A beautiful location, but not for the faint of heart. The trail to get here, from just below the summit of Haleakala, is 10 miles each way. Terrain varies throughout the hike, from sand, to volcanic rock and into tall grass before you make it to the campsites. Weather at the campsite is as varied as the terrain you strode through. At times it can be sunny and beautiful, while others can be rainy and pummeling winds.
Water is in need of being filtered, so don’t forget your tablets or water filter system. There’s one pit toilet behind the cabin and that’s about it for amenities. You bring with you all that you need to survive for your duration in the crater.
All that being said, I can’t think of a more special place to camp and convene with nature. When people think of Maui/Hawaii, they usually think a tropical paradise and Haleakala has quite a different say in that. It’s humbling in its size and scope, cathartic in its silence and awe inspiring for its visual displays. You feel as if you’re on a different planet at times and you might as well be… you’re camping at the outlet of a volcano, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Not too many places you can say you’ve done that.
One final thought: your trip back out is a DOOZY. Elevations range from 7 to 10 thousand feet and if your lungs aren’t acclimated, it can really suck the breath out of you. Don’t attempt the trek back without ample water and remember that your body is worth listening to. Take as many breaks as you need, it’s not as if the views are bad at any point.