Off the Grid: Haleakala Crater Backpacking to the Poliku and Holua Cabins

The Fiske Family and friends just returned from a 3 night backpacking trip into the Haleakala crater on Maui!

This was 8 1/2 month old Calder's first backpacking/camping trip and he was a rockstar!  It was an incredible, exciting and unforgettable experience.  The cabins (built in the 1930's) pretty much need to be booked 3 months in advance because that's the furthest out they will let you reserve them and any open days are taken fast!

This is the website on the cabins you can reserve:
http://www.nps.gov/hale/planyourvisit/wilderness-cabins.htm

This is where you can see what is available and make your reservation:
https://fhnp.org/wcr

Our first night was at the farthest cabin away: Poliku.  It was a 10 mile hike in, difficult with heavy bags.  We entered through the Sliding Sands trail.  We stayed 2 nights at Poliku and then hiked 6 miles to the Holua cabin.  It was the most beautiful hike that day.  After one night at Holua, we hiked up and out the switchbacks: a 4 mile hike.

Backpacking With a Baby

Move slow at high elevation and watch them closely.  Descend if you think there might be altitude sickness.  I didn't feel as though I under or overpacked for Calder.

Here is a list of things I definitely wouldn't do without:

Emergency Medical Kit
Thermometer
Homeopathic Medicine Kit
Warm hats and clothes
Sun protection hats and clothes
Sunscreen
Water
Mini Lantern to stay on while they sleep
Ear plugs for your friends
I made a make shift moby out of one of my shirts to walk him to sleep sometimes
Obviously: diapers, wipes and rags
Earth Best organic squeeze purees worked great
Start the hike when it is the start of a nap time
Be prepared with hiking songs when little one wakes up

What NOT to bring:
A bunch of toys. Nature is the ultimate toy and more than enough to entertain.

 Those are 19 pre-cracked eggs!

 Start of the hike

 Best seat in the house

 The amazing Silver Sword plant

 The crater of Haleakala is the only place they grow in the entire world

 They bloom once in their lifetime and then die

 First break after descending 3.6 miles.  Lunch time!

 The Fiske Family

 6 miles to go

 It is cold in the crater!

 Sunset over Kaupo Gap

 Yup.

 I don't want to go to bed!

 Playtime in the wood room

 Calder's buddy Slater

 Poliku (Cliff House) Cabin

 Nene, endangered goose.  

 Heading to the next cabin

 Moon

 Cabin: Holua

 It does not suck to camp with a chef

 About to head up the switchbacks

 Just finished the hike up and out and the entire trip.

 Back to beach life: Daddy is surfing in the background

Hope you enjoyed!  We definitely did!  Big mahalo and aloha!