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 Leleiwi Lookout, Maui
On the way to the summit of Haleakala, one of Maui’s two dormant volcanos, there is an overlook that should not be, well, overlooked. At 8,800 feet, Leleiwi Lookout commands views across the crater all the way to Kihei on the coast. The panoramic moonscape view is not the main attraction here, however. Leleiwi offers a phenomenon that occurs in only two other places on the planet: Scotland and Germany. When the clouds are low, and the sun is in just the right place behind you, usually around sunset, you will see the reflection of your own shadow on the clouds, ringed with a rainbow. This amazing optical illusion, called “Specter of the Brocken,” is caused by just the right combination of sun, shadow, and mist. In Hawaiian, the spectacle is called akaku anuenue (reflection rainbow.) Some, including indigenous Hawaiians, have likened the experience to seeing one’s own soul. To look over the Leleiwi Lookout, look out just beyond mile marker 17 on Highway 378, along a short trail from the parking lot.  Explore more Hidden Places... Or plan your dream vacation through our Maui Travel Directory! |