Haleakalā National Park (Cabin Permits)

We were fortunate to obtain a one night reservation at Holua Cabin. The hike to the cabin was well marked and our 7 year old twin grandsons hiked down the trail in sneakers. Once we arrived at the cabin, we opened the padlock with the combination provided by the Park Service. The cabin was clean and had 12 bunks (4 sets of 3 bunks). There is no electricity, so candles are a good idea for illuminating the cabin. The propane tank was well stocked and we were able to boil water. In the morning, two Nene goose visited us (don't feed them!). The hike out was warm and sunny. Overall, it is a chance of a lifetime to camp at Holua cabin! Mahalo!

Nice cabin, good setup, very quiet.

Where do I begin. This was a fantastic backpacking experience/adventure starting with the hike down into the crater from Sliding Sands trail to reaching my first destination Kapalaoa Cabin. This spot was the best out of the three cabins I stayed. The night sky was amazing from the milky way to sunset to sunrise. The only beef I have it’s required to clean the cabins by sweeping the floor. All three cabins brooms 🧹 has seen better days. The bristles was so short I barely could use the broom to sweep. Paliku and Holua cabins had no toilet paper, luckily I brought extra. Paliku cabin—the furthest away —was in poor shape when I arrived. Floors and ceiling needed some TLC. I reported this to the ranger when leaving Haleakalā. All in all I would definitely do this backpacking trail again.

Where do I begin. This was a fantastic backpacking experience/adventure starting with the hike down into the crater from Sliding Sands trail to reaching my first destination Kapalaoa Cabin. This spot was the best out of the three cabins I stayed. The night sky was amazing from the milky way to sunset to sunrise. The only beef I have it’s required to clean the cabins by sweeping the floor. All three cabins brooms 🧹 has seen better days. The bristles was so short I barely could use the broom to sweep. Paliku and Holua cabins had no toilet paper, luckily I brought extra. Paliku cabin—the furthest away —was in poor shape when I arrived. Floors and ceiling needed some TLC. I reported this to the ranger when leaving Haleakalā. All in all I would definitely do this backpacking trail again.

Seeing the sunrise at this park is a must. Dress warmly and bring gloves and a hat. When it is windy, it can be cold. If possible, visit again in the full daylight as it changes your perspective. I also recommend going to the oceanside of the park which is accessible by taking the road to Hana.

Amazing experience! We saw the sunset. The view is breathtaking. A native Hawaiian sang as the sun set and made the experience even better. If you are planning a trip, add this to your itinerary.

Perfect weather, perfect cabin experience. The broom needs replaced if anyone is able to bring one on their stay.

Kapalaoa is the ideal spot in the Haleakala crater.

Another great experience. Got the email saying propane was low or none in the cabins. Brought our turbo-boils and purchased fuel at the Ace Hardware in Kahului. Cashier said we could return what we didn’t use but when we went back they refused to take it back.
Hike in from sliding sands was great, beautiful, and long to Kapalaoa.
Saw a white juvenile owl flying. No moon so stars were gorgeous.
Hike out the switchbacks was cold and rainy.
Bring a rain jacket just in case. Tradeoff, stay dry and hot, or get wet and be cold. Good backpack cover is essential to keep pack and things inside dry. Will be back next year.

We visited Haleakalā National Park to catch the sunrise on a weekday, and it was absolutely breathtaking. The entire experience was incredibly pleasant, serene, and peaceful.
A few critical tips on booking because you cannot just show up:
Reservations are Mandatory: You absolutely need an advance reservation ticket for sunrise vehicle entry. There are no walk-ins or drive-ups allowed without one.
Last-Minute Booking: We managed to reserve our tickets the day before our visit, but they go incredibly fast, so you have to be quick and plan ahead!
The actual sunrise was gorgeous, though the clouds were sitting a bit lower than we expected on the day we went. It was still stunning, but if you happen to visit during the rainy season, I imagine the dramatic cloud formations would make it even more spectacular!
The drive up the mountain is very nice, smooth, and scenic. Once you get to the top, the environment is wrapped in a beautiful, low-noise tranquility that makes the morning feel magical. Just make sure to dress in warm layers because it gets surprisingly freezing up there before the sun breaks. Highly recommend making the trip!