I chose to do this route unsupported because I think thats most beautiful to complete a route like this. Just me and the mountain.
I started my route at approximately 6:45 am touching the ocean and taking the kaupo gap trail up to the summit of Haleakala. I reached the summit in about 5:48 and got back down to the ocean in around 3:30 for a total elapsed time of 9:25.
I packed all of my gear and food with me. For water, I stopped at the Kapalaoa cabin both direction to filter water from the catchment behind the cabin.
This route is so amazing, brutal, ad epic! It has little bit of everything! You start in steaming hot tropical weather at the bottom and make your way through constantly changing climate and environment to the summit where the air is chilly and brisk. Its got it all! The downhill on this route is very brutal especially near the bottom where the trail is hardly existing followed up by very steep jeep roads covered in softball sized gravel rocks, you basically have a reckless sliding scramble down those jeep roads.
After years of wanting to send this route I am so happy I finally committed!