Haleakala Crater is the world's largest dormant volcano. It is 12 km (7.5 miles) long, 4 km (2.5 miles) wide and 2.5 km (1.5 miles) high. The barren crater floor is dotted with majestic cinder cones and resembles the surface of the moon. The crater rim offers marvelous views over the region, while the floor of the crater offers good hiking possibilities.
Haleakala National Park stretches from the crater down to the pools of Oheo Gulch, south of Hana on Maui's eastern coast. Not far from the park's headquarters is Hosmer Grove, which has a pleasant 0.8 km (0.5 miles) loop trail passing through introduced and native forest. Next to it is the huge Waikamoi Preserve, which includes native koa and ohia rainforests. Native birds, such as the endangered Maui creeper and crested honeycreeper, can be seen there.
Halfway between the park's headquarters and the visitor center is Leleiwi Overlook, from where you can see the West Maui Mountains, Maui's isthmus and sometimes even the Brocken specter, an optical phenomenon that takes place at high elevations: your image is magnified and projected onto the clouds by the sun, while the light reflecting off water droplets in the clouds creates a circular rainbow around your shadow. About 1.6 km (1 mile) above Leleiwi Overlook is the Kalahaku Overlook, which lets you look down into the crater. Maui's highest point is the Puu Ulaula Overlook, from where you can see the Big Island, Lanai, Molokai and Oahu.
Travel Guides for Mount Haleakala
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