Painter and poet Reuben Tam (1916–1992) was deeply influenced by the landscapes of his native Hawaii. While hiking the volcanic terrain, he reflected on nature’s many moods. “Yellow grass splashes down the slopes, and the landscape is turbulent yet serene,” wrote Tam in this diary entry about Haleakalā, a shield volcano forming a large portion of Maui. The artist’s evocative descriptions and rough sketches served as starting points for his expressive landscape paintings.

Travelling some 2,500 miles to Hawai'i is no easy task for a bird! The birds that survived the trip have since evolved into new species, found nowhere else in the world. Today, about half of Hawai'i’s native bird species are extinct, but Haleakalā National Park offers the chance to see some of rare, exotic species such as the endangered Hawaiian short-eared owl, as well as several colorful species of honeycreepers.

Haleakala, a massive shield volcano that rises 10,023 feet above Maui’s coastal areas, is an enormously popular and easily accessible visitor destination. It has become almost a ritual, in fact, for visitors to rise before dawn and trek to the mountaintop to watch the sun come up from the “House of the Sun,” as it was named by early Hawaiians. Located in Haleakala National Park, the volcano, which has not erupted for more than 200 years, is a place of legends and intriguing biological diversity

Haleakalā National Park, on the Hawai'ian island of Maui, is a superb example of the Hawai'ian Islands' native ecosystems. This park preserves the outstanding volcanic landscape of the upper slopes of Haleakalā and protects the unique and fragile ecosystems of Kipahulu Valley, the scenic pools along Oheo Gulch, and many rare and endangered species. Visitors to the park can enjoy hikes with spectacular views, including a popular sunrise hike – just be sure to get your reservations in advance.

Can you imagine a road that rises from sea level and climbs up to 3,000 meters high? You can find it in Hawaii. The climb up the “Haleakala” Volcano (House of the Sun), on the island of Maui, is one of the paved roads with more elevation meters in the world. Taking off from Paia, in a little under 60 km, you can reach the top of the volcano after cycling through its over 30 hairpin curves that await the bravest. Volcanic beauty is equalled by difficulty.

This remote volcanic landscape is a sparse, frigid dreamland 10,000 feet above sea level that last erupted between 1480 and 1600 (it’s currently dormant). The Haleakalā (“house of the sun” in Hawaiian) summit is sacred for Native Hawaiians, who fiercely opposed construction of a massive solar telescope here (alas, they lost). Bring food and hike a mile down into the desert-like crater. Or make a reservation and head to the summit at sunrise, when traffic is limited to 50 cars.

Haleakalā, meaning house of the sun, is a massive dormant volcano that created most of the island of Maui. Visitors can hike the 30 miles of trails at the summit surrounded by native Hawaiian plants and animals. From 10, 023 feet above the island, you can look down on Maui and watch the sunrise and the sunset high above the clouds. And after the sunset, the vantage point from the volcano offers open skies for some of the best stargazing in the world.