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Thomas on Islands | profile | all galleries >> == Maui Albums == >> Maui, Haleakala Crater tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Lahaina, Maui | Feast at Lele, a Luau in Lahaina | Iao Valley | A Stop in Pa'ia (Road to Hana) | Ke'anae (Road to Hana) | Black Lava, Droplets and Hana Road | Koki and Hamoa Beaches along Hana Road, Maui | Lindbergh's Grave, Kipahulu (past Hana), Maui | Venus Pool (Waioka), Hana Road | Maui, Haleakala Crater | Maui's Upcountry, Slopes of Haleakala

Maui, Haleakala Crater

Impressions from a hike along the Sliding Sands Trail through the Haleakala Crater

Crater is considered to be 750.000 years old. It is still called "active" by the geologists, although the most recent eruption in its summit is estimated to have been between 800 and 1500 years ago. The last flank eruption occurred in year 1790 over the Keone'o'io (also known as Le Peruse Bay). Indeed, very recent for a volcano!

The hike brought me to the Ka Lu'u o ka O'o Vent ("Plunge of the Digging Stick.") This is a reasonable distance for a day hike in a short winter day. The hike is 2.5mi/4km in one direction, or 5mi/8km total. Elevation difference is -1400'/-427m. Park rangers rate the difficulty of this hike as "moderate".

The dimensions of everything at Haleakala is gigantic. In many cases only the size of people appearing on the images allow to recognize the real scale of this crater valley with its numerous Cones (or Vents.) More details are in the image narration.

5-35 Haleakala National Park Entry
5-35 Haleakala National Park Entry		 6-03-Molokai seen from Haleakala
6-03-Molokai seen from Haleakala		 6-02 Overlooking Sliding Sands Trail, 9778'
6-02 Overlooking Sliding Sands Trail, 9778'		 6-04 Overlooking Visitors Center
6-04 Overlooking Visitors Center		 6-07 Touch of Ice on Maui
6-07 Touch of Ice on Maui
06-On Horizon Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea
06-On Horizon Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea		 09-Descent into a Moon Landscape
09-Descent into a Moon Landscape		 10-Ko'olau Gap, Hanakauhi (8907')
10-Ko'olau Gap, Hanakauhi (8907')		 11-Haleakala generic view
11-Haleakala generic view		 12-Ko'olau Gap, Hanakauhi (8907')
12-Ko'olau Gap, Hanakauhi (8907')
13-Kumu'iliahi Ridge
13-Kumu'iliahi Ridge		 14-Sliding Sands Trail
14-Sliding Sands Trail		 15-Descent
15-Descent		 16-Keonehe'ehe'e Ridge
16-Keonehe'ehe'e Ridge		 17-Pu'u Ali'i, 8189'
17-Pu'u Ali'i, 8189'
18-Keonehe'ehe'e Ridge
18-Keonehe'ehe'e Ridge		 19-Visitors Center left above
19-Visitors Center left above		 20-Ko'olau Gap
20-Ko'olau Gap		 23-Keonehe'ehe'e Ridge
23-Keonehe'ehe'e Ridge		 24-Sliding Sands Trail
24-Sliding Sands Trail
25-Three Cinder Cones
25-Three Cinder Cones		 26-Ka Lu'u o ka O'o Vent, elevation 8326'
26-Ka Lu'u o ka O'o Vent, elevation 8326'		 28-Hiker below Kumu'iliahi Ridge
28-Hiker below Kumu'iliahi Ridge		 27-Haleakala rear part
27-Haleakala rear part		 29-Haleakala rear part
29-Haleakala rear part
30-Kumu'iliahi Ridge
30-Kumu'iliahi Ridge		 31-Trail to Kalu'u Cinder Cone
31-Trail to Kalu'u Cinder Cone		 33-Ahinahina (Silversword)
33-Ahinahina (Silversword)		 34-Ahinahina
34-Ahinahina		 35-Distant Kaupo Gap and Cinder Cones
35-Distant Kaupo Gap and Cinder Cones
36-Ko'olau Gap
36-Ko'olau Gap		 37-Haleakala rear part
37-Haleakala rear part		 38-Kamoali'i and Pu'u o Maui
38-Kamoali'i and Pu'u o Maui		 39-Trail to Kalu'u Cinder Cone
39-Trail to Kalu'u Cinder Cone		 40-Horse Riders at the Ridge
40-Horse Riders at the Ridge
41-Cinder Cones
41-Cinder Cones		 42-Slopes toward the Visitors Center
42-Slopes toward the Visitors Center		 43-Ka Lu'u o ka O'o Vent
43-Ka Lu'u o ka O'o Vent		 47-Optical Illusion at Kalu'u
47-Optical Illusion at Kalu'u		 48-Inside the Kalu'u o ka O'o Vent
48-Inside the Kalu'u o ka O'o Vent
49-Narrow Ridge around Kalu'u
49-Narrow Ridge around Kalu'u		 50-People at the Kalu'u
50-People at the Kalu'u		 51-Kalu'u, People and Plants
51-Kalu'u, People and Plants		 52-Kamoali'i Cinder Cone
52-Kamoali'i Cinder Cone		 53-Kamoali'i and the Pu'u o Maui
53-Kamoali'i and the Pu'u o Maui
56-Tourist and a Stone Sculpture
56-Tourist and a Stone Sculpture		 57-Kamoali'i and Pu'u o Maui
57-Kamoali'i and Pu'u o Maui		 58-Keonehe'ehe'e Ridge
58-Keonehe'ehe'e Ridge		 59-Hanakauhi (8907')
59-Hanakauhi (8907')		 60-Ko'olau gap bottom detail
60-Ko'olau gap bottom detail
61-Haleakala Rear Part
61-Haleakala Rear Part		 62-Vegetation on the Kalapawili Ridge
62-Vegetation on the Kalapawili Ridge		 64-Looking up at the Visitors Center
64-Looking up at the Visitors Center		 65-Ko'olau Gap
65-Ko'olau Gap		 66-Moving away from Kalu'u
66-Moving away from Kalu'u
67-Getting Dark
67-Getting Dark		 68-Look toward Kaupo Gap
68-Look toward Kaupo Gap		 69-Cinder Cones and the Spur Trail
69-Cinder Cones and the Spur Trail		 6-11-Ride down by bike!
6-11-Ride down by bike!		 6-13 Kula Lodge
6-13 Kula Lodge

comment | share
Guest 02-Jul-2009 16:51
Great summary of the hike! I just did the same hike this past Sunday (6/28/09). I did not plan in advance for how far into the crater I should hike. The cinder cone looked like a good destination. This presented something of a problem as it only left 1.5 hours to get back to the summit before sunset. Tough return trip. -Dave
Ron Lutz II08-Feb-2004 21:20
Interesting gallery.
Thomas on Islands27-Jan-2004 00:46
It is actually a mix of images from 1992 and from 1999. The hike itself
was 1999, in bad and hazy weather on lower elevations. Thus the outlook
at Kahului and Molokai is 7 years older, from Dec. 1992. I was also 1995 on
Maui, but the park was closed, because Mr. Clinton could not pay governmental
salaries. I found it very concerning that many rangers were present on duty,
with the only task... to prohibit people of getting to the summit. Well, if
already sitting there on the volcano, why not to allow people to the outlook?
Selvin Chance26-Jan-2004 06:48
Wonderful tour accompanied by stunning photos. Brings back memories of a short visit over 20 years ago.
Aloha and Mahalo
click on thumbnails for full image