Maui

SUNSET AND STARGAZING HALEAKALA TOUR

Description

A sunset atop Haleakala — known as house of the sun in Hawaiian — is pure magic. You’ll be walking on sunshine, that is of course until the stars come out. Then, weather permitting, you’ll behold some of the best stargazing in the world. You'll be so close to the stars you'll swear you can touch them!

Here are just a few of the fun things you can do on the tour!

•⁠ Watch the sunset atop Mt. Haleakala
•⁠ Look for constellations at Haleakala's summit
•⁠ Hike the Hosmer Grove or Sliding Sands trails
•⁠ Visit a lavender or dairy farm
•⁠ Walk through historic Makawao Town

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Recommended Start Time: Around 12:00 p.m. (check sunset times in advance)
Tour Starting Point(s): Kahului
Direction: Loop, ending where you began — all stops are on your way up the mountain

All Shaka Guide tours come with 24/7 customer support and a 100% money-back guarantee. Tours never expire.
Half-Day Tour (4-6 Hours) 68 Narration Points

​Features

  • Beaches

  • Views

  • Hikes

  • Snorkeling

  • Local Food

  • Storytelling

Tour Stops

  • Pukalani Town

  • Makawao Town

  • Hosmer Grove - Nature Trail

  • Halemau'u Crater Hike

  • Leleiwi Overlook

  • Kalahaku Overlook

  • Pa Ka'oao Trail

  • Red Hill Summit

  • Sliding Sands Trail

  • Drive Down The Mountain

  • Final Viewpoint

  • Upcountry Farms

Video

SUNSET AND STARGAZING HALEAKALA TOUR

Tour FAQ’s

Where does the tour go?

This tour begins in Kahului and guides you through the park making stops along the way. Once you’ve reached the summit we’ll guide you back to Kahului with stories. Here are some of the popular spots you can explore on the tour!

  • Makawao Town
  • Hosmer Grove Trail 
  • Pa Ka’oao Trail 
  • Sliding Sands Trails
  • Kalahaku Overlook
  • Leleiwi Overlook
  • Halemau’u Trail
  • Historic Makawao Town

For help planning your day check out our Sunset and Stargazing Haleakala National Park suggested itinerary and here's everything you need to know before you go. 

What should I pack?

  • Sneakers & hiking clothes
  • Jacket or sweatshirt (temperatures fluctuate throughout the park, but at night temperatures drop drastically) 
  • Water (make sure you stay hydrated as you change altitudes) 
  • Bug spray
  • Towel
  • Sunscreen (you'll be closer to the sun!) 
  • Sun Glasses and/or Hat
  • Snacks (there’s no place to buy snacks in the park) 
  • Car Charger
  • Camera
  • Cash (see What should I budget? below)


What should I budget?

How much you spend really depends on the activities you choose to do along the tour route, but here’s a breakdown of some costs.


  • $14.99: Shaka Guide’s West Maui Tour
  • $29.00 (adult)/ $19.00 (child) per person: Maui Ocean Center
  • $7.00 (adult)/ free for children 12 and under: Wo Hing Museum
  • $5.00 per car: Iao Valley State Park
  • $7.00 (adult)/ $2.00 (child) per person: Bailey House Museum
  • $15.00 per person: Lunch

Can I join the tour along the route?

Yes! Feel free to join the tour along the route. Just make sure that you follow the numbers in chronological order from where you are starting from. If you don’t begin at one of the tour starting points you’ll miss a few stories, but you’ll still have a great experience.

Can I take the tour in the opposite direction?

No, the tour starts and ends in Kahului. If you’d like to begin this tour at Haleakala National Park you can join the tour along the route, but you’ll miss out on some stories.

What time is the sunset?

It depends on the time of year, but sunset in the winter (October-March) is between 5:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. and in the summer (April-September) it’s between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. We recommend you double check the night before your visit.

Please note, if you’re staying in West Maui at one of the resorts in Lahaina, Kaanapali or Kapalua it takes about 45 minutes to reach the start of the tour in Kahului and then, depending on the stops you make, it takes about 2-3 hours to reach the summit. This tour is designed with no stops on the way back with the expectation you’ll be driving at night.


Other Questions? Contact Us!

Still have questions? Send us an email at aloha@shakaguide.com or give us a call on 1-888-250-2261.

Customer Reviews

  • 5
    12,690
  • 4
    987
  • 3
    282
  • 2
    106
  • 1
    35

Chantel Hays Carson | December 2021
Beautiful drive! Nice and thorough audio commentary. Wished some of the advice and heads up about the roads could have come at the beginning, not middle to end of the trip.

Shaka Guide

Responded | December 2021

Maria Hamidani | December 2021
Amazing app! Totally worth it. Got the bundle and it made our road to Hana journey so much more enjoyable! Also the music and tour made the drive less stressful for my husband 😂💯💯💯

Shaka Guide

Responded | December 2021

Excellent Tour Guide

6tones | December 2021
I bought the packs while on vacation in Maui. We did the reverse to Hana Drive and it was perfect!!! We had a Nissan Sentra roads were not bad at all. (check the weather before, one area on the backside drive can flood if its been raining) My only wish is that we had left early enough to catch the sunrise. I highly recommend these tours, they alleviate a lot of stress. Like riding with a local to show us all the sweet spots. we just sat back and enjoy the ride.
3 of 1848 ratings More

More Tours