Top Hawaii Day Trips - page 6

If you’re considering doing a sunrise at Haleakalā National Park—do it! And if you’re lucky enough to get Preston as your guide, even better. Total time is around 8 hours (2:30-10:30am) at a cost of approx. $250 per person when booked through Viator. Our day started… not ideally. Our alarm didn’t go off, and we completely missed our confirmed pick-up time. About 10 minutes later, Preston called asking where we were. Mortified, we asked for just five minutes to throw ourselves together—and to our surprise, about 10 minutes later, he was back outside our hotel, calm and incredibly understanding. While I wouldn’t count on this kind of flexibility as the norm, it genuinely set the tone for the entire experience. From there, everything ran smoothly. There were only 10 guests total on a comfortable, air-conditioned bus, and most people caught some extra sleep on the drive up the mountain. Preston struck the perfect balance with his commentary—interesting and informative without being overwhelming—and gave helpful tips on how to best experience the sunrise. We arrived about 30 minutes early, which gave us time to get situated. Be warned: it was 43°F in April—pants, a heavy jacket, and even gloves are absolutely worth bringing. The sunrise itself was stunning, and we had plenty of time afterward to take photos before heading back. On the drive down, Preston took his time, sharing more local insights and fun facts about the island. The tour wrapped up at the beautiful Maui Tropical Plantation, where breakfast was served at Cafe O’Lei. Guests could choose from fruit, a continental-style option, or macadamia nut pancakes—all delicious. There was also a charming country store onsite with local produce, coffee, and artisan goods. After breakfast, we were dropped back off at our hotel—tired, but so glad we didn’t miss out on this experience. Bottom line: Incredible views, a well-paced itinerary, and a guide who went above and beyond. We highly recommend!