Haleakalā National Park (Cabin Permits)

This was my first experience using the cabin reservation system and I managed to get Kapalaoa Cabin on the dates I wanted on the first try. I suspect mid-week was easier than a weekend. Will try again in a month or two.

Bring back the pots, pans, utensils, make it 4 logs a night for summer and fall, 5 logs a night for winter, spring. Guarantee there will be wood, propane, and tp. If there is a problem doing this, charge more money per night. If the pots and pans is a Covid requirement, require being vaccinated to secure a permit.

Amazing crater nights. All kinds of weather.

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Paliku is a very magical place, we had a great experience hiking the volcano and staying at the cabin

We were at Holua Cabin November 3 and 4 for the new moon. Of note, all kitchen ware etc has been removed (covid related?), there is a single food pot and a single water pot. The biggest issue is the rodent infestation inside the cabin, with food/food packaging and a pack being chewed into as well as ongoing noise throughout the night... check with the park to see if and to what extent if at all this has been addressed...

Right now there are no mugs, plates, bowls, cups or other eating/cooking gear. Only a couple of pans. Prepare for this when planning your trip.

We very much enjoyed our overnight stay at the Paliku Cabin. The cabin was as clean as expected. The propane stove worked as it should. And we were allotted 3 logs for the fire place which sufficiently warmed the cabin and dryed our wet shoes and clothes from a long soggy hike in. The supplies mattress were fine.

The trail system was well marked and maintained. However the last ~1.5 mi before the cabin was quite muddy and in some places impossible to pass without submerging our shoes. Maybe this was due to a very rainy period on Maui (but it could be the norm for this part of the trail).

Enjoy!

Our stay in Kapalaoa cabin was fantastic. The cabin is basic but the scenery was incredible. We were fortunate to have had very good weather with warm dry days, even in mid-january. At night we were greeted by a very bright half moon and some stars. Even in the darkest hours of night, the skies were bright and it was easy to see outside. I was happy to find wood in the locker and find that the propane stove worked. We brought our own pans but there were a few left in the cabin that could be used too. While we were able to get the wood stove working and a fire burning brightly, it did not make the cabin very warm. We found it easiest to light the thin slices of the wood kindling on the propane stove instead of with matches, just to get them alight. We were prepared for the chill with sleeping bags rated between 30-45degrees but guests should be aware that the fire only takes the edge off the cold and as it will likely go out while you sleep, it will be chilly in the morning. We hiked in from sliding sands, which was relatively easy as its mostly downslope. After dropping our packs at the cabin, we took a short walk around the crater floor, and while the trail wasnt always the easiest to follow it was some of my favourite landscapes in the park. The second day, we hiked out the halemau'u trailhead which is extremely scenic and flat for the first half, but the second half up the switchbacks can be difficult, especially when carrying overnight packs. Well worth the trip though!

Amazing