Haleakala National Park

The name "Haleakala" is a mouthful. I can't count the times I've mispronounced it today, but the correct way to say it is "Hale-a-ka-la" meaning house of the sun. Haleakala is a giant volcano that covers the East side of Maui. After a 90 minute drive along the Maui coastline and up the tight winding highway, we reached the volcano's summit at 10,023 ft. It was a breathtaking view above the clouds. From the summit you can see the ocean, lots of volcanic rock and an impressive crater formed by years of erosion. Within several thousand feet of the summit, the slopes of Haleakala are covered in lava rock that creates a desert-like appearance. Strangely enough though, this high desert gets snow. Wait, isn't Maui supposed to be a beach paradise? Well, yes. But Maui is a diverse island that has high mountains, incredible beaches, beautiful mountain ranches, and farmland. Seeing this land makes me wonder what the explorers must have thought when they stumbled upon this beautiful place.