Palikū Cabin

Palikū Cabin is one of three historic wilderness cabins in Haleakalā Crater. It sits at the east end of the valley, 6,380 feet up beneath a rainforest cliff. This is a backcountry overnight, not a quick stop: the cabin is reached only on foot, and a reservation is required. The nearby Palikū tent-camp area uses a separate permit.

From Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trailhead, the route is 9.3 miles one way; from Halemauʻu Trailhead, it is 10.4. Both are strenuous crater hikes. The soft sand can make the uphill hike out take twice as long as the trip in, so plan your time and supplies around the climb back to the rim.

There are 12 padded bunks, a wood-burning stove and a propane stove, but no electricity. Bring bedding or a sleeping bag, a light, matches, and all your meals. The park cannot guarantee that wood or propane will be available. There is no cell service in the crater.

A pit toilet and water are nearby. The water is non-potable and needs filtering or treatment; during summer drought it may be unavailable, so be prepared to carry water in. This is a cool, wet pocket of the crater: fog often rolls over the cliff and rain is common. Typical temperatures run about 40–70°F by day and 30–50°F at night, and storms can bring much colder, windier conditions. Bring layers and rain protection.

Cabins were part of the 1935 plan for Haleakalā, and the standard shelter design was drawn up in 1936. Civilian Conservation Corps workers and pack animals helped haul materials into the crater when the cabins were built in 1937. They still do the job they were built for: giving hikers a place to stay deep in the crater.