MAUI VACATION DAY 5 :: HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK, HI :: Our vacation in Maui has finally reached its end. The last item on our itinerary was a dazzling sunset from the top of Haleakala, which means "House of the Sun" in Hawaiian. Most visitors to the volcano will wake up early to see the sunrise. The sunset is just as spectacular and far less crowded.
It's perhaps a little warmer as well, although we were still shivering, despite extra clothes and a blanket we borrowed from the hotel. At 10,023 feet, the atmosphere is only half of what we normally experience at sea level and the temperature about 30 degrees cooler. It was probably about 55 degrees at the summit, but a combination of wind chill and wator vapor from the passing clouds made it feel like it was freezing.
Occasionally, the clouds parted and we could see most of the areas of the island we explored and enjoyed over the past five days. Mostly, the clouds were a thick blanket below and around us. This made the skies more dramatic at times, and completely obscured and cold at others. The winds were blowing fast, so we only needed to wait a few minutes for a new view.
We had a great time on Maui! It would have been perfect if we were more careful with our time in the sun. As it was, however, we were aching from sunburns and eager to get back to our Northwest home and climate.
