Wilderness Cabins — Haleakalā National Park

Overview

Located on the island of Maui, Haleakal__ National Park maintains three wilderness cabins for visitor use-- H__lua, Palik__, 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 Keonehe ehe e Trail, Halemau__u 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. H__lua Cabin, located at 6,940 ft (2,115 m) is nestled at the base of the crater wall in the shrubland near Ko__olau Gap. This is the cabin reached by the shortest hike. H__lua is 3.7 mi (6 km) one way down the Halemau__u trail or 7.4 mi one way (12 km) from the Keonehe ehe e (sliding sands) trailhead. Visitors staying at H__lua can enjoy day hikes further into the crater. The landscape around H__lua supports a native shrubland which colonizes the lava flows. A wilderness tent camp area is located nearby. Palik__ 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 Keonehe ehe e (sliding sands) Trail or 10.4 mi (17 km) one way hike on the Halemau__u Trail. Clouds and fog often roll over the top of the cliffs behind Palik__, 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 Kaup__ Gap on the southern end of the wilderness valley. This cabin is reached via a 5.6 mi (2.7 km) hike via Keonehe ehe e (sliding sands) Trail or 7.2 mi (11.6 km) hike on the Halemau__u Trail. Kapalaoa is located in a grass field and is not accompanied by a wilderness tent area. Message of Cultural Sensitivity: Upon entering Haleakal__ 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, Haleakal__ represents an important place within their culture.

Recreation

All cabins are wonderful opportunities for night sky viewing in what's considered one of the quietest natural places on earth! Visitors to the crater may even come across native species such as the N n (Hawaiian goose). Please remember to keep your distance from any wildlife and refrain from feeding them. While staying in the crater, cabin users have the option to day hike on trail through the crater. Locations to enjoy from H__lua may be the Silversword loop or the loop around Halali__i cinder cone. Locations to enjoy from Palik__ may be a loop hike toward Kapalaoa or toward Kaupo Gap and back. Visit https://www.nps.gov/hale/planyourvisit/maps.htm to plan your day hikes from any cabin. Please stay on designated trails throughout your crater journey and pack out everything with you!

Facilities

There are no food establishments, stores, showers, or laundry facilities in the park. One pit toilet is located nearby each visitor cabin. A non-potable water spigot is located outside of the wilderness visitor cabins which is adjacent to the wilderness tent areas (Palik__ and H__lua). Each of the parks three wilderness cabins are equipped with 18 lockers; each locker contains three logs and is assigned to each reservation night. Your locker number(s) and combination(s) will be issued by park staff via email from the hale_interpretation@nps.gov account prior to reservation date. Bring a lighter or matches to start the wood and propane stoves. The park cannot guarantee that propane or wood will be available.__Extra wood logs are available for purchase at the park store.

Natural Features

Cabins are located inside Haleakal__ crater and involve a strenuous hike around distinctive cinder cones. Campers should prepare for hot, sunny, cold, wet, and windy conditions as weather can change rapidly. There is no shade or water on the crater floor, and temperatures can vary from 40-70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 30-50 degrees Fahrenheit at night, so pack plenty of water, sunscreen, and layers. If it is stormy, winds can exceed 80 miles per hour with temperatures dropping well below freezing. Hiking trails may be steep. Terrain may include loose cinders and/or rocks. Change in altitude can be from a high of 9,780ft to a low of 6,380ft. Due to the soft sandy nature of the trails, plan on spending twice as much time to hike out as to hike in.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (808) 572-4400.

Nearby Attractions

Visitor cabins are located near the wilderness tent areas. A wilderness tent permit does not grant access to any wilderness cabin within the crater and vice versa. Wilderness tent sites can be reserved through rec.gov.

Charges & Cancellations

Reservations are non-transferable. 1) Cancellations prior to 14 days---$10.00 charge + partial refund2) Cancellations within 14 days of arrival---No refund3) $10.00 change fee per reservation night prior to 7 days. No changes within 7 days (not counting arrival day)