Haleakala National Park

HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK
..."HOUSE OF THE SUN"...

The Park is located in HAWAII.
Talk about a hidden treasure. Haleakala National Park is a sight for sore eyes.

From brilliant crashing waves to a 10,023-foot volcanic summit and every type of plant community in between, Haleakala harbors the most endangered species in the National Park System and has an incredibly diverse and unique collection of ecosystems: subalpine shrublands where native Nene geese meander, porous and barren alpine aeolian zone, verdant and warm rainforest canopy, mysterious bogs, patchy dry forest, and rushing streams that create riparian waterside environments. The Haleakala summit is the third-highest volcano in Hawaii and the crater of a dormant volcano. The Martian-looking crater itself is mountain shrubland hosting a variety of micro ecosystems and diverse populations of flora and fauna.

Haleakala National Park is a sight for sore eyes. Translated, Haleakala means “house of the sun” and, indeed, a sunrise visit to the summit of the Mount Haleakala volcano offers an once-in-a-lifetime view of the world above the clouds. So, either hike it or drive it, but do get to the summit of this mountain to see the house of the rising sun. The park is divided into two sections: the summit, and the Kipahulu coastal region.

The first section, the summit. Driving to the top has its perks. First, it's quicker and mildly less exhausting. Secondly, you will experience the greatest elevation gain in the shortest number of miles in the world. Highway 378 clears 10,000 feet to the summit from sea level in a short 38 miles. The park headquarters sits at about 7,000 feet, and at about 8,000 feet you can pick up the Halemau’u trailhead.

COST	Admission for vehicles are $15, motorcycles are $10, and individuals are $8.

PETS	Dogs are allowed in certain areas but have to remain on a leash at all times. Be aware that there is no food, gas, or water available in the park

OPEN	The park is open all year around.

FOOD SERVICES

Pack it in and pack it out when traveling to Haleakala. There is no food, gas, or water available in the park, so make sure to stop at nearby towns to stock up.

FACILITIES

There are two car accessible campgrounds, Kipahulu and Hosmer Grove. If you want to do some wilderness camping, Hōlua and Palikū, are two primitive camping spots that require permits. Three wilderness cabins are also available to the public but all must be hiked to. Holua, Paliku, and Kapalaoa.

First section: the summit

The park headquarters sits at about 7,000 feet, and at about 8,000 feet you can pick up the Halemau’u trailhead. This trail can be a 3-mile roundtrip jaunt to the rim of the crater, or an all-day affair to the summit (11.2 miles). Allow six to eight hours and consider starting at the summit and hiking back down to the trail parking lot. Either way, look for the endangered Hawaiian geese, Nene (pronounced “nay-nay”).

The other option is to take the Keoneheehee Sliding Sands trail from the visitor center to the summit. You can alter this hike by only trekking in a very steep 2.5 miles to the crater rim and back out for a 5-mile journey (which will feel like more). Or, you can take on the full hike and camp at the Paliku cabin on a 10.4-mile one-way hike. Why is it named Sliding Sands? Well, the cinder that settled on the trail can make it feel like walking on sand that slides. Once at the summit, let your eyes drift into the volcanic past of the crater or up to the stars at one of the best amateur astronomy hideouts in the country. Researchers realized the invaluable location and lack of pollution that Haleakala offered to astronomers, and the University of Hawaii opened the Haleakala Observatory over 40 years ago. It continues to conduct astrophysical experiments that provide vital information regarding earth's satellites and cosmic debris.

second section: kipahulu

Kipahulu coastal region– the second section of the park, separated from Mount Haleakala by about a 12-mile drive – is mostly closed to the public. It’s set aside as a preserve to protect the delicate features of the Hawaiian rainforest. Scientists and researchers are the only people who maintain access to these restricted areas. For the public, Kipahulu offers a vastly different environment from the volcanic experience on Mount Haleakala. Here, at Kipahulu, you can see waterfalls, rainforests, coastline, bamboo forests, and an array of plants foreign to most. Also, see monk seals, sea turtles, dolphins, and humpback whales. The Pipiwai trail is a moderate 4-mile hike that can be taken by ranger or by yourself. Walk along a freshwater stream, through verdant vegetation, and past Hawaiian waterfalls. Swimming in the Kipahulu district isn’t recommended as the water is unpredictable and rather rough.

drive

38 miles on highway 387 to the summit of Mount Haleakala. Then you temporarily leave the park as you drive along the Hana parkway through the Upper Kipahulu Valley that hugs the coast to get to the other section of the park. In Kipahulu, only about .5 miles worth of road are available to drive. The rest is accessible by foot.

tours

There are authorized outfitters in the park who provide horseback riding, hiking and vehicle tours. Rangers also lead interpretive talks and provide insight into Hawaiian culture while exploring Hawaii’s natural beauty.

FAMOUS TRAILS

Hike to the summit of the dormant volcano Mount Haleakala and take one of two trails to the top, Halemau’u or Sliding Sands.

The park headquarters is at about 7,000 feet and at about 8,000 feet you can pick up the Halemau’u trailhead. This trail can be a 3 mile round trip jaunt to the rim of the crater, or an all-day affair to the summit (11.2 miles). Allow six to eight hours and consider starting at the summit and hiking back down to the trail parking lot.

when to go

The weather is highly unpredictable in the park. As a rule of thumb, for every 1,000 feet in elevation you gain, deduct 3 degrees Fahrenheit. Average temperatures at the summit are 50–65 degrees but this can vary wildly. The temperature and precipitation may be entirely different at the mountain’s base or in the Kipahulu district. The Kipahulu area will be more windblown and wet than its summit counterpart.

who may meet you here?

At Kipahulu, you can see waterfalls, rainforests, coastline, bamboo forests, and an array of plants foreign to most. Also, see monk seals, sea turtles, dolphins, and humpback whales. The endangered Hawaiian mountaintop bird, known in Hawaiian as the ‘Ua’u (pronounced “oo-A-oo”), found its longtime home on the summit of Mount Haleakala.

CURIOSITy

For all native Hawaiians who have ventured to the sacred summit of Mount Haleakala, they consider it to be an almost religious experience. It was and still is called wao akua or “the wilderness of the gods.”

who was behind the saguaro national park ?

Pres. Woodrow Wilson

Within one week of the National Park System’s inception in 1916, Hawaii National Park was established by Congress and President Woodrow Wilson signed the 13rd NP, including the Haleakala area on Maui and the volcanoes on the Big Island. Between the years of 1933 and 1935 the harrowing road to the summit was created. In 1951, the portion of the Upper Kipahulu Valley that needed protecting was included in the Haleakala park district boundaries. Finally, in 1961, Hawaii Volcano National Park and Haleakala National Park were divided into two separate entities. The Wilderness Area of Haleakala National Park was established on October 20, 1976.