***ONE NOTE***: The video link above is giving me an error message with the link I add. In case you can't see it, this is the link to a public facebook video album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10122984162785419&type=3
I ran up Haleakala on Maui, HI, on 4/19/26. I started my run at the intersection of Baldwin Ave and Hana Highway. I carried all my supplies at the start, including a 50oz bladder, 1-12oz bottle, and 2-17oz bottles, along with a variety of gels and additional supplies like a rain jacket, gloves, mints, face wipes, and lube.
The start of the run was quite warm and humid, and I was concerned that I didn't bring enough fluid to make it to the first water stop at Kula Marketplace around 12 miles. The route had some shade since I started early enough, and the road is nice and windy with very consistent climbing. There were short sections of flat-ish and even a few downhills in the first part, but once my legs were locked in on climbing, running downhill actually felt awkward! There were some cars but it never felt busy. A few cyclists also passed me on the way down in this first section. Luckily, I made it to Kula Marketplace with fluid to spare (probably not drinking enough!). At Kula I purchased a large, wonderfully cold water bottle and refilled my handheld bottles and topped off my bladder. I utilized Gu Roctane for liquid calories (in the bladder and in one of the 17oz bottles, the other 17oz and the 12oz were water). Kula also has a real bathroom, so I was able to use the restroom here, too. I did not purchase any food, as the gels were sitting well.
I continued on my climb knowing that my next stop to refill fluids wouldn't be until about a mile after the visitor center. The view up the volcano got better and better, and there were a few times that I was running through some fog and clouds. The fog and clouds were short lived, and the sun was pretty intense. As you can see from my pictures I absolutely slathered myself in sunscreen to try to avoid any sunburns the best I could. (Happy to say, zero sunburn!!) A few times I thought it would actually rain or even get too chilly, but that never happened. I was also expecting some nasty headwinds the higher I got, but luckily that didn't happen, either. Any wind I encountered actually felt good since it would cool me down. I was dumping a LOT of water onto my head and trying to keep my sunshirt as wet as possible to stay cool.
You enter Haleakala National Park at Crater Road, but then you still have more mileage to the official park entry. The entry is around 24 miles, where you pay a $15 daily fee for anyone on foot. You can purchase your day pass ahead of time and just show the QR code to get through faster. After you enter, it's about a mile to the visitor center. There I was able to refill my roctane bladder and bottles from a public tap, as well as use another real bathroom. I continued to do fine with my gels for additional calories.
As you near the top, the route is more exposed and I continued to do topical cooling so I wouldn't overheat. The weather was absolutely beautiful and the humidity decreased the higher I climbed. As you get to the last mile or so you can see exactly where you need to climb to and you can see the gradient by looking at the cars climbing toward the top. It's a bit intimidating but I knew I was almost there! The last bit of climbing felt the worst, but I knew it would be over soon. I was able to get to the top with barely any phone battery left, but I took some pictures and took in my surroundings. It was a great view! After finishing I was able to hang out in the observatory to get out of the wind, as I cooled down quickly and would have been really cold. I threw on my rain jacket to help mitigate the wind when I was outside.
Overall, this was a beautiful route and I highly recommend it! I took my time running and included short walk breaks (less than a quarter mile at a time) because I didn't want to cramp or blow up early. Zero cramps, zero issues, just some tired climbing legs at the end. I did not have any pacers and saw only two other people on foot who were walking down. I did not run with anyone at any time. I did not resupply with any food. My only stops were the two listed above to use the bathroom and resupply with purchased water at Kula Marketplace and public tap at the visitor center.