haleakala cone, maui

House of the Sun, Haleakala Maui

Haleakala, translated “House of the Sun” is a colorful jewel crowning Maui’s summit. Around 10,000 feet above the ocean below, Haleakala mountain stands high above the clouds with panoramic views of the Big Island, West Maui, Lana’i, Kaho’olawe, and Molokini.

This unique, seemingly barren land atop an otherwise lush island was once thought to be a volcanic caldera. Today it is thought that instead it is a canyon carved by wind and rain leaving behind only the hardened earth surrounding once active cinder cones.

From the photographer:

“We drove up to the mountain and it was an absolutely gorgeous day. The weather was about 60 degrees with clear cloudy skies. What beauty. I captured this with my canon 16-35mm F2.8II on my 5D Mark II.”

This beautiful picture of Haleakala looks to the northeast, toward the sunrise and the small town of Hana. It can be difficult to take a good picture here with often cold, windy conditions that quickly bring new clouds into and out of the canyon.

This spot is a favorite for tour groups and is most often associated with its stunning beauty and unexpectedly frigid temperatures. Many a soul has found themselves huddled next to near strangers as they attempt to stay warm, waiting in freezing temperatures and flip-flops for the sun to rise over the peaks.

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About Kim Ortiz

"I love all aspects of photography. I love traveling, chihuahuas, and eating out. I love Hawaii and my dream is to be a photographer on the beautiful island of Maui or the Big Island. I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark II camera with a few professional lenses. My favorite are the 85mm F1.2LII and the 70-200mm F2.8L II. I love collecting lenses and attending workshops and conferences to continue to stand out as a photographer and keep with with the trends of high school portrait photography." Kim Ortiz Photography is a Castle Hills portrait photographer specializing in stylish, modern, and high fashion senior portrait experience, and family, pets and corporate headshot portraits. Located in Castle Hills near Carrollton, Coppell, Frisco, and Plano, Texas Kim Ortiz Photography is Castle Hills' most sought after senior portrait photographer

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