Haleakalā National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location within Hawaii
Location	Maui County, Hawaii, USA
Nearest city	Pukalani
Coordinates	20°43′0″N 156°10′0″W / 20.71667°N 156.16667°W / 20.71667; -156.16667Coordinates: 20°43′0″N 156°10′0″W / 20.71667°N 156.16667°W / 20.71667; -156.16667
Area	33,265 acres (13,462 ha)[1]
Established	July 1, 1961
Visitors	956,989 (in 2011)[2]
Governing body	National Park Service

Location of Haleakalā National Park in the southeastern part of Maui Island

Detail map of Haleakalā National Park

Haleakalā National Park is a United States national park located on the island of Maui in the state of Hawaiʻi. The park covers an area of 33,265 acres (134.62 km²),^[1] of which 19,270 acres (77.98 km²) is a wilderness area.^[3] In 2000 the name was changed by the Hawaiian National Park Language Correction Act of 2000 observing the Hawaiian spelling.^[4]

History [edit]

It was originally created as part of the Hawaii National Park along with the volcanoes of Mauna Loa and Kilauea on the island of Hawaiʻi in 1916. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was made into a separate national park in 1961. The park area was designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980.^[5] The name Haleakalā is Hawaiian for "house of the sun." According to a local legend, the demigod Maui imprisoned the sun here in order to lengthen the day.^[6]

The park features the dormant Haleakalā (East Maui) Volcano, which last erupted sometime between 1480 and 1600 AD.^[7] The park is divided into two distinct sections: the summit area and the coastal Kipahulu area.

The two sections of the park average 1,450,000 visitors per year.

Summit [edit]

Visitor center view at 9,740 feet (2,970 m)

The summit area includes Haleakalā Crater, the summit of the volcano, and the area surrounding the summit. This part of the park is accessed by Hawaii state road 378.

The main feature of this part of the park is undoubtedly the famous Haleakalā Crater. It is huge: 6.99 miles (11.25 km) across, 2.0 mi (3.2 km) wide, and some 2,600 ft (790 m) deep. The interior of the crater is dotted by numerous volcanic features, including large cinder cones. Two main trails lead into the crater from the summit area: the Halemau'u and Sliding Sands trails. Hikers in the crater can stay in one of three cabins (which need to be reserved through the park first).

Each morning, visitors come to the summit of the volcano to watch the spectacular sunrise. More visitors come each afternoon to watch the equally amazing sunset. One attraction of the park is Hosmer's Grove, a unique forest of alien trees including deodar (Cedrus deodara) from the Himalayas, sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) from Japan, eucalyptus from Australia, and several species from North America (pine, spruce, cypress, fir, and others). Native plants and trees are also present in the forest but are not very common due to the little light available (because of the taller alien trees).

The park is known for its unique volcanic features, its long scenic drive with numerous overlooks, and the unusually clear views of the night sky available. Haleakalā is one of the best places in the United States for amateur astronomy, and binoculars and telescopes are available for rent from many local merchants. Nēnē (Hawaiian Geese, Branta sandvicensis) can also be seen in their natural habitat in Haleakalā Crater. Although nēnē died out entirely in the park, in 1946 they were re-introduced with the help of the Boy Scouts, who carried young birds into the crater in their backpacks.^[8]

Kipahulu [edit]

Swimmers in the pools at Kipahulu

Kipahulu region, Haleakalā National Park

The second section of the park is the Kipahulu section. Visitors cannot drive directly to this section from the summit area; they must take a winding coastal road that travels around the windward coast of the island. This part of the park lies within the lower part of Kipahulu Valley. It is separated from the summit area of the park by the upper portion of the valley. This area is designated the Kipahulu Valley Biological Reserve and is closed to the public to preserve the native plant and animal species in this fragile rainforest.

This section of the park features more than two dozen pools along Palikea Stream in the gulch called ʻOheʻo. These pools contain rare native freshwater fish. Visitors may choose to swim in these pools, or they may choose to hike a trail that takes visitors up to the base of Waimoku Falls.

Flora and fauna [edit]

Because it is on a volcanic area, all of the plants and animals that are now present on the island were brought through pioneers or naturally (two thousand miles through the air or sea). Once the organisms got there, they went under strange adaptations to make the species unique. More endangered species live in Haleakalā National Park than any other national park in the United States.^[9] Once traveling to this part of the island became more frequent, native species were destroyed. One example is the ʻāhinahina (Haleakalā Silversword, Argyroxiphium sandwicense macrocephalum), which used to cover Haleakala Mountain to a degree where the mountain looked as if it were covered with snow.^[10] Other endangered species include the endangered Haleakalā schiedea (Schiedea haleakalensis).^[11]

Haleakala Observatory [edit]

Haleakala Observatory viewed from the Haleakala visitor center

Haleakala Observatory is an important observation site located near the visitor center. It is above the tropical inversion layer thus experiencing excellent viewing conditions and very clear skies. For over 40 years, the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy has managed this site, conducting dedicated astrophysical experiments. Due to the aforementioned location of the observatory, most of these programs could not be accomplished anywhere else in the world.

See also [edit]

• Haleakala Wilderness

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Find more about Haleakalā National Park at Wikipedia's sister projects
	Media from Commons
	Travel guide from Wikivoyage

• "Haleakalā National Park". Geographic Names Information System, U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2011-08-19. 
• Official Haleakalā National Park website
• Friends of Haleakala National Park — nonprofit organization
• Haleakalā Biosphere Reserve — information.
• East Maui Watershed Partnership
• Kipahulu Ohana — nonprofit organization for cultural interpretation + restoration in Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park.

Article links

• "On the Roof of Maui" Article about Haleakala National Park and associated conservationist, Mary Evanson. Maui No Ka 'Oi Magazine Volume 7 Number 1 (April 2003).
• "Down the Sliding Sands of Haleakala Article about hiking within Haleakala National Park. Maui No Ka 'Oi Magazine Volume 6 Number 2 (July 2002).
• "Eyes on the House of the Sun" Article about proposed telescope construction atop Haleakala. Maui No Ka 'Oi Magazine Volume 13 Number. 5 (September 2009).

v t e Hawaiian volcanism topics (list) Windward Isles Lōʻihi Māhukona Hawaiʻi Kīlauea (Kīlauea Iki, Puʻu ʻŌʻō) Mauna Loa Hualālai Mauna Kea Kohala Kahoʻolawe Kauaʻi Kaʻula Lānaʻi Maui Haleakalā West Maui Molokaʻi Mauna Loa Wailau Niʻihau Oʻahu Koʻolau Waiʻanae Leeward Isles French Frigate Shoals Gardner Pinnacles Kure Atoll Laysan Lisianski Island Maro Reef Midway Atoll Necker Island Nihoa Pearl and Hermes Atoll Emperor Seamounts Abbott Colahan Daikakuji Detroit Hancock Jingu Kammu Kimmei Koko Meiji Nintoku Ojin Suiko Yomei Yuryaku Topics 1955 Hawaiian submarine eruption ʻAʻā (lava) Evolution of Hawaiian volcanoes Haleakalā National Park Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain Hawaiian eruption Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Lava fountain Limu o Pele Pāhoehoe (lava) Pele's hair Pele's tears

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