{"id":9964,"date":"2016-01-30T23:32:00","date_gmt":"2016-01-31T07:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/?p=9964"},"modified":"2016-01-30T23:32:02","modified_gmt":"2016-01-31T07:32:02","slug":"haleakala-sunrise-day-mauis-upcountry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/haleakala-sunrise-day-mauis-upcountry\/","title":{"rendered":"After Haleakala Sunrise, A Day in Maui’s Upcountry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Viewing the sunrise at Haleakala crater is one of the most talked about activities on Maui. There is a raging debate across the internet about the worthiness of the Haleakala sunrise. Some websites claim that it is crowded, unspectacular and just plain, not worth it. Other people talk about it as one of their most magical experiences on the island. Either way, you will probably go up to Haleakala at some point during your visit, and many people rush back to the coast afterward. We found more than enough in Maui’s beautiful upcountry to warrant a full day’s visit. We did decide to go and see the sunrise on Haleakala so that is how our upcountry day started. <\/p>\n

\"Maui

Haleakala Sunrise<\/h3>\n

I’ll admit I was dubious about going to see the sunrise. It seemed like every time I turned around I saw another post about how crowded and uncomfortable it was. I can say wholeheartedly after doing it; it was absolutely lovely. Standing in the chill air, looking down on to the clouds made it feel like I was in Olympus, the mountain of the Gods, staring down at the earth. When the sun slowly rose, it’s golden beams spread showing us the beautiful, otherworldly landscapes we had no idea we were surrounded by. <\/p>\n

\"Maui

It is not often that Tom and I see a sunrise, and so there is something very special about them; I definitely understand why people gush so much about seeing it here. That said, I think that there is a way to see the sunrise and a way to NOT see it. If you have your own car and aren’t staying too far away from Haleakala it is most definitely worth it. If you take a tour or are staying in Lahaina it may not be as enjoyable. We were staying in Kula and so left around 6:00 am, really not that early of a start. We talked to people who had gone on tours, or self-drove from the other side of the island and heard of people leaving at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning! Waking up that early, followed by being stuck on a tour bus going up twisty and windy roads for hours would put me off too! <\/p>\n

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