Haleakala Downhill by Bike, Self-Guided from 6,500 Feet with Certified Instructors

Maui Sunriders has been running the Haleakala downhill for more than 25 years, and is the only bike operator on the island staffed by USA Cycling coaches and BICP certified instructors. Three full-service shops on Maui mean the bikes are tuned by mechanics daily rather than between seasons. The ride is self-guided. The van drives you up the same road you will come down, with commentary on the history and the places worth stopping at, and drops you at 6,500 feet just outside the National Park boundary, which is where every bike operator on Maui starts. From there the pace is yours. The upper section runs the switchbacks below the park, and the lower half starts at Makawao and finishes at Paia on the North Shore. What self-guided buys is stopping. Makawao is paniolo country, Hawaiian cowboy country, with galleries and shops along its main street. Paia at the bottom has the fish markets and the art shops. A guided group rides past both. Check-in is 8:45am and after 9am you risk missing the tour. The shop is not on the street: it is in Paia Plaza behind the Lima restaurant. Parking in front costs about $15, card only, and there is a free public lot on Hana Highway. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.