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Maui Haleakala Haleakala National Park is quite simply one of the most beautiful places on Earth. At a height of 10,000 feet, the volcano towers grandly over the rest of the island. And don't let anyone tell you that it is an 'extinct' or 'dormant' volcano. With its last eruption only a few centuries ago, it is considered an active one, just not currently erupting. It takes roughly an hour to an hour and a half to reach the summit, starting from sea level in Kahului. The winding mountain roads can be treacherous at times, with fallen rocks, clouds, herds of cattle, tourists coming down the hill on bikes, and even the occasional stray cat to contend with. If you are the least bit prone to motion sickness, insist on being behind the wheel (you won't get sick) or take some dramamine. The regular rate for a seven day pass for one vehicle is $10. This is paid at the entrance to the Park, at approximately Mile 10 on the Haleakala Crater Road. Between the entrance and the summit are several picnic facilies, the Park Headquarters, and at the summit itself is the Visiter's Center. There are bathrooms at the Headquarters and the Visiter's Center but no food facilities (or gas) is available in the Park, so plan ahead. The height of the mountain and the darkness of Hawaiian skies make it the perfect spot for astronomical observing. The summit of Haleakala is home to the Maui Space Surveillance Site, a complex of Air Force telescopes devoted to satellite tracking and scientific research. The University of Hawaii also operates an observatory on the summit. Neither is open to the public. A large number of people who visit Maui decide they have to see the sun rising from the top of Haleakala and so make the trek up the mountain in the wee hours of the morning. This seems a bit silly considering that the sunSET is just as spectacular and you don't have to get up early to see it! The very brave (and foolish) like to experience Haleakala by speeding down it on a bicycle. To each his own. Lahaina Lahaina is an old whaling village that has been turned into a big tourist destination. It's easily the most "touristy" of all the towns on the island, with numerous street-side shops packed along the entire main drag of Front Street. Hana Hana is a great place to go -once-. Some people love Hana and the upcountry but for most people, especially kids, the hours of driving through windy costal roads and one lane bridges makes it not worth a second trip. On the way to Hana there are many beautiful sights: the ocean, waterfalls, and other parts of upcountry. Be prepared for a really long trip as even though the distance isnt far, there are dozens of curves and one-way bridges that pull most people to an average of 10mph.
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