Watching Sunrise from Haleakala Summit

If you are visiting Hawaii on a vacation, you must have a visit to Maui island on your itinerary.  And, the crater at the Haleakala summit on the island of Maui is one of the best spots on earth to watch the sunrise or catch a magnificent view of the starlit night sky.  You should not miss this memorable experience.

Haleakala means the house of the sun and a visit to the summit in the pre-dawn hours to watch the sun rise at a place over 10,000 feet above sea level is not your usual vacation activity to be done in a hurry, but a wonderful experience to be enjoyed to your heart’s content.

How to get to Haleakala Crater

If you’re going to use a GPS system, check that the Haleakala summit or crater is stored in the system.  From the map of the major Maui highways, write or print the directions to the Haleakala National Park to save the bother of having to find directions from a map in the dark.  Also, see that you have enough gas before heading out to Haleakala.  Remember, the park does not have any service stations.

The road leading up to the Haleakala crater is winding and steep without any street lights.  It will be a good two-hour drive to the top and to get there before sunrise you will have to start the upward drive around 3am or before.  The entrance fee of $10 is valid for three days so you can come back again to watch the sunset if you want.

When to go for watching sunrise from Haleakala Summit

Preferably, try to catch the sunrise at Haleakala towards the start of your trip to Maui, because getting up much before dawn is easier at the start of a vacation.

Many people make the mistake of checking out the sunrise times and plan the drive up to the Haleakala summit so they get there just before the sun makes its appearance.  Continue Reading »
Sunrise at Haleakala National Park

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Hawaii Vintage Jewelry

If you make a trip to Hawaii, an interesting thing to check out is the Hawaiian heritage jewelry.  Black enamel engraving, traditional symbols, and floral inspired textures are some of the characteristics that make this jewelry distinctively Hawaiian.

Hawaiian heritage jewelry is believed to have originated in 1862 when Queen Lili’uokalani, who had a fascination for all things English, had the first gold bracelets made. These were engraved with the words “hoomanau mao” (i.e. “lasting remembrance”).  In those days, gold jewelry that had black enamel engravings was very popular in England.   The Hawaiian monarchy visiting England brought such English jewelry designs back home with them, and gave them a Hawaiian touch by having Hawaiian traditional sayings engraved into pendants, bracelets, and rings.  This type of Hawaiian jewelry is popular even today.

Heritage Jewelry Stores in Hawaii

Though there are several Hawaiian heritage jewelry stores across Hawaii where you can pick up heritage pieces, a good place to feast your eyes on Hawaii’s heritage jewelry is the Phillip Rickard Honolulu in the Royal Hawaiian Center.  Here, you’ll find a museum that has exhibits of heirloom jewelry and vintage pieces, as well as a jewelry shop right next to it.  Continue Reading »
Hawaiian Heritage Jewelry

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