OutReserve

Haleakalā National Park (cabin Permits)

view of crater, orange and black cinder hills with clouds and a low rainbow
Haleakalā National Park (cabin Permits)
Haleakalā National Park (cabin Permits)
Haleakalā National Park (cabin Permits)
Haleakalā National Park (cabin Permits)

About Haleakalā National Park (cabin Permits)

Located on the island of Maui, Haleakalā National Park maintains three wilderness cabins for visitor use-- Hōlua, Palikū, and Kapalaoa. All cabins are accessible only by trail from the summit area and require you to hike a minimum of 3.7 mi (5.9 km). Backcountry users must plan to enter the park entrance for their stay no earlier than 7 am unless they have also obtained a sunrise reservation granting access to the park between 3 and 7 am. Sunrise reservations can be made on recreation.gov.  Horses, mules, and donkeys are permitted as pack animals on the Keoneheʻeheʻe Trail, Halemauʻu Trail, and Supply Trail. If planning to travel by pack animal--please notify park staff upon making reservation. All waste produced by pack animals must be removed from parking areas and trailheads. No group may have more than 12 pack animals. Riders, commercial operators, and owners are responsible for the removal of dead or injured stock within 72 hours. Pets of any other kind are prohibited on all trails. Hōlua Cabin, located at 6,940 ft (2,115 m) is nestled at the base of the crater wall in the shrubland near Koʻolau Gap. This is the cabin reached by the shortest hike. Hōlua is 3.7 mi (6 km) one way down the Halemauʻu trail or 7.4 mi one way (12 km) from the Keoneheʻeheʻe (sliding sands) trailhead. Visitors staying at Hōlua can enjoy day hikes further into the crater. The landscape around Hōlua supports a native shrubland which colonizes the lava flows. A wilderness tent camp area is located nearby.  Palikū Cabin located at 6,380 ft (1,945 m) is on the east end of the wilderness valley at the base of a rain forest cliff. This cabin is reached via a strenuous 9.3 mi (15 km) one way hike on the Keoneheʻeheʻe (sliding sands) Trail or 10.4 mi (17 km) one way hike on the Halemauʻu Trail. Clouds and fog often roll over the top of the cliffs behind Palikū, and rain is common. The extra moisture makes this spot exceptionally cool and lush. A wilderness tent camp area is located nearby.  Kapalaoa Cabin located at 7,250 ft (2,210 m) is perched near the Kaupō Gap on the southern end of the wilderness valley. This cabin is reached via a 5.6 mi (2.7 km) hike via Keoneheʻeheʻe (sliding sands) Trail or 7.2 mi (11.6 km) hike on the Halemauʻu Trail. Kapalaoa is located in a grass field and is not accompanied by a wilderness tent area.  Message of Cultural Sensitivity: Upon entering Haleakalā National Park, you are a guest of the Hawaiian culture, which considers the entire area sacred. Each person should behave as if entering a temple or reverent place in his or her own culture or belief system. The rocks, the plants and even the silence are part of the sacredness and should not be disturbed. For Native Hawaiians, Haleakalā represents an important place within their culture. 

Number of accommodations: 3

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Open year round

This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.

365 Days

Sites & Availability

3 Sites Available

Site
Price
🏠 Holua Cabin, Loop: Holua Cabin
12 guests
$75.00
/ per night
🏠 Kapalaoa Cabin, Loop: Kapalaoa Cabin
12 guests
$75.00
/ per night
🏠 Paliku Cabin, Loop: Paliku Cabin
12 guests
$75.00
/ per night

Reviews (173)

What Guests Are Saying

Haleakalā National Park offers an incredible, otherworldly experience, with stunning views and a magical atmosphere, especially when staying in the rustic cabins. Many visitors appreciate the well-maintained trails and helpful park staff, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature. However, some cabins need maintenance, and issues with propane and cleanliness have been reported, highlighting the importance of packing accordingly and being mindful of the environment. Overall, the uniqueness of the park and the beauty of the night sky make it a memorable destination.

Review Summary

4.4
173 reviews
5
67.6%
117
4
17.3%
30
3
6.4%
11
2
3.5%
6
1
5.2%
9

Michele F

Verified

September 18, 2024 Stayed at: Paliku Cabin, Loop: Paliku Cabin

5

Cabin well stocked with cookware, utensils, gas, and water.

Excellent accommodations as always

Emily M

Verified

August 26, 2024 Stayed at: Kapalaoa Cabin, Loop: Kapalaoa Cabin

5

It was amazing!!! Booking was quite difficult trying to purchase a permit during the 3 minute(-ish) time slot allowed 6 months before the camp date but once I got it - my husband and I were so excited!! We went in the middle of August during a full moon and NO ONE was in the cabin with us. It made me think of other nights we could have gotten our cabin permits. If you cannot go, please cancel your permit so others have a chance!!

The cabin was clean and there were pots, pans, bowls, hot plates, fire wood, and an outhouse. Non potable running water helps too. The only animals we saw were the nene, some pheasants (?), flies, and small wasps. Not a rodent or reptile in sight. Coming in took about 4 hours on sliding sands (took lots of breaks). Hiking out on sliding sands requires took almost 5 hrs, mental fortitude, and lots of breaks. Start hiking out before the sun truly rises since it will be cooler then. We tried singing on our last 2 hours up - which was exhausting - but fun and helped past the time. Temp was 70s at most during the day and 50s at night (mid august).

We told the park rangers that our car was in the lot and we would be hiking down and staying overnight. They wrote down our and the car information just in case.

HONESTLY, BEST EXPERIENCE EVER.

Pia R

Verified

August 21, 2024 Stayed at: Paliku Cabin, Loop: Paliku Cabin

5

Perfect weather!!! It was a particularly beautiful crater experience- first time in the guest cabin. Definitely would stay again (in summertime)💯

Ely S

Verified

July 29, 2024 Stayed at: Holua Cabin, Loop: Holua Cabin

1

The park was closed due to post fire clean-up. Unable to use reservation, the funds were returned. Would have been nice to have been offered a future reservation date.

Ryan M

Verified

July 13, 2024 Stayed at: Holua Cabin, Loop: Holua Cabin

5

we forgot to lock the door before going to bed. a person entered the cabin around 11:30pm when we were all asleep. they walked around, shined their headlamp in our faces and then left without saying a single word. we followed them outside to confront them but they ran into the crater and then shut off their headlamp, obscuring their location. very unsettling experience. stay safe out there.

Cedric L

Verified

July 12, 2024 Stayed at: Kapalaoa Cabin, Loop: Kapalaoa Cabin

4

Cabins are clean! Views are spectacular!

Joe D

Verified

May 30, 2024 Stayed at: Paliku Cabin, Loop: Paliku Cabin

1

Need to make it fair for locals to get cabins CHANGE THE PROCESS ENOUGH EXCUSES the people of maui and all of Hawaii need to be able to experience Haleakala we need the ability to have cabins for multiple nights or another cabin the next day HEAR OUR VOICES

Lyda L

Verified

May 28, 2024 Stayed at: Paliku Cabin, Loop: Paliku Cabin

4

Beautiful!

Kenneth B

Verified

May 13, 2024 Stayed at: Holua Cabin, Loop: Holua Cabin

5

The park was great! The cabin was good too. It was super wet when our group went and we stayed warm and dry in the Holua cabin. Previous campers left extra soap and fuel. There is a lot of backup fuel for Coleman (propane) type stoves and smaller ones like a Jetboil (isobutane mix). There were dishes, utensils, pots, etc. It's well stocked.

Stephen G

Verified

May 3, 2024 Stayed at: Kapalaoa Cabin, Loop: Kapalaoa Cabin

3

I have been going into the crater for many years and every time it’s a spectacular experience. The cabins make to nice alternative to tenting especially during some of the extreme wet cold and windy weather that is a common. I like rustic. I get it. Kapalaoa cabins needed a new stove. Check with the visitor center and make sure they have fixed it. They sent me a letter a week out saying that the propane stove needed to be replaced and that I should bring my own canister of isobutane fuel. I have my own stove if I knew the stove they left in there was a tiny little thing that anything larger than a coffee cup was hard to get balanced, impossible if twelve people were trying to prepare meals at the same time. The huge log splitter in which you must stack all the brick at the same time in order to get one split. Do split them all at the same time. The piston won’t extend enough to only do one or two. The stuff is very hard to light and you must bring your own fire starter. . The above didn’t necessarily take away from the wonderful splendor the the crater provides. I was disappointed that people are still not packing all their junk out. I they somehow justify leaving their empty soap bottles, half used food packets, lighters, dirty towels and rags, old water bottles and any other spent or broken something they don’t want to pack out. I packed out more than I came in with. It is no trace camping people. Take your junk home when you leave.

Location Haleakalā National Park (cabin Permits)

Address:
Po Box 369
Makawao, HI, 96768
United States

Latitude & Longitude: 20.7097 / -156.164

Elevation: 2040 feet

Policies & Rules

Category About
General

Entry and Wood Locker Codes: Each of the cabins and wood lockers are secured with a combination lock. Codes for the locks will be sent from hale_interpretation@nps.gov to the email address listed on the reservation 1-2 weeks in advance of the first night on the reservation.If you are making a reservation within two weeks of your first night due to a cancellation, contact hale_interpretation@nps.gov or call 808-572-4400 to obtain entry and wood locker codes. Please contact the park as soon as booking is complete since park staff may not be available for last minute code requests.Park staff are not available in the backcountry to assist groups who do not have the codes or are locked out. Permit holders assume all responsibility for ensuring they have the codes before heading into the backcountry.

General

Cabin Guidelines: All garbage, food, and personal gear must be packed out. Check-in/check-out time is NOON. Respect other visitors' right to quiet and solitude--quiet hours are 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Visitors to the cabins are advised to sanitize before and after use utilizing their own cleaning supplies that should be packed out. Cabins should be left clean and fire completely out. LOCK DOORS and windows when you leave. You may be fined for dirty or damaged cabins or denied future access. Graffiti on the natural and constructed environment is considered vandalism and will be prosecuted. Cabin is for the EXCLUSIVE USE of permittee and registered guests. Campers are told to respect cabin user privacy and should not be let in.

General

Reservation Permit. A printed copy of the reservation MUST be held by the reservation holder at all times. Reservations are non-transferable. The reservation holder is legally responsible for the actions and safety of the group. Leave an itinerary and guest list with a friend. If you are renting a vehicle- please enter “Rental” in the license plate form field. When you arrive on island, you MUST log back into recreation.gov to enter your rental car plate. Once your permit is printed you cannot edit your license plates. Email hale_interpretation@nps.gov with updated license plate information if unable to update online.

General

Facilities. All three cabins offer pit toilets and non-potable water. You must filter or treat water before drinking. Each cabin has a wood-burning stove, a two-burner propane stove, and 12 padded bunks. Bring a lighter or matches. During drought, you must pack in all your water. No electricity in the cabins. There is no cell service in the wilderness.

General

Wood and Propane Supply. Locker number(s) and combination(s) will be issued by park staff via email to the email account listed on the reservation from the hale_interpretation@nps.gov account. The park cannot guarantee that propane or wood will be available. A fire starter is recommended if intending to utilize the wood stove. Extra logs and fire starters are available for purchase at the Haleakalā Visitor Center (9,740ft).

General

Essentials. First aid kit, trail map, compass, extra food, extra water (3 - 4 liters per person/day), flashlight, headlight with extra batteries, tent/shelter with rain fly, sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen, hat), sleeping bag, emergency blanket, extra layers (rain jacket/pants), pocket knife, and gear repair kit.

General

Fires. Open fires or gathering firewood is NOT allowed. Fires are permitted in the wood stove only. Don't move firewood from outside the park. The park provides three logs per night. Extra logs are available for purchase at the Haleakalā Visitor Center (9,740ft). Do not give out logs to campers.

General

Entrance Fee. A separate park entrance fee, valid for three days, is required. The park honors interagency passes.

General

Stay on Trails. Hiking off trail and short-cutting switchbacks is prohibited and subject to citation. Off-trail hiking causes erosion and damages fragile and/or endangered life forms that are not readily apparent to the casual observer.

General

Restrictions. NO pets, firearms or wheeled vehicles. NO feeding or harassment of wildlife. NO picking plants, disturbing rocks, building cairns.

General

Visited Hawaii Island or Kauai recently? All gear, especially shoes must be cleaned thoroughly to prevent rapid ʻōhia death (ROD) Wiping down gear with a 70% alcohol solution is recommeneded to satisfy this requirement.

General

Kaupō Gap Trail: The Kaupō Gap Trail leaves the boundary of Haleakalā National Park and is not maintained by the NPS. Hikers assume all risk on this rugged, unmaintained, and brushy trail. At times, the trail can be difficult to follow or find. Several hikers have become disoriented, lost, or injured while navigating this trail. NPS officials highly recommend travel on either the Halemauʻu or Keoneheʻeheʻe Trails to access Haleakalā Crater.

General

No Camping: Camping outside the cabin in non-designated camping space is prohibited

General

Pack Animals: If planning to travel by pack animal--please notify park staff upon making your reservation to ensure sufficient paddock space is available. All waste produced by pack animals must be removed from parking areas and trailheads. No group may have more than 12 pack animals. Riders, commercial operators, and owners are responsible for the removal of dead or injured stock within 72 hours. Pets of any other kind are prohibited on all trails.

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