Haleakalā in December: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Peak crowds · VisitWhen score 48/100 · #12 of 12 months

December is peak season — the 4th-busiest month of the year, at Haleakalā National Park: crowds run 94% of the July peak (76,915 average visits). Weather: highs average 61°F and lows 45°F, with 5.3″ of precipitation and 10.9 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Haleakalā in December: what the park service says

December is a rainy-season month at the summit, where mornings can sit at or below freezing before warming toward 50-60°F. On the Kīpahulu coast, nights stay mild at 65-75°F, so one day on Maui can call for very different clothing. For a night inside the crater, Hōlua cabin at 6,940 feet is the closest, 3.7 miles down the Halemauʻu Trail, with a tent area nearby. The park tells overnight guests to bring backup cold-weather gear, lights and a cook stove, because propane and firewood cannot be guaranteed. Each cabin has 18 lockers holding three logs apiece, and the combination is emailed to you before the stay.

Source: NPS 1, NPS 2, NPS 3, checked 2026-11-08.

Crowds in December

Haleakalā averages 76,915 recreation visits in December — 94% of what July, the peak month, draws. Trailheads and parking fill accordingly — book early and start days at dawn.

Weather & daylight

Days are mild (highs average 61°F), and nights stay mild (lows average 45°F). This is one of the wetter months (5.3″ of precipitation on average). Mid-month daylight runs 10.9 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station HALEAKALA RS 338, HI US (7 mi from park coordinates, 6,962 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of December.

What to pack for Haleakalā in December

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Rain shell + pack cover — 5.3″ of precipitation is normal this month
• Waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 5.3″ of precipitation is normal this month

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If your dates are flexible, consider shifting: The computed best months for Haleakalā are April and August.

Also at their best in December

Other parks whose computed December verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• American Samoa in December — 17% of peak crowds, highs 88°F, score 66/100
• Everglades in December — 72% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 64/100
• Biscayne in December — 77% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 62/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in December · Last verified 2026-09-24