If you’re traveling to the beautiful island of Maui, packing right is essential to getting the most out of your adventure, all the way from the beautiful beaches to the peak of the Haleakalā volcano. Pack according to what you’ll need for biking in Maui and any other planned activities. It’s a good idea to make a master list a few weeks ahead of time to give yourself a change to think of everything!

Pack for temperature variations (think layers!)

Maui daytime temperatures are typically a beautiful 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit, and the climate ranges from its coldest in January to its hottest peak in August. Throughout the year, temperatures can drop at night, so be prepared for these island temperature fluctuations with flexible clothing that can be easily layered.

Shorts and a T-shirt might be perfect for the day, but you’ll want to make sure and pack pants and a light jacket for the evenings. Winter is the wettest season in Maui, so come prepared for a little rain. We do provide rain and wind gear for your Maui bike tours, including gloves, jackets, and pants if you need them.

Prepare for the summit

Although the Maui climate is beautifully moderate closer to sea level, temperatures at the peak of Haleakalā can dip all the way to 40 degrees in the early hours of the morning. High up on the volcano at 10,000 feet above sea level, it can of course, be very windy! Especially if your taking the Haleakalā sunrise tour, prepare for the chilly mountain air with a warm jacket and accessories like a hat and gloves. If you don’t feel like hauling your jacket—or even a warm blanket—down the mountain, your Maui Sunriders guides will be happy to drive them down to the shop for you to pick up after the bike ride.

Dress appropriately for biking in Maui

As you make your way down, you’ll be most comfortable wearing easily removable layers. Start with a light base layer—sweat-wicking synthetic materials are recommended—and add on from there. As you prepare for the descent, lose enough layers so you’re just slightly chilly. Although our self-paced bike tours are almost entirely downhill, you will warm up a bit once you get moving. By the time you reach the base, you’ll probably be in shorts and a T-shirt! You don’t need to be dressed in full spandex, but nor should you wear extra baggy clothing that can get caught up in your bike—find a casual middle ground to stay comfortable and safe!

Accessorize (but not too much)

Think through the various items you’ll need to stay comfortable and record your memorable trip. Sun glasses, sun screen, hats, and cameras are always recommended. Don’t get too carried away though, the real adventure is found in the places and experiences you discover along the way. Plus, you don’t want to be bogged down with too much heavy gear that could get lost or damaged, especially on your Haleakalā bike tour. Consider bringing a change of clothes for after the tour, perhaps including a swimsuit or nicer outfit for dinner in Paia.

Keep it together!

Make sure to travel with a comfortable, functional backpack to hold your personal items and extra layers. If you need one for your Haleakalā bike ride, backpacks are available from Maui Sunriders as part of your tour. Especially on your bike ride, travel light and save some room for anything you might pick up along the way. The quaint coastal town of Paia offers a variety of fun shopping opportunities once you finish your descent.

Make arrangements for home (pro-tip!)

Planning for your big Maui adventure isn’t just about what you bring with you. Along with your packing list, start to make a list of tasks to take care of around the house. Make arrangements for your pets, house, and mail. It also never hurts to alert your credit card company to the fact that you’ll be going out of town. When it comes time to travel, you will want to be able to leave it all behind and focus completely on the adventure ahead!

(airport photo via Ray_from_LA via Flickr)

There’s an incredible amount of awesome stuff to see and experience on your way down from atop Haleakalā. Let’s start with the view! From the moment you embark on your journey up Haleakalā, you’ll begin to see glimpses of the majesty that is Maui; vistas and valleys, green rolling hills and so much more…

Once you’re near the top you’ll mount your bike for the trip back down. From here on it’s an at-your-own-pace adventure. Don’t forget to stop and snap a few pictures of yourself, and of course the views. The twisting and turning of the road reveals endless opportunities for selfies and staged shots with your friends.

On the way up the mountain your guide will show you where to turn on your way back down. The first right on your way down is where the long zig-zag Crater Road runs into Kekaulike Ave (hwy 377) better known as Haleakalā Highway. Much of this area is upcountry residential neighborhoods. Soon after your first right you will see Kula Lodge and Restaurant on your left (Check their hours to see if they will be open during your ride).

The next few miles is some of Maui’s most incredible rolling hills and countryside. You’ll see endless views of farms and ranches; Eucalyptus and Jacaranda trees surrounded by vibrant green meadows. There’s just no chance you’ll not stop to take a few pictures in this area.

Next up you might see a herd of goats mowing the tall grass on either side of the highway. And often there are beautiful horses standing near the fence just waiting for you to share some of the rich green grass that’s just on your side of the fence. Then you’ll cut across from Hwy 377 to Olinda Road via a short jaunt through some country backroads (turn right on Kealaloa Ave from 377 to the “Y” where you’ll take a right onto Hanamu Rd, then left on Olinda Road). It’s important to pay attention to your guide’s instructions about this easy to miss transition from the highway to Olinda road. Ahead you’ll turn left onto Olinda Road right at the Oskie Rice Rodeo Arena.

Don’t forget to checkout our Olinda Forest Bike Trail Guide!

You’ll be heading into Makawao Town now. This is a very cool town to explore so don’t be shy. The little shops, galleries and restaurants are a welcome break—especially SipMe Cafe which is open early most days. Here’s a brief list of some of the more popular restaurants and maybe some tasty bites for the next leg of your trip.

• Polli’s Mexican Restaurant
• Casanova’s Restaurant
• Rodeo General Store (hot coffee)
• SipMe Cafe (open early)
• Komoda Bakery (Maui Landmark)
• Market Fresh Bistro
• Makawao Steak House

Read “Exploring Makawao Town” for more details about this little upcountry hamlet.

Your adventure isn’t over yet! Up next you’re on your way down to Paia through some very different landscapes, passing historic churches and lots and lots of sugarcane. You’ll peddle right through Skill Village which used to be where a bunch of skilled folks used to live in support of local pineapple and sugarcane industries.

After a short while you’ll reach Paia Town where you’ll find everything unimaginable to explore and experience, including a Buddhist Stupa. Mana Foods is the local grocery store that’s an experience all on it’s own. You can get a tattoo, a pizza and local Maui handcrafted beers all right here in this little beach town. Here is a list of some of the more popular restaurants in Paia Town:

• Hana Ranch Provisions
• Cafe Des Amis
• Cafe Mambo
• Maka by Mana
• Charley’s Bar, Grill & Sushi
• Rock “n” Brews
• Milagros Mexican Food
• Paia Gelato & Hana PicNic Lunches
• Paia Bay Coffee
• Paia Fish Market
• Anthony’s Coffee
• Flatbread Pizza

You can read more about Paia Town in, “Stopping for Lunch in Paia Town”.

This is just a taste of the different areas along your Maui Bike Trip. You’ve got a lot of time to explore and enjoy the countryside and the local flavors. Make the most of your trip by creating memories and going further on the backroads of Maui.

Here’s an overview map of the entire trip:

“I took the sunrise tour and had a blast!”

– Diedre J. J. Bush

5-star reviewed Maui Sunriders on Google

At the summit of Haleakalā, Maui’s majestic dormant volcano, it’s easy to forget where you came from as you look out onto what feels like another world. At dawn, the peak itself often becomes its own island, suspended in a soft sea of clouds amidst the scattering of smaller island peaks around you. Although the vistas from this altitude are always spectacular, these moments at dawn are some of the most magical… right before the clouds melt away.

This is, no doubt, why for millennia, mankind has been transfixed by this special spot on the legendary Maui volcano summit and inspired to tell grand stories about it. The Hawaiian people have a great oral tradition, and the story of Maui snaring the sun is one of their favorites!

The Legend of Maui The Demigod and the Haleakalā Volcano

The legend goes that the trickster demigod Maui (after whom the island is named) once set out to capture the sun and convince it to slow down. His mother Hina was a great artisan but complained that she was unable to sun-dry her kapa (bark cloth) because the days were too short. Undaunted, one night Maui journeyed to the peak of the mountain Haleakalā (which actually means house of the sun) and lay in wait for the sun to wake up and rise from its crater.

The details differ from legend to legend, but as soon as the sun showed itself that morning, storytellers agree that Maui swung a mighty lasso and snared the sun, holding it fast! He allowed the sun to go free only after it had agreed to travel more slowly through the sky for half the year. Thus the seasons were born, with shorter days in the winter and longer days in the summer. At last, Maui’s mother Hina could complete her fabrics, and the people of the islands were also able to enjoy the warmth of the sun and taste the fruits of a long growing season.

“Maui Snaring the Sun,” a pen and ink by drawing Arman Manookian circa 1927

Some Facts About the Haleakalā Volcano

The jury may still be out on the historical accuracy of this particular tale, but here are a few facts we do know about the Maui volcano!

• Haleakalā is not actually an extinct volcano, but merely dormant. Its last eruption was in the year 1790.*
• The “great basin” or crater below the summit is 3,000 feet deep, 7.5 miles long, and 2.5 miles wide. It was worn by long years of water and weather erosion.*
• The summit of Haleakalā is over 10,000 feet in elevation**
• The volcano is now encompassed by Haleakalā National Park with over 30,000 acres of beautiful landscapes and diverse wildlife. The park is a popular destination for hiking, swimming, camping, tours, and (of course) Maui Sunriders Haleakala downhill bike tours!**

** Facts provided by the National Park Service

(Sunrise photo by Ewen Roberts via Flickr)

(“Maui Snaring the Sun” courtesy of Honolulu Academy of Arts)

Visitors can see so many things on the Maui volcano tour, many things they might not otherwise have seen on their Maui vacation. This downhill bike tour through Upcountry Maui offers a chance to see this unique part of Maui up close. Sure you can drive through Upcountry, but that’s like taking a boat when you could go surfing. You’ll get to “experience” the adventure that is Upcountry and Haleakalā when you take the Maui volcano bike tour.

Although on our self-paced Maui volcano bike tours, you can stop as you want along the way, there are a few major stops that everyone should take on their volcano tour. One of these stops is Makawao Town. The historic little town of Makawao is the heart of what’s known as “Paniolo Country.” One of the last paniolo or Hawaiian cowboy towns in Hawaii, Makawao has its own unique atmosphere and feel. As the “biggest little town” in Upcountry, “

Makawao has one foot in its plantation past and another in its thriving arts community,” the Hawaii Tourism Authority noted. Yes, Makawao is a little bit of the old mixed with a little of the new, and this is what makes Makawao one of the must-see stops along the Maui volcano tour.

Makawao is where the paniolo still roam and rodeos are still a major part of life and the culture of Upcountry. Held annually on the Fourth of July, the Makawao Rodeo is Hawaii’s largest paniolo competition with all the traditional rodeo events like calf roping, bronco riding, and barrel racing as well as a parade through Makawao. Paniolo is still such a large part of the town’s life and heritage that you just might see a cowboy riding through town on horseback.

This eclectic town is jam-packed with charming boutiques and art galleries, all with an authentic, not so touristy feel, but more of a ‘this-is-life-in-a-small-Upcountry-town’ atmosphere. Once named one of the top 25 arts destinations in the United States, Makawao is home to many working artists. From watching glassblowing at Hot Island Glass to shopping for Polynesian jewelry, clothing, and home accessories to browsing numerous fine arts galleries and wood sculptor shops, Makawao offers a world of diversity in its shopping.

A diverse array of restaurants also calls Makawao home, including the famous T. Komoda Store & Bakery. This small bakery that has been a local tradition since 1916 is legendary for its pastries including its cream puffs and donuts on a stick. And as Mitchell commented on Yelp: “The best way to hit this spot is to take the Maui Sunriders sunrise bike tour. It is a great stop with 7 miles left to go in a 26-mile downhill mountain bike bomb. . . It looks like a bodega/convenience store, but the secret (well not that much of a secret) is that they make the most amazing fresh bread and donuts.”

So don’t forget to stop in Makawao Town on your Maui volcano tour! This eclectic little paniolo town has a lot of character and a cool story to tell.

(First Photo by “Allie_Caulfield”)

(Rodeo photo by “Travis”)

(Gecko Trading Co. Photo by “Allie_Caulfield”)

(Fourth photo by PV Photography)

(Komoda Store Photo by “Too Tall Paul”)