If you decide to visit the HaleakalΔ National ParkΒ before or after your volcano bike tour there are so many amazing things to see! Sunrise and sunset boasts spectacular views of the sun rising or setting with the clouds at the peak of this dormant volcano. Then, thereβs the HaleakalΔ Crater and its unique cinder landscape that will make you feel as if youβre on another world.
In the summit area, as well as in the entire HaleakalΔ National Park, there is some incredible wildlife to see. The park is noted for having a number of unique endangered species. So to better prepare you for your day exploring HaleakalΔ, weβve gathered some information from the National Park Service about the wildlife youβll see if you decide to enter the park on the same day you enjoy the HaleakalΔ downhill bike ride. Keep in mind if you go after your bike ride for sunset you will have more daylight and time to hike, take photographs and search for wildlife than you will during sunrise. If you opt for sunrise, you will need to leave the park by 7:30am at the latest to be at our bike shop in Paia in time for your downhill bike ride.
Hawaiian Goose β NΔnΔ
Worldβs rarest goose, the nΔnΔ
You will only see the nΔnΔ in Hawaii. As the worldβs rarest goose, the wild nΔnΔ nests on HaleakalΔ and, as the NPS noted, may fly around neighborhoods on Maui and Molokaβi. The last survivor of several other endemic geese, the nΔnΔ is an endangered species and is the State Bird of Hawaii.
The nΔnΔ has strong feet, short wings, padded toes, and reduced webbing which helps them walk over the rough terrain of the HaleakalΔ volcano. NΔnΔ often mate for life and at 14 weeks old, the young goslings can fly and join the rest of the flock.
Although park biologists protect βthe islandβs most noticeable large native animal,β they often travel through roadways and parking lots where theyβre sometimes killed by cars. Thus, there are often warnings alerting motorists to watch out for the nΔnΔ.
Of course, to protect the nΔnΔ, the NPS urges visitors to βkeep them wildβ by not giving them any food or water, not getting too close to the nΔnΔ, and keeping pets away from these birds.
Hawaiian Petrel β βUaβu
The βuaβu are an endangered species of migratory seabirds. According to the NPS, their largest known nesting colony is at the top of HaleakalΔ, so look out for these birds at the summit of HaleakalΔ.
This is a NPS photo of Κ»UaΚ»u at 9000 ft. elevation on HaleakalΔ.
At 16 inches long, these seabirds have a three-foot wingspan and are dark grey on top and white underneath. The young βuaβu reportedly leave their nests for the first time in November and fly out to the ocean at night in search of food. But sometimes these seabirds can sadly become grounded.
βThey fly over land at night and are believed to navigate by stars. These and other seabirds that fly at night sometimes become confused by lights. The seabirds fly around the lights, become tired and fall to the ground,β the NPS noted.
On the NPS website, there are instructions for what to do if you find a grounded seabird. These birds, the NPS said, also make a variety of calls, one sounding just like its name: oo-AH-oo. So if you hear this sound on your HaleakalΔ sunrise volcano tour, it may be an βuaβu.
HaleakalΔ Silversword
With the variety of climates and elevations on HaleakalΔ comes a variety of unique plant life.
βOver 850 species of plants are found within the bounds of HaleakalΔ National Park. Of these, over 400 species are native, or arrived without human intervention; over 300 species are endemic to Hawaiβi, found only in the islands,β the NPS noted.
The silversword is one of the unique endemic species that calls HaleakalΔ home. Living among the desert cinder landscape of the HaleakalΔ Crater and Summit area, silverswords are noted by the silvery hairs on their sword-like succulent leaves and their low-growing rosette. They can live up to 90 years.
If you see a flowering silversword on your visit in HaleakalΔ National park, this is a truly a unique experience as the silversword only flowers once and then dies soon after.
The silversword is one of the many rare and unique plants that you can see on your bike tour of HaleakalΔ, many of which can only be seen in Hawaii.
The NPS has downloadable guides you can take along to help you identify these distinctive plants and bird species.
Sunrise vs sunset?
Some people ask us which is better to do. For many decades and still to this day people don’t even know you can go into the park on your own and that you can also go up for sunset. Here are a couple articles that will help you decide which is best for your family/group:
(First photo by Eric Chan)
When planning your trip into Jacaranda territory be sure to consider a 
