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Haleakala National Park

by ALOHA DEAN

The Park preserves the outstanding volcanic landscape of the upper slopes of Haleakala on the island of Maui and protects the unique and fragile ecosystems of Kipahulu Valley, the scenic pools along Oheo Gulch, and many rare and endangered species. Haleakala, originally part of Hawaii National Park, was redesigned as a separate entity in July 1961. Haleakala National Park was designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980. Of its 30,183 acres, 24,719 acres are designated wilderness.

Haleakala Crater is the main attraction of this large national park and certainly one of the most unusual in the U.S. Hiking and camping is permitted and both offer rare opportunities to experience life at high elevation in the tropics. Many loops take hikers through the “crater,” more properly the eroded center of the dormant volcano than a true volcanic crater, and are several miles in length. Care must be taken to allow for unexpected weather like high winds, heavy rain, cold, and so on. Inclement weather, however, seldom stays long.  Beautiful, clear days are more common.