has some of the most difficult hiking anywhere in the world, and certainly the most difficult in the U.S.
As for Kaupō specifically, it’s not difficult because of the elevation gain—rather, because of the overgrowth. Imagine fighting your way through tall and thick tropical grasses that will cut you up, and this persistent overgrowth doesn’t let up until the trail reaches the park boundary, up thousands and thousands of feet from where the trail began in Kaupō. This is often why hikers say the Haleakalā National Park portion of the Sea to Summit Trail is the easiest part of the entire hike.
In any case, go left at this split to continue on to Palikū Cabin and the far eastern side of Haleakalā Crater.
Palikū Cabin Trail
When the weather is clear, the Pōhakupālaha and Kuiki—the peaks at the back of Haleakalā Crater—can be seen from this point.
However, you never know what you’re going to get with the trade-wind clouds that find their way into Haleakalā Crater, as you can see from the side-by-side photos below.
When the ʻŌlapa and ʻŌhiʻa lehua trees start to become taller and more abundant, Palikū Cabin is not far ahead!
Palikū Cabin
This is Palikū Cabin, and, in my opinion, it’s the best and most beautiful cabin in Haleakalā Crater—that is, when the weather is clear!
However, even on a day like this, Palikū is a hidden gem in Haleakalā National Park like no other!
I say this because if you know where to look, rare native forest birds beyond the Nēnē can be seen flying around the wet forest canopy and the cliffs surrounding the cabin.
Some of these include the ʻIʻiwi, the ʻApapane, the ʻAmakihi, the ʻAlauahio, and the truly rare Kiwikiu. That said, if you’re a photographer, bring a long lens, and look for a good opening near a flowering ʻŌhiʻa tree, Māmane tree, or an ʻĀkala bush with ripe berries to have the best chance at capturing a photo!
Inside Palikū Cabin, and all cabins in Haleakalā National Park, there are a ton of bunks, a full kitchen, running water (depending on rainfall), a wood-burning fireplace, and even gas! The Haleakalā Cabins really are a backcountry experience like no other in the National Park system.
How to Get Water at the Cabins in Haleakalā?
Palikū is the wettest area of Haleakalā Crater, which is why finding water here is usually never an issue. That said, please conserve by only using what you need. Hikers have accidentally left spigots open before, which can drain the tanks that supply the cabin for the next group.
This is especially important because Hōlua Cabin typically doesn’t have water, as it’s often the driest cabin in Haleakalā Crater. For this reason, be sure to leave Palikū Cabin with at least 4–5 liters per person if Hōlua is your next night. This is essential for the hike to Hōlua, cooking while you stay there, and for the hike up the switchbacks the next day.
It’s truly shocking the amount of dishes and supplies inside the Haleakalā Cabins, but I guess that’s what to expect when they are booked almost 365 days of the year!
When exploring the area around Palikū Cabin, keep an eye out for any ripe ʻĀkala berries!
They are safe to eat, but the bigger and darker red they are, the better!
Palikū Cabin Trail
I wouldn’t normally include photos from a section previously shown, but since the weather and visibility were less than ideal on the hike to Palikū, I wanted to show the return hike to the Haleakalā Loop.
To skip ahead to the ʻŌʻilipuʻu junction and the start of the Halemauʻu Trail, click here.
This is the same ʻŌlapa tree that could be seen in the mist on the hike to Palikū.
Palikū Cabin-Kaupō Junction
On the return hike, go right at the Kaupō junction to continue toward ʻŌʻilipuʻu.
Kaupō Trail
From this point to the start of the loop, the Kaupō Trail continues for roughly 1.1 miles (1.8 km) to the ʻŌʻilipuʻu junction.
This is the same split in the Kaupō Trail previously shown.
That said, it doesn’t matter which direction you choose to go.
This is where both sides of the split come back together again.
The hill straight ahead is ʻŌʻilipuʻu, where the junction for the Keoneheʻeheʻe–Halemauʻu Loop will be found on the far side.
It’s always so cool to see Hawaiʻi’s windward trade-wind clouds drape over the ridges surrounding Haleakalā Crater!
If there is no visibility, the pāhoehoe lava flows to the east of ʻŌʻilipuʻu are a nice sign that the trail is nearing the loop once again.
Keoneheʻeheʻe-Halemauʻu-Kaupō Junction (ʻŌʻilipuʻu Junction)
Once back at the Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands)–Halemauʻu Loop, often called the Haleakalā Crater Loop, go right to begin the Halemauʻu Trail to Hōlua Cabin.
If you are staying the night at Hōlua, this section seems to mentally move much faster than the hike across the south side of the crater, because Halemauʻu passes by numerous prominent cinder cones, making the hike visually much quicker than Sliding Sands.
Halemauʻu Trail
The Halemauʻu Trail continues along a mostly flat path, where the elevation gain is hardly noticeable for nearly the entire hike to Hōlua, aside from a few very short, minor hills.
Once again, do not forget to wear a hooded sun shirt when hiking in Haleakalā National Park!
It really is easy to burn at these high elevations, even though the temperatures are usually not too hot.
What is the Difference Between ʻAʻā and Pāhoehoe Lava?
Notice the difference in how this lava flow looks compared to the lava flows around the ʻŌʻilipuʻu junction.
This is because there are two main types of above-ground lava flows, known as ʻaʻā and pāhoehoe. These two Hawaiian terms are recognized globally, which becomes even more noticeable in places outside of Hawaiʻi, such as Craters of the Moon in Idaho.
In any case, the photo here is an ʻaʻā lava flow, which can easily be distinguished by its rough, sharp shape. Think of ʻaʻā as flowing very fast, with the lava literally spilling over itself as it moves.
The second type is pāhoehoe, which is notably smoother and easier to walk on. This is because the lava, when flowing, is very slow-moving, resulting in a much flatter, smoother surface—like the flows immediately to the east of ʻŌʻilipuʻu.
The first and most notable hill on the Halemauʻu Trail can be seen in the distance on the left-hand side.
However, as previously mentioned, all the elevation gain between ʻŌʻilipuʻu and Hōlua Cabin is very mild, especially when compared to both trails in and out of Haleakalā Crater.
This short hill below Honokahua is as steep as the Halemauʻu Trail gets between ʻŌʻilipuʻu and Hōlua Cabin.
This is the top of the hill adjacent to Honokahua.
After Honokahua, the Halemauʻu Trail seems to move much faster because it passes one cinder cone after the next on the way to Hōlua Cabin.
That said, Nāmanaokeakua can be seen on the left-hand side of the photo below, and it’s the first of four major cinder cones that the Halemauʻu Trail passes on the inner side of the loop.
Unlike ʻĀkala or ʻŌhelo, do not eat Pilo berries.
This is why being able to identify what species you're looking at is imperative, as they certainly aren’t as good as other edible species throughout Haleakalā National Park.
Halemauʻu-Kapalaoa Junction (Nāmanaokeakua Junction)
The Nāmanaokeakua junction is the first of two trails that come together in the middle of the loop and head toward Kapalaoa Cabin.
This is also one of the least-hiked trails in Haleakalā Crater that I mentioned previously, because besides heading over to Kapalaoa from this direction, neither trail leads anywhere specific in terms of hiking through the crater.
My thoughts aside, go straight at this first junction to continue on the Haleakalā Loop Trail toward Hōlua Cabin.
As the Halemauʻu Trail passes Puʻunole to the south and Puʻumāmane to the north, the ʻĀhinahina start to become more and more frequent on the way to the Silversword Loop Trail.
Halemauʻu-Puʻu Naue Junction
The Puʻu Naue junction is on the other side of the two trails that come together on the way to Kapalaoa Cabin.
Once here, go straight to continue to Hōlua, which will enter some of the prettiest sections of the entire Haleakalā Crater Loop Trail, just a short distance ahead!
Halemauʻu-Puʻumāmane Junction
Immediately after the Halemauʻu-Puʻu Naue Junction, the trail passes by a second, less noticeable path on the right-hand side that leads to the summit of Puʻumāmane.
This is one of the optional day hikes that those staying in Kapalaoa Cabin can consider, but to stay on the true Haleakalā Crater Loop, continue straight on the much more obvious trail.
As the Halemauʻu Trail passes to the north of Puʻunaue and Halāliʻi, the Haleakalā Loop gets a lot prettier until the junction on the west side of Halāliʻi.
Halemauʻu-Koʻolau Gap Junction
When the Halemauʻu Trail passes this junction for an ‘Unmaintained Trail,’ go straight to continue on the main loop.
That said, it is rumored that there is an east Sea-to-Summit route through the Koʻolau Gap, similar to the Kaupō Gap near Palikū. However, ascending the slopes through the Koʻolau Gap from the Hāna Highway is known to be infinitely more difficult and remote in comparison.
It’s not something I would ever recommend—especially to those who aren’t familiar with remote Hawaiʻi hiking!
Kawilinau (East Halemauʻu-Halāliʻi Loop Junction)
Immediately after the Koʻolau Gap junction, the Halemauʻu Trail reaches Kawilinau, also called the 'Bottomless Pit,' which also serves as the east junction for the Halāliʻi Loop Trail.
From here, go straight (right) once again to continue on the Halemauʻu Trail around the north side of Halāliʻi.
This upcoming section on the north side of Halāliʻi is one of the prettiest sections anywhere within Haleakalā Crater!
This has to be one of the most photogenic spots anywhere on the Haleakalā Cabin Loop!
West Halemauʻu-Halāliʻi Loop Junction
Once on the west side of Halāliʻi, go right to stay on the Haleakalā Crater Loop, toward the Silversword Loop Trail and Hōlua Cabin.
This is also the connection that leads to the initial junction at the bottom of the Sliding Sands switchbacks, mentioned earlier in this article.
After Halāliʻi, it’s much more common to start seeing day hikers once again, as many visitors like to connect the Keoneheʻeheʻe Trailhead and the Halemauʻu Trailhead in one long 11.3-mile (18.2 km) day.
The hill that can be seen in the distance is a nice sign that the Halemauʻu Trail is getting close to the Silversword Loop.
This is the view looking back toward Halāliʻi and Puʻunaue.
South Halemauʻu-Silversword Loop Junction
With about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) before Hōlua Cabin, the Halemauʻu Trail reaches the Silversword Loop Trail, one of the few day-hiking destinations that hikers from Haleakalā Highway come to before turning back.
That said, go straight (left) to stay on the Halemauʻu Trail, or there is the option to break off on the Silversword Loop Trail by going right.
Either way, both routes meet again just 0.3 miles (0.5 km) ahead.
I chose to go straight to stay on the Halemauʻu Trail.
North Halemauʻu-Silversword Loop Junction
This is where both sides of the Silversword Loop come together once again.
From here, go straight (left) to reach Hōlua Cabin, less than 1.0 mile (1.6 km) away from this junction.
This fairly uncommon tree inside the crater is known as ʻIliahi, and this particular species, Santalum haleakalae var. haleakalae, is named after Haleakalā itself!
Furthermore, this specific variety is endemic only to Maui, but there is another, called Santalum haleakalae var. lanaiense, which can be found on both Lānaʻi and Maui.
In my experience, ʻIliahi is certainly not common on the Haleakalā Crater Loop, but it is much more abundant on the western slopes off Haleakalā Highway and the Hosmer Grove Trail near the lower visitor center.
With about 0.6 miles (1.0 km) to go, Hōlua Cabin can be seen for the first time when coming down this hill!
Hōlua Cabin-Halemauʻu Junction
This junction, just outside of Hōlua Cabin, marks the last split on the inside Haleakalā Crater.
On a different note, since we decided to break up our hike from Palikū to the Halemauʻu Trailhead into two days, our final day felt relatively easy, even with the near-constant elevation gain over the last 2.9 miles (4.7 km).
Hōlua Cabin
This is Hōlua Cabin, which is located in one of the driest parts of Haleakalā Crater, compared to both Kapalaoa and Palikū.
This is why I previously mentioned that it’s smart to hike from Palikū as if it’s the last place you’ll find water—especially during the summer months.
However, check with the National Park Service staff at the visitor center near Hosmer Grove before hiking in to know for sure.
Hōlua Cabin-Halemauʻu Junction
After a stunning sunrise through the Koʻolau Gap, we began our hike up the final 3.9 miles (6.3 km) to the Halemauʻu Trailhead.
That said, go left at this split to begin hiking over to the Halemauʻu switchbacks.
From the beginning of the hike leaving Hōlua Cabin, the Halemauʻu switchbacks can be seen in the distance on a clear day!
Some hikers may say that the Halemauʻu Trail between Hōlua Cabin and the switchbacks is a bit annoying because it loses elevation before climbing out.
However, this descent only totals about 325 ft. (99 m), which really isn’t all that much considering how mild the switchbacks up to the trailhead really are!
This is where the Halemauʻu Trail significantly levels out as it traverses through the ʻaʻā lava flows atop the Koʻolau Gap.
Halemauʻu Switchbacks
After 1.0 mile (1.6 km) and a roughly 325-ft. (99 m) descent, the Halemauʻu Trail reaches the base of the switchbacks, which climb roughly 1,375 ft. (419 m) from this point to the Halemauʻu Trailhead.
In total, there are 24 or 25 switchbacks, depending on how you count, to reach the top of the switchbacks just before the Supply Trail along the crater rim.
However, I truly believe they aren’t that bad—or, at the very least, they could certainly be much steeper!
If you are fortunate to get the views looking east across Haleakalā Crater, I can speak from experience that they are incredible, especially as you start to pick out all the different landmarks along the loop!
As a reminder, trekking poles may be necessary for some hikers, as the rapid elevation changes in and out of Haleakalā Crater may not be the easiest—especially when carrying big backpacks for a multi-day trip!
Along with the ʻĀhinahina, this species may be the most important that I mention throughout this article, as this plant in particular is endemic only to Maui—meaning it cannot be found anywhere else in the world but the Island of Maui.
That said, I think it’s great if you want to take pictures and appreciate how truly special this and all of Hawaiʻi’s endemic species are, but please do so responsibly!
Many plants around Hawaiʻi are very rare, largely as a result of invasive species and habitat loss, which I mention to ask all to please do what you can to take care of these islands as you visit.
This is one of the steeper sections on the hike up the Halemauʻu switchbacks, but, in reality, steep sections like this don’t last very long!
This is where the top of Haleakalā Crater started to feel closer than ever before!
When the Halemauʻu Trail traverses this flat section across the top of the ridgeline, you have reached the rim of Haleakalā Crater!
However, there are still a few more switchbacks to climb before the Supply Trail, but from this point on, the hike—in my opinion—starts to feel like it’s moving quicker than the switchbacks up to this point.
This fence line is the National Park boundary, and while fences similar to this—such as the one cutting across parts of the Under-the-Rim Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park—may seem like a bad idea because of wildlife, in Hawaiʻi fences are actually a good thing!
This is because fences like the one here keep out non-native, invasive ungulates, such as goats, pigs, and deer, which ultimately protects the intact native ecosystem within Haleakalā National Park.
These are the final gradual switchbacks, just before the Supply Trail up ahead.
Halemauʻu-Supply Junction
With just 0.6 miles (1.0 km) to go, the Halemauʻu Trail passes the Supply Trail, which is more or less a connector trail between Halemauʻu and Hosmer Grove below.
Once here, go left to begin the remaining sections, where the parking lot will start to become visible in the distance shortly ahead.
Read My Separate Post: Supply Trail
This Nohoanu subspecies is endemic to Maui, similar to the ʻIliahi tree mentioned previously.
This is where the Halemauʻu Trailhead and the parking lot can be seen in the distance for the first time!
Halemauʻu Trailhead
After two incredible nights and 20.0+ miles (32.2 km) of hiking, we finally made it to the Halemauʻu Trailhead where we had staged a car so that we could easily return to the Keoneheʻeheʻe Trailhead.
On that note, hitchhiking—or even walking the road—is not uncommon among hikers, and, in fact, there is a designated hitchhiking area just outside the Halemauʻu parking area.
I can’t deny that two-day-old cinnamon rolls from The Cinnamon Roll Place in Kīhei were the perfect way to end this incredible trip, and, surprisingly, they didn’t taste old or stale at all!
Native Plants in Haleakalā Crater
The native biodiversity in Haleakalā National Park is insane! For those unfamiliar, the vast majority of plants found at lower elevations across Hawaiʻi are non-native, invasive introductions.
However, the upper, remote elevations of Haleakalā National Park reflect what a true native Hawaiian forest should look like—especially near Palikū Cabin at the far eastern end of Haleakalā Crater.
That said, some of the many native plants that can be seen on the Keoneheʻeheʻe-Halemauʻu Loop include ʻĀhinahina, Hinahina, ʻŌhelo, ʻŌhiʻa lehua, Pūkiawe, ʻIliahi, Lapalapa, Māmane, ʻĀkala, Pilo, Naʻenaʻe, Koa, ʻAʻaliʻi, and Nohoanu, among many others!
If you would like to learn more about these and many other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
