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)
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