Kaupo Gap

Hana & East Maui


Pull over to gaze at this dramatic volcanic rift that drops down the southern flank of Haleakalā. The Kaupo Trail descends through here from the crater of the volcano.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Hana & East Maui attractions

1. Kawilinau

3.33 MILES

Legend says that the pit leads down to the sea, though the National Park Service says it’s just 65ft deep.

2. Pele’s Paint Pot Lookout

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Along the loop trail south of Kawilinau, and accessible via Halemauʻu Trail and Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail, this is the crater’s most brilliant…

3. Haleakalā National Park

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No trip to Maui is complete without visiting this national park containing the mighty volcano that gave rise to East Maui. The volcano's floor measures a…

4. St Joseph Church

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5. Leleiwi Overlook

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For your first jaw-dropping look into the crater and its cinder cones, stop at Leleiwi Overlook (8840ft), midway between the Park Headquarters Visitor…

6. Waikamoi Preserve

5.93 MILES

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7. Kalahaku Overlook

5.94 MILES

Don’t miss this one. Kalahaku Overlook (9324ft), 0.8 miles beyond Leleiwi Overlook, offers a bird’s-eye view of the crater floor and the ant-size hikers…

8. Waimoku Falls

6.3 MILES

One of the tallest waterfalls on Maui, the soaring, 400ft Waimoku Falls tumbles dramatically down a jungle-lined lava-rock face into a boulder-dotted pool…