The big news here on the island is that snow actually fell on Maui yesterday. A storm passed over the island, bringing the windchill on top of Haleakala to just 20 degrees. It was pretty strange seeing snow at the top of the volcano’s summit while driving home yesterday. And for at least one day, when people talked about ice on Maui, they weren’t talking about the island’s meth problem!
Haleakala weather is one thing many visitors tend to overlook. When I was there a few months ago, I can’t tell you how many people I saw getting out of their car wearing slippers, shorts, and t-shirts. On the summit of a 10,000 foot volcano, that ain’t gonna keep you warm! So if you ever plan on visiting Maui, remember that a trip to mighty Haleakala requires warm clothes no matter what time of year it is. Here’s a link to current Haleakala weather conditions (click here), as well as a live webcam of the crater (click here).
And here’s one last tip for those planning a visit to the Haleakala summit… finish the trip at the beach! The Haleakala crater is like a window to a different world. And there’s no better way to highlight the difference than to drive straight from the cold summit to Baby Beach at the far end of Baldwin Beach Park in Paia (click on the Google map above for a suggested route). That way you can enjoy two extreme climates in one day, and finish your journey with a relaxing swim.
