We need to normalize a different type of vacation. Vacations that seem to be enjoyed more than consumed. Connect versus isolate. I think there’s this default version that we all think we need, that goes places to consume a culture or a place or a thing. However, I am convinced that on most of those vacations I return more exhausted, broke and exhausted. It’s very interesting to me that we’ve been sold on this concept and I think it first occurred to me when I was thinking about self-care. We briefly mentioned it in my social work program, but different types of self-care can include the following (maybe more come to mind):
- Physical: exercise, diet, sleep, massages.
- Emotional: hobbies, independent forms of expression, maybe connecting with a person very close to you.
- Mental/Intellectual – reading, learning
- Social: participate in group activities, community connection, events.
- Spiritual: religious, meditation, values-based.
- Practical – financial, life organization, dating.
I think people assume they need a flawless vacation, but we don’t ask ourselves, «What do I really need right now?» We don’t always need a day at the beach to feel better, but we do need to know ourselves and be reflective to be able to assess, ‘what does my body ask for?’. When people go to the islands for their holidays or vacations, do they come here thinking that they will be given what they need, or identifying what they need before coming here. I think this is a really good tool to think about before flying anywhere to get your spark back.
So I set out… with physical, emotional and spiritual self-care goals.
Hitchhiking to Haleakalā National Park
Next time you’re on Maui, especially backpacking, consider making a problem. You build a connection with the community. You learn about people and hear their stories. The people who live here have a lot of knowledge and understanding of the land. Better than any purchased tour, talk to your friendly locals, try hitchhiking and offer a tip for the ride.
Day 1
We arrived at the Maui airport around 10 in the morning. It was a quick flight from Oahu. We first spent some time walking around the city, allowing our bodies to adjust to the humid tropical air. It was easy to find public transportation from the airport to downtown. It only cost $4 for two people to get across town. As we walked, we drank coffee from a truck, Kraken, and sat in a small convenience store after purchasing some bottles of water to make a plan for our trip.
Hitch-hiking
We started hitchhiking on Highway 37 and got our first ride about a mile away, and were offered some trail magic in granola bars. Our trip was originally from Los Angeles and she was now living in Maui.
Image source: Paige Combs, “Hitching at Highway,” June 2026.
Our second hitch was local with a truck and took us about 11 miles to the nearest town on the outskirts of the park. Napolitan’s hair was flying everywhere and we could feel the air getting colder and drier as we climbed. Our third problem was a mother with an 8 year old daughter. He told us stories about how, when he first moved here, he hitchhiked all the time because he didn’t have a car. We talked about how much had changed after COVID. I expressed that I believe the phenomenon is global and much has changed after the pandemic. The kilometers were quick and it left us in the community of Kula. Our last problem of the day took us to our campsite for the night, Hosmer Grove Campground.
The couple were originally from Los Angeles and were visiting from Texas. The gentleman and I chatted about Santa Cruz and the famous man with the pink umbrella who used to walk the streets. Our trip was a former musician and traveled all over the world. After they dropped us off, between rain showers, we set up our tent and hid under an awning with picnic benches for dinner. Mine was a salami omelette with cheese.
Image source: Paige Combs, “Perfect Hideout,” June 2026.
Hosmer Grove Campground
That night we settled into our camp. Despite the rain and fog, we walked along a small path around the land and walked to the road. Before going to bed, I hoped the next day would be a beautiful sunny day, even though our weather was supposed to be cloudy and rainy all week.
Image source: Paige Combs, “Muddy Trail,” June 2026.
Image source: Paige Combs, “Rainbow Over the Road,” June 2026.
The weather gods responded
That morning we got up early. I opened my eyes and, I kid you not, I saw blue spots in that big, beautiful sky. Still wet and rainy, but less so than yesterday, I began my typical morning routine: packing up my gear and dragging my things to the covered benches so I could make some coffee and food. It was already starting to look like a successful trip, but I knew we still had to reach the top of the crater to begin our hike.
Day 2
Around 7am we started walking back to the road and encountered the first problem with a ranger in his personal vehicle. He took us to the first visitor center. The second obstacle was more challenging. We stood in front of the visitor center trying to hitchhike to the top for about an hour.
The visitor center opened at 8:30am, so we took a break and went inside. We took map photos of our route and checked the mileage. Once satisfied, we headed back out and continued our hitchhiking attempts. A family stopped and picked us up. A biologist who lived on the islands with his wife and two children. They were there on a big trip and he said this was one of his favorite parks. We chatted about nature and hiking. We climbed the last bit of elevation and reached the sunny summit. Not a cloud in sight.
Image source: Paige Combs, “Bright Blue Skies,” June 2026.
I got really excited once we got there. As a hitchhiker, you never know when you’re going to get somewhere. Who are you going to meet or what will happen, but somehow there is always a kind soul willing to pick you up and take you to your destination.
House of the Sun
The views were endless at 9,740 feet. When you think about visiting the Hawaiian Islands, I don’t think people often think about how much elevation there is in some of the mountains. We could see the ocean shores in the distance and were high above the cloud line, looking down at the towns below. Volcanic rock bordered every view as we approached our trail.
Image source: Paige Combs, “Napolitan at Visitor Center,” June 2026.
Image source: Paige Combs, “The Top of the Crater,” June 2026.
The Sliding Sands Trail (Keoneheʻeheʻe) would take us to our connecting trail to our first campsite of the night, Paliku. We walked down a 3000 foot descent into dark volcanic sand. We took a short break at the bottom and dried our tent from the night before.
Image source: Paige Combs, “Assorted Photos for Descent,” June 2026.
The relatives we arrived with caught up with us and sat nearby. We were all eating snacks, taking a break and enjoying the views. We were greeted with a beautiful sunny day all day.
Around noon we continued our journey, quickly passing the Kapalohoa cabin. At the cabin, we lost the trail for a moment, found it again, and then kept walking. We passed a trail maintenance crew clearing the trails and trimming overgrown brush. Our trail went from sand to volcanic rock and then to lush greenery and tropical vegetation. Our terrain was changing very rapidly, even over the course of a few kilometers.
I stayed at the campsite
We hiked about 10 miles on the first day, due to our side quest around the cabin, and arrived at our reserved site at Paliku Campground at 3 pm Honestly, Paliku Camp 4 was also a perfect, unplanned campsite. There is drinking water in each of the camps and a pit toilet. I tried to consider what this trip would feel like if I had simply rented a car and driven here instead of hitchhiking from the airport. Somehow, a part of me feels like it wouldn’t be the same.
Image source: Paige Combs, “Paliku Campground Tentsite,” June 2026.
Image source: Paige Combs, “Mountain Background,” June 2026.
Statistics in the desert
Temperature range: 68° – 81°
General Location: Slippery Sand Trail to Paliku Campground – Haleakala National Park on Maui
interesting fact: Silversword, the silver flowering plant, can live between 20 and 90 years. It blooms once, spreads its seeds and dies.
What land am I on?? Find out why it’s important to respect the land we travel.
