Best Clothes for a Haleakala Sunrise Bike Tour

When visitors book their Haleakala sunrise tour, many ask what they should wear on the summit of Haleakala at sunrise. And it is good that people ask because the answer may be different than some might expect.

When packing for a trip to Maui, who would ever think to pack a sweater or even a coat? But that is exactly what you might need on the summit of Haleakala at sunrise. At 10,000 feet above sea level, the temperature can get pretty cold and windy. At sunrise, temperatures generally are in the 40-degree range. On the peak of this Maui volcano, the weather can be unpredictable too so we provide wind/rain gear with your Haleakala sunrise bike tours including jackets, gloves, and pants.

So as to what you should wear on the Haleakala sunrise bike tour, we generally recommend that visitors wear the warmest clothes they have with them, especially during the winter months. But it will be pretty cold even in summer. Some also bring hats, scarves, and even blankets, but make sure you bring a hat that won’t easily be blown off.

We also recommend that Haleakala sunrise bike riders wear several layers of clothing that can be taken off as they make their way down the mountain into warmer temperatures. When you get all the way down to Paia, you’ll probably only need a T-shirt and shorts. Long pants are provided with the rain/wind gear included in the biking equipment if you need them. Of course, closed-toe shoes are recommended for all of the Haleakala bike rides. We have also heard that visitors who wear contact lenses may want to bring sunglasses or eye gear of some kind to protect their eyes and contacts from getting too dry in the cold, dry early morning air.
But then you may be thinking, ‘where will I put all these clothes as I ride down the volcano?’ Well, for that very reason, we provide backpacks for our Haleakala bike riders to carry their clothes. If you bring a blanket to the summit, you can leave it in our tour van when you start the bike ride. Then you can pick it up at our shop when you get back.

There is no food for sale in Haleakala National Park, but on the ride down the mountain there will be many opportunities to stop for breakfast or lunch at restaurants along the bike route. For your early morning sunrise, you may want to bring some water and light snacks. It’s recommended that those at high altitudes such as at the summit, drink plenty of fluids, basically doubling their intake of water, refueling their electrolytes and eating plenty of carbohydrates to avoid altitude sickness.

If you take our Summit Tour at 9 a.m. instead of the Sunrise Tour, you may only need to bring a sweatshirt for the time you’re at the summit of Haleakala as it will most likely be a little warmer after sunrise. Normally shorts are okay for both the Summit and Express Tours because most of the bike ride will be during warmer temperatures in daylight hours.

The sunrise above the clouds at Haleakala’s 10,000 ft. summit has been said to be one of the most memorable things you can experience, and we would have to agree. But just remember that at sunrise, the summit will be cold. It will be beautiful and worth the chilly temperatures, but bring warm clothes, particularly layers of clothes for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

First image courtesy of M – Pics at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

See Paia After Your Maui Bike Ride!

The Maui volcano bike ride from the peak of Haleakala down to our little shop in Paia offers bike riders the chance to explore even more of this beautiful area. After their Maui volcano bike ride, many guests stay in Paia for the rest of the afternoon to see all that this unique town has to offer.
As one of the “Coolest Little Towns in Maui,” Paia is full of exciting and unique shops, art galleries, restaurants, and boutiques that have something for everyone. In this “shopper’s paradise,” you can stop into the Biasa Rose clothing store or Moonbow Tropics for some of the latest fashions or browse through the Paia Trading Company for some eclectic antiques to take home. For some great home décor pieces, you might visit Pearl, a lovely home furnishings boutique located in the same shopping area as us on Baldwin Ave. So after your Maui volcano bike ride, you can quickly get to shopping and sightseeing in our fascinating little town.

Over the years, the art scene has really grown so much that it has attracted some big name attention. The New York Times did a piece on our little surfing town a few years back, “Where Wetsuits and Art Meet in Maui.”

“. . .the chill surfer vibe has been joined by a buzzing art scene, with a half-dozen new galleries representing artists like Mary Mitsuda, David Ivan Clark and Udo Nöger,” the NY Times wrote. “Their works have not only attracted the attention of the international art-collecting crowd, who come here on spending holidays, but also that of major institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.”

So if you want to check out some of these great artists, you might visit the Art Project Paia or the Paia Contemporary Gallery located along the Hana Highway.

And of course, you will probably be looking for somewhere to eat after your Maui volcano bike ride, so there’s some delicious places to eat along the town’s shopping district. The Paia Fish Market is always a fan-favorite with its large-portioned seafood plates. Café Des Amis is renowned for its great Mediterranean and Indian cuisine. And for a fun and interesting dining experience, try the Dazoo Restaurant where you can pick your own flavors, mixing and matching, to add to the main dish along with having one of their award-winning cocktails.

While the in-town shops and restaurants of Paia have much to offer, the beaches near Paia also boast some exciting attractions. Known as the “windsurfing capital of the world,” Paia attracts professional windsurfers, kitesurfers, and board surfers from all over the world. So stop by Ho’okipa Beach to catch a glimpse of some pro windsurfers testing out their latest tricks.

This once bustling plantation town is now a laid back venue for local residents and visitors to enjoy the more authentic Hawaii. Here, away from the more crowded resort areas, you can relax and enjoy this charming little village still surrounded by fields of sugar cane and the gorgeous beaches of Maui.

Places to Stay in Maui - West Side vs. South Side

Are you planning a vacation to Maui? If you’re thinking of vacationing on the Valley Isle, of course one of the first things you’ll want to research and plan is where to stay in Maui. There are two main areas of the island where most guests stay – West Maui and South Maui. Both areas have great hotels and condominiums to stay at, so which area you choose may depend mostly on what you want to do while you’re in Maui and the atmosphere you favor. So we did a little comparison of each region to give you an idea of what to look for.

West Maui 

This side of Maui includes areas like Ka’anapali, Lahaina, Napili, and Kapalua. The West side of Maui is more developed but can be more crowded also. This area of the island is very green and picturesque with lush mountains and tropical scenery wherever you look. Ka’anapali is the main resort area of West Maui with a number of luxury resort hotels and luxury vacation rentals located along its beautiful beach. Along Ka’anapali Beach, there is a paved walking path that connects all of the major hotels along with various restaurants, golf courses, the Whaler’s Village shopping mall, and several Maui beach activities like snorkeling.
A short shuttle ride from Ka’anapali is the historic whaling town of Lahaina. This charming town boasts the famous shopping and dining area known as Front Street, full of restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, and souvenir stores. There are also numerous historic sites and buildings to visit in this old whaling village. Here, you can catch a boat to go whale watching, have a dinner cruise, go snorkeling, or experience numerous other boat tours from the Lahaina Harbor. Lahaina has a small number of older, restored hotels as well as bed and breakfasts and condos.
Up the coast a little, just north of Ka’anapali is Napili and Kapalua. These areas offer a number of less expensive condominium vacation rentals, many right on the beach. This residential area may be a little quieter than the hustle and bustle of the Ka’anapali resorts and offer some great bargain spots while still being close enough to all the action.
However, if you’re planning to spend a lot of time exploring Haleakala National Park, taking a Haleakala sunrise bike tour, or traveling the famous Road to Hana, staying in West Maui will make the drive to Haleakala and Hana much farther.

South Maui

The southern coast of Maui features the communities of Wailea and Kihei. With its luxury resorts and vacation rentals, Wailea offers what Frommer’s called a “Beverly Hills by the sea” resort experience with great shopping and dining amid the picture perfect tropical area. This Maui resort area is a little quieter than the Ka’anapali resorts because the hotels are a little further apart, but Ka’anapali offers the convenience of easy walkability to area shopping and dining.

South Maui will be a little drier and sunnier than the western coast, so if you’re primary activity is sunbathing, South Maui may be the place for you. But almost everywhere you go in Maui will have plenty of sunshine and warm weather.

North of Wailea is the little community of Kihei. This area has been called “Maui’s best kept secret for budget/affordable accommodations.” Here you’ll find a plethora of nice and often more reasonable vacation condo rentals, but some may not have air conditioning or a daily maid service, so be sure to check. Most of these condos are also across the street from the beach, but there is less traffic in this part of Maui than in the resort areas. Because of its great beaches, the numerous Maui ocean sports available, abundant sunshine, and affordability, Kihei is a favorite spot for vacationers on a budget who still want a great Maui paradise experience.
Staying at South Maui’s Wailea or Kihei will also put you a little closer to Haleakala, our Haleakala volcano bike tours, and the Road to Hana.
Wherever you decide to stay on the beautiful island of Maui will give you a memorable Hawaiian experience. Everywhere you go will be an exciting tropical adventure. Whether you stay in West Maui or South Maui, be sure to visit Maui’s Upcountry and the wonders that surround you in beautiful Haleakala. Take a Maui bike ride down this amazing volcano and explore all that Maui has to offer.