Haleakala National Park was one of our favorite spots we visited on our trip to Maui. It’s one of those places that truly makes you feel like you are floating on the edge of heaven. If you visit for sunrise, reservations have to be made ahead of time but no reservations are required for sunset. We bundled up for the cooler weather and drove up in the late afternoon to watch the sunset. The views we took in from the top were well worth the drive!

The road to Haleakala reaches 10,000 feet of elevation in a shorter distance than any other road in the world. We definitely felt the air thinning on our drive up! After arriving at the top, we took a short hike to an overlook to take in sweeping views of the Haleakela Crater. It was much dustier than we anticipated and by the end of chasing Harper around we were covered in volcanic ash. Core memories created!

It has been so fun to bring Harper along on these different adventures. Before having a child, I definitely felt unsure how it was possible to bring kids on hikes or camping or to the tops of mountains. There are plenty of situations that I find myself anxious about, but that anxiety is never stronger than the desire to make memories as a family. Now I realize that the only way you get better at anything is by doing it! Practice bringing along the kids with no expectations. Be willing to let your kid have a meltdown in public. Let go of the opinions of strangers! Our trip with Harper went remarkably well and I believe that’s because we didn’t have too many expectations on us or on our daughter. With that said… we still had plenty of meltdowns, missed and late naps, and whiney car rides. Give yourself and your child grace and get out there to adventure! You will be glad you did!

references:

https://www.nps.gov/articles/haleakala-highway-975105.htm#4/34.45/-98.53

Sunset at Haleakala National Park