Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2001 09:00:47 -1000
From: Eric Stelene (stelene@email.com)
Subject: Secrets of Haleakala
I've been working at Haleakala National Park for about 5 months, but my job never gets me into the back country so I have to go on my own. Last week I went into the "crater" with another ranger on his back-country patrol. The plan was simple: he'll take me to the secret places he knows about and I'll show him the secret places I have discovered.
Note: Hiking off established trails in the Park is prohibited. This write-up is provided for informational purposes only.
We started from the Halemau'u trailhead (elev 8000 ft.) about 6 miles up from Park HQ. Next time you go to Haleakala, be aware that you pass no fewer than 5 lava tubes all within spitting distance of the road between the entrance station and Halemau'u. When the road was built by the CCC in the 30's, the workers apparently used these little caves for shelters. There are remnants of dynamite boxes and other debris left behind. One has some petroglyphs which are believed to be pre-European.
Pro-tip: When heading up the mountain, pass mile marker 9. Park at the first guard rail mauka of mile marker 9. About 50 ft off the road you'll see a small cave just outside the Park boundary.
The old Halemau'u trail dropped steeply to the crater floor in a series of short switch backs. About half way down we came to the old landslide area. A huge, deep gouge cut into the crater wall and took most of the lower switch-backs with it. From here we just cut straight down the steep cliff and were soon at the crater floor. Total distance from the parking lot to the crater floor on the new Halemau'u is 2.8 miles; on the old trail, it's only about 1 mile!
We took the fork that led across Koolau Gap to Waikau. Soon, we made a side trip to some small lava tubes. In the back of one tube, I found one of the strangest things I've encountered: a table-like rock formation with about 50 seashells all lined up on it, a ti leaf lei, and fresh ohelo berries. There was also a circle of rocks arranged like a miniature heiau on the cave floor.
We followed the gravelly streambed upslope about 1/2 mile to a huge a'a flow. After two hours of "walking through hell" with no trail in sight, we joined up with the Halemau'u trail midway between Bottomless Pit and Silversword Loop. I'll head back in a few weeks to look for "Dante's Inferno" and Crystal Cave.