HOW TO REGISTER AND JOIN A MULTI-DAY SERVICE TRIP
For all overnight trips in the Crater, participants need to bring first day’s water, sun and rain protection, work gloves, comfortable boots or close-toed walking shoes, sleeping bag, extra socks, breakfasts, lunches, dinners, personal supplies, a flashlight and warm clothing. For tent camping trips, participants must have their own tents and sleeping pads
Back country trips will be long, physically challenging days requiring hiking and climbing at high altitudes both on and off trail. Your reward is an opportunity to enjoy your Park in areas you may have never visited and leaving it better off than before your service. The Kipahulu cabin and tent site is accessible by car. While easier to get to, these trips also involve hard work, often in hot and wet conditions.
Back country (Hōlua, Kapalaoa, Palikū) trip participants must be 18 years of age or older.
To participate, you must create an account on our system, certify your readiness for a service trip and be approved by the trip leader to join. To create an account, click on the LOGIN link in the banner at the top of this page and follow the instructions to create an account. Then, log into the account and follow the steps to certify your readiness for a service trip. Then, contact the leader for the trip you are interested in. You only need to create an account once. You can change the content of your account by logging in.
For more information and to sign-up, choose the date you’re interested in at our Service Trips Calendar, and contact the trip leader described in the listing.
Kīpahulu Service Trip (Frontcountry)
Level: Easy – Car/tent camping
Location: Kīpahulu District, Hāna, Maui
Spend the weekend immersed in the rainforest of Haleakalā’s Kīpahulu District. This is a frontcountry, car-accessible trip with minimal hiking and maximum connection to place.
Volunteers kōkua (assist) with projects like invasive weed removal, loʻi (taro patch) maintenance, and clearing trail corridors. The work is meaningful and the pace allows for plenty of time to connect, with each other, with the ʻāina, and with the park. Shared meals and social time in the evenings offer a chance to unwind and build community with like-minded individuals.
This 2-night tent camping trip is a wonderful way to give back and deepen your relationship to Haleakalā. You’ll gain hands-on experience and learn more about native plants and species unique to Hawaiʻi and this special part of the park in areas many visitors never get to explore in depth.
FHNP can assist with gear loans if requested in advance.
Trip Notes:
- You must be 18 or older to participate.
- Some meals and carpooling are coordinated by trip leaders.
- Advance signup is required; space is limited.
- Clean boots and gear before the trip to prevent the spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) and invasive species.
Hōlua Patrol Cabin Trip
Level: Moderate – 8+ mile hike
Location: Hōlua Camping area and Ranger Cabin, Haleakalā Crater
This backcountry, backpacking trip begins with a challenging 8+ mile hike into the subalpine grasslands of Hōlua, traversing steep, rocky terrain at high elevation. Volunteers will tent camp in the open pasture near the Hōlua Patrol Cabin, with a small covered area available for shared meals and evening gatherings. At night, the crater offers some of the best stargazing on Earth, with clear views of the Milky Way and thousands of visible stars.
Service work varies by season and need, and may include invasive weed removal, native seed collection, trail clearing, and basic cabin maintenance. Trip leaders organize a hot group dinner each night (small fee applies), and day hikes for work or exploration may range from 2 to 8 miles.
This trip is a rewarding way to experience the quiet beauty of Haleakalā’s crater and to connect more deeply with its native ecosystems. You’ll be part of meaningful conservation work and gain knowledge about plants, birds, and species found only in Hawaiʻi and within the park itself.
Trip Notes:
- You will carry your own gear: tent, sleeping bag, clothing for any weather, personal items, and food for your own breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
- Be prepared for cold nights, strong sun, and rapidly changing weather.
All participants must be 18+ and in good physical condition. - Advance signup is required; space is limited.
- Clean boots and gear before the trip to prevent the spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) and invasive species.
Kapalaoa Visitor Cabin Trip
Level: Difficult – 15+ mile backpacking trip
Location: Kapalaoa, Haleakalā Crater
This backcountry service trip takes you deep into the heart of Haleakalā Crater, with a strenuous 8+ mile hike to Kapalaoa Visitor Cabin, nestled against the southern, leeward crater rim. The surrounding landscape is one of the both remote and ecologically significant.
Haleakalā National Park, including the area around Kapalaoa, is known for its remarkable biodiversity and one of the highest percentages of endemic species, plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth. During the trip, you’ll learn more about native plants, birds, and ecological relationships that are unique to Hawaiʻi and Haleakalā. At night, the crater offers some of the best stargazing on Earth, with clear views of the Milky Way and thousands of visible stars.
Volunteers stay two nights-change for however many nights in the historic visitor cabin, sleeping on bunks and sharing hot dinners organized by the trip leader (small fee applies). Service work may include invasive weed removal, native seed collection, trail repair, or basic cabin maintenance. Day hikes for volunteer work and exploration may span 8+ miles.
This is an incredible opportunity to enjoy your park in places few people ever see, while making a tangible impact on its preservation.
Trip Notes:
- You’ll carry all your personal gear, clothing, and food.
- FHNP can assist with gear loans upon request.
- All participants must be 18+ and physically fit.
- Trips to this cabin are scheduled Sunday through Thursday due to high visitor demand on weekends.
- Advance signup is required; space is limited.
- Clean boots and gear before the trip to prevent the spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) and invasive species.
Palikū Patrol Cabin Trip
Level: Very Difficult – 21+ miles total
Location: Palikū, Haleakalā Crater (East End)
This backcountry backpacking trip is both strenuous and unforgettable, totaling over 21 miles across varied, rustic terrain and steep elevation changes. Volunteers spend three nights in the Palikū Patrol Cabin, located at the lush, windward edge of Haleakalā Crater, where native ʻōhiʻa forests meet the dramatic cliffs (pali) of Palikū.
This is a rare opportunity to sleep surrounded by native ʻōhiʻa trees and wake to the songs of native Hawaiian forest birds, including the rare honeycreepers found in high elevation zones of Hawaiʻi. At night, the crater offers some of the best stargazing on Earth, with clear views of the Milky Way and thousands of visible stars.
Day hikes for volunteer work and exploration may span 8+ miles, often including a rugged day trek down a portion of the Kaupō Gap Trail. Service projects may include invasive weed removal (such as bull thistle), native seed collection, trail clearing, and cabin maintenance.
Evenings are spent in community, sharing meals (organized by the trip leader; small fee applies) and reflecting on the day’s work. You’ll carry in your own backpacking gear, including a sleeping bag, clothing for any weather, and food for your own breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
This trip offers a meaningful way to give back while experiencing your park in places few ever reach. You’ll gain a deeper connection to the land and learn about the plants, birds, and ecosystems unique to Haleakalā and Hawaiʻi.
Trip Notes:
- You must be in excellent physical condition and comfortable hiking long distances at elevation.
- All participants must be 18+.
- Prior trip experience required.
- Advance signup is required; space is limited.
MORE DETAILS ON TRIPS:
Description of Work
Service Trip Packing List
Service Trip Itinerary
Please consider your experience, ability and physical condition when choosing a trip.