Hawaiian Honeymoon question

I have been reading about Hawaii and I am interested in the Haleakala Sunrise Tour. However, the tours are so expensive! I read somewhere that you can't drive up to the park yourslef to see the sunrise, you have to go on a tour. Is that true?

Re: Hawaiian Honeymoon question

Absolutey NOT TRUE.
We did not go on a tour (and we are glad we didn't!) We drove up ourselves and it only cost us $10 to get into the park.
The drive takes several hours (two and a 1/2 I think) and we didn't mind it. We liked that we weren't stuffed into some bus for that period of time.

The only thing is that for the sunrise you are willing to do the drive in the PITCH BLACK DARK. No street lights, only your headlights- there is NOTHING around.

We did not go up there for the sunrise (it was cloudy the days we were able to go and we were told not to bother b.c you couldn't see anything) But we still wanted to go so we left at about 7AM (instead of the 3AM that they tell you you need to leave in order to see the sunrise) and drove up in the daylight. And when we got up there- we couldn't see a thing because the clouds were thick.

But anyway, I hope this helps you! just remember to ask about the conditions on the top of the mountain before you go!!!! Otherwise it will be a waste. We met quite a few dissapointed, and VERY TIRED people.
Good luck!!