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

Lisa P

Verified

February 8, 2024 Stayed at: Kapalaoa Cabin, Loop: Kapalaoa Cabin

5

It was perfect weather and the cabin was great!

Dawn J

Verified

February 8, 2024 Stayed at: Holua Cabin, Loop: Holua Cabin

5

Hiking Haleakalā National Park is a special experience and highly recommended. If you go, please take the time to appreciate the rules. This is culturally sacred place and a very fragile ecosystem.

Donald S

Verified

February 7, 2024 Stayed at: Kapalaoa Cabin, Loop: Kapalaoa Cabin

5

A good location for an overnight stay in Haleakala. Hike in on Keonehe'ehe'e, then out via Halemau'u trail. Very peaceful and quiet. Cabin users have donated lots of cooking pots and pans, utensils, and cups and plates. The Park furnishes logs for burning in the wood stove. Someone needs to bring a plastic dustpan to make sweeping out the cabin easier.

Anne O

Verified

January 3, 2024 Stayed at: Paliku Cabin, Loop: Paliku Cabin

4

We enjoyed staying at Paliku Cabin in Haleakala on December 20, 2023, with a family of 9–3 siblings and our grown kids. There was little toilet paper when we arrived, and the rangers come over and resupplied us. They were staying at the ranger cabin, fortunately. We had a delicious warm dinner, thanks to the gas burner, and the wood burning stove. It had rained all day, and we got an early night—in bed by 8 pm. The next morning, my daughter was surprised to find a mouse had eaten her dry oatmeal meant for breakfast, and another mouse had eaten through a plastic snack container of nuts, chocolate and dried fruit, that I left in my backpack on the floor. Lesson learned: food in the kitchen and food left on the dining table were not nibbled by mice.

William S

Verified

November 29, 2023 Stayed at: Holua Cabin, Loop: Holua Cabin

4

Well, I was just checking to see if there were ANY openings in the crater, and as luck would have it, there was one. So we built a trip around that. The nature of the system makes it VERY difficult to find success, but I can't think of any other way to structure it. Friends were stunned at my chance success.

Halayudha M

Verified

November 28, 2023 Stayed at: Holua Cabin, Loop: Holua Cabin

4

I love the place and we had an overall great time but there were mice running about eating through our food.

Jenifer B

Verified

November 25, 2023 Stayed at: Kapalaoa Cabin, Loop: Kapalaoa Cabin

5

I’ve stayed in all of the cabins, multiple times, over the past 15 years, mostly on horseback. Here are my tips for future hikers and campers:
• Bring lighters/matches and newsprint and light cardboard to get fire started. The Durologs provided in the cabin take awhile to really get burning.
• You will want warm fuzzy slippers to wear inside the cabin, especially at night.
• Bring scouring powder & scouring pads to scrub the pots and pans, cleanliness is subjective to the previous cabin occupants if you know what I mean.
• Bring tongs and a small hand broom and dustpan. Also bring salt & pepper, clothespins, and sarongs to hang in the windows as curtains. Bring fairy lights- miniature strings of lights battery operated- to hang around the cabin for ambiance & subtle lighting.
• The wood stoves are not big enough to bake food inside anymore. Used to be able to make pizzas or biscuits or cobbler or pies, not any more.
• If you’re going to “donate” leftover food items, please label and date them. Campers with allergies and sensitivities thank you in advance.
• We hiked down Sliding Sands to the cabin (approx 3 hours), and we hiked out of the crater on switchbacks. (Approx 5 hours). Highly suggest bringing 2 vehicles if you do this; one vehicle parked at the summit parking lot and the other vehicle parked at the switchbacks trailhead parking lot. It was after sunset when we reached the parking lot and it was impossible to hitchhike up 6 miles to the summit parking lot.
• Don’t take rocks and don’t stack rocks. Repeat: Do Not Take Rocks.
• Highly advisable to bring your own cleaning supplies. And then take them with you, no one wants to use your dirty rags.
This cabin was the dirtiest I’ve ever seen. Previous campers hadn’t wiped the counters down or swept the floor. We hiked out a huge bag of rubbish not ours. Have fun and enjoy!

Jonathan B

Verified

November 18, 2023 Stayed at: Kapalaoa Cabin, Loop: Kapalaoa Cabin

5

Great facilities but always good to come prepared with a full kit.

Tatjana G

Verified

November 17, 2023 Stayed at: Kapalaoa Cabin, Loop: Kapalaoa Cabin

5

It was one of the most magical experiences ever!!

Deborah L

Verified

November 11, 2023 Stayed at: Kapalaoa Cabin, Loop: Kapalaoa Cabin

4

Clear weather brought a spectacular night sky. Kapalaoa cabin has new flooring and roof, the outhouse has been relocated to a new "hole". So good to see efforts to improve these venerable and much used/loved cabins. Remember to bring fire starters and try to pack out not only your own stuff, but things left by others, e.g. old towels, sponges, empty packaging, candle stubs. Good for your trail karma.

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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