Haleakala National Park

The hikes at Haleakala are focused on the levels of Haleakala Mountain.

The Summit District offers exploration of the sun-drenched "crater," which is actually a valley. The Kipahulu Area is rain-drenched, subtropical, lush and has many waterfalls. The 8.4-mile Kuapo Gap Trail descends from crater to the coast. The views along the way are stunning, and it's a good way to get a cross-section of the ecological zones on the mountain.

Hosmer Grove Trail is a fascinating interpretative walk that takes you through one of the park's "biological battlegrounds," beginning in an alien forest and ending in native Hawaiian shrubland.