Watching the sun come up from the summit of Haleakalā, at 10,023 feet, is one of the best things you can do on Maui. It got popular enough that the National Park Service started requiring reservations in 2017. If you plan ahead, it's easy.
How the reservations work
- You need a reservation to drive into the park between 3 and 7 a.m. Book it on Recreation.gov.
- Reservations open 60 days ahead, at 7 a.m. Hawaii time. A second batch is released 48 hours before each date, which is your best chance if you missed the first round.
- The reservation is $1 per vehicle, and you can hold one per three-day period.
- It's separate from the park entrance fee, which is $30 per car and good for three days. The park takes cards only, no cash.
- The person who made the reservation has to be in the car, with photo ID and the confirmation email.
- There are no refunds for bad weather. If the summit is socked in, that's the luck of the draw.
The park's sunrise page has the current rules.
Planning the drive from Makena
From Makena Surf to the summit takes about two hours, and the last 30 minutes are the switchbacks inside the park. Check the sunrise time for your date and leave well before it. You'll be leaving around 3 a.m. Fill up with gas the night before. There's no food, gas or anywhere to buy a jacket in the park.
Dress for winter. Before dawn the summit is often windy, wet and below freezing, even when it's 80 degrees at the beach. Bring layers, a warm hat, gloves and a blanket from home. Pack breakfast and coffee for the wait.
Not a morning person?
Go for sunset instead. You don't need a reservation after 7 a.m., and staying after dark for the stars is spectacular. The air is so clear at that altitude that the Milky Way looks close enough to touch. The same advice applies: bring warm clothes, and drive down slowly.
Cindy first posted about the new reservation rule in January 2017. The details have changed since, and this is the 2026 version.