I got to experience a fun filled day with Explore Maui Nature tours. Wendy was an amazing guide accompanied by the wonderful Aunty Nan. They were both very knowledgeable and informative. I enjoyed how intimate it was with a small group. It was truly a magical day of exploring all the way up to Haleakala and Upcountry. I loved that I got to spend a lot of time in nature and learn a craft. I am grateful I got to learn how to make a ti leaf lei and for the different birds we spotted.
Hawaiian Cultural Practitioner
Make your own lei
Private Haleakala summit tour
Visit the summit of Haleakala and learn how to weave your own lei with Hawaiian cultural practitioner Aunty Nan
On this truly unique tour, you will be accompanied all day long by Aunty Nan, a respected Hawaiian “kupuna” (elder), who will complement your guide to give you a deeper understanding of Hawaiian culture, legends, environment, and history. You will start with a visit to the 10,023 ft summit of Haleakala for amazing views of the “crater” and the rest of the Valley Isle. And in the afternoon, you’ll settle down in a scenic spot and weave your own ti leaf or ribbon lei under the expert guidance of Aunty Nan, before making your way back to your accommodation.
Trip Details
Trip Details
Price
- $1095 for 1-2pax
- $195 for each additional passenger
Departure time
8 am
Meeting point
- We’ll pick you up from your hotel, cruise ship harbor, airport, or meet you at a park & ride.
- Ask for details/select your pick-up option in the booking form.
- Pick-up fee applies for West side locations.
Availability
Mondays, year-round (ideal “shore excursion” for our cruise ship visitors).
Wednesday or Friday by request.
Duration
7 – 8 hours
Group size
1 – 11 people
Included
- Entrance fees to Haleakala National Park
- Picnic lunch
- Water, juices and soda, hot beverages and snacks
- Materials to make ti-leaf and ribbon lei
What to bring
- Warm clothes
- Jacket
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunglasses
- Hat
Phone/camera
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
While this tour can be customized to fit your physical abilities and can be very mellow, guests still must be able to enter and exit the vehicle unassisted. Please contact us for details.
Highlights
Talk-story with Aunty Nan for a local kupuna perspective on Hawaiian history and culture.
Learn about and experience the spectacular volcanic landscape often above the clouds.
Hear your guides offer an oli (chant) on your behalf.
Enjoy your made-to-order picnic lunch, prepared for you by a Maui chef.
Make your own lei to take home.
Feel confident that you can apply your new craft skill to materials in your home environment.
What You'll Do
You will spend the day with two guides-your knowledgeable driver and “Aunty” Nan Cabatbat, who taught Hawaiian Studies at Samuel Enoka Kalama Intermediate School for 17 years and Haleakala National Park for 30 years. In both work areas she helped people understand language and taught crafts. She teaches how to use natural resources in your environment, whether in Hawaii or the place you call home.
After meeting your guides, we will head for the heights and talk-story along the way. You can ask any question about Hawaii’s culture, history, language, or natural resources and anticipate a thoughtful response. You will get your own personal tour of the national park, including the chilly summit of Haleakala, Maui’s 10’023-foot volcano. It’s often 20 – 40 degrees colder up there than at sea level, so don’t forget your hoodie and/or jacket!
We like to take our time at the summit to marvel at the amazing moonscape-like scenery, peer into the “crater,” and catch sight of the Big Island’s Mauna Kea across the channel. We will also keep an eye out for the unique silversword plant. We can stop at several lookout points to get different views. Maybe we will even come across a pair of resident Nene, the threatened native Hawaiian goose and official state bird.
Afterward, we can go for a short forest walk to find our colorful endemic birds-if you’re a true birder though, we recommend you book our dedicated birding tour.
Next, we make our way down the mountain and stop at a scenic venue to enjoy our picnic lunch together. Then we get comfortable and practice making lei by hand, with Aunty Nan. You can be sure that you will feel proud of your finished product, and confident that you can apply your new skill to crafting projects back home.
See What Our Previous Guests Say
This was the best tour we have ever been on. Wendy & Nan were our guides. They sang us songs, taught us about the history of the island. We seen stunning views and were treated with such aloha. We seen rare birds, had a delicious lunch and Nan taught us how to make Ti Leaf leis. 10/10! Highly recommend
Wendy has experience as a park ranger and as a driver on the road to Hana, so we were in very good hands both on the road and in the field. Our group got along great and by the end of the day, we were exchanging emails and photographs. The van was comfortable. Wendy was a courteous driver in regards to bathroom breaks, roadside photo ops, and climate control. Lunch was yummy with healthy options.
