Haleakala National Park, Maui’s only national park, is astounding. One attraction of the park is Hosmer's Grove, a unique forest of 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 common due to the little light available (because of the taller alien trees). Nevertheless, new telescopes are added, such as the Pan-STARRS in 2006. [12]. [11]. It is one of the few places in the world where you can drive from sea level to 10,000 ft in less than 40 miles. Cycling and horseback riding are other popular ways to explore the park. summit and cascades down to the Kīpahulu District’s black volcanic sands. Spanning a huge swath of land across Maui’s southeastern region, Haleakala is home to the highest peak on Maui, at 10,023 feet. Haleakala NP - Hawaii Pacific Parks Association Haleakalā National Park on the island of Maui is a rich, 30-thousand-acre tapestry of biodiversity that begins at Haleakalā Volcano’s 10,023ft. The bird was once on all the islands of Hawaii but now it is only on the Island of Hawaii. Scientists believe that Haleakalā's crater was formed when the headwalls of two large erosional valleys merged at the summit of the volcano. To say Haleakala National Park is impressive would do it a great injustice. Haleakala is Maui’s highest peak; Stands at 10,023 feet above sea level, and 29,723 feet from the ocean floor; The Haleakala National Park ranges more than 30,000 acres of land; Haleakala is home to endangered species like the Nene goose (Hawaii State Bird) and the Silversword; Haleakala National Park Website Tour operators used to run bike rides down the entire 27 miles from the summit, but in 2007 the National Park Service suspended all commercial bicycle activity within the park boundaries, following multiple fatal accidents. The buildings are on a gated road just past the summit and are not within the park boundary. At the summit itself is another parking lot and a simple observatory without facilities. These two rift zones together form an arc that extends from La Perouse Bay on the southwest, through the Haleakalā Crater, and to Hāna to the east. 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 volcanic activity has been along two rift zones: the southwest and east. [5] The park area was designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980. The Maui Hazard Zone numbers are two less than the equivalent Hawaiʻi Hazard Zone numbers. This is not the same as paying the entrance fee! [9] The park is divided into two distinct sections: the summit area and the coastal Kipahulu area. Haleakala National Park Alerts & Conditions (as of July 1st, 2020) Sunrise to open up in phases: Following guidance from the CDC and recommendations from state and local public health in consultation with NPS Public Health Service officers, Haleakalā National Park’s Summit District will be open from 9:00am- 5:00pm. [4] These last flows from the southwest rift zone of Haleakalā make up the large lava deposits of the Ahihi Kina`u/La Perouse Bay area of South Maui. ALOHA! It lies above the tropical inversion layer and so experiences excellent viewing conditions and very clear skies. Using the preliminary dates for Haleakala flows, only 8.7 square miles (23 km2) of lava flows have been emplaced in the last 900 years. This part of the park is accessed by Hawaii State Road 378. Tours & Sightseeing. [16], Haleakalā Observatory is an observation site located near the visitor center. The surrounding walls are steep and the interior mostly barren-looking with a scattering of volcanic cones. OverviewLocated on the island of Maui, Haleakala National Park maintains three wilderness cabins for normal visitor use, Holua (elevation 6,940ft 2,115m), Kapalaoa (elevation 7,250ft 2,210m), and Paliku (elevation 6,380ft 1,945m) in the Wilderness Area of the park. 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. Contrary to popular belief, Haleakalā crater is not volcanic in origin, nor can it accurately be called a caldera (which is formed when the summit of a volcano collapses to form a depression). It is located at 9,700’ elevation, overlooking the western rim the valley. At first glance, it’s hard to believe that plants would grow on its barren terrain, but Haleakal ā National Park is home to some of the island’s most beautiful, and rare, plants. The National Park Service requires visitors who drive up to the summit to make a Haleakala National Park sunrise reservation. [11][12], A well traveled Haleakalā Highway, completed in 1935, is a road mainly composed of switchbacks that leads to the peak of Haleakala. [4], Haleakalā was originally part of Hawaii National Park along with the volcanoes of Mauna Loa and Kilauea on the island of Hawaiʻi, created in 1916. From the summit one looks down into a massive depression some 11.25 km (7 mi) across, 3.2 km (2 mi) wide, and nearly 800 m (2,600 ft) deep. This part of the park lies within the lower part of Kipahulu Valley. There is a visitor center, with parking and restrooms, near the summit. The summit rises to an elevation of just over 10,000 feet above seaContinue reading Understand []. Haleakala National Park, Hawaii Known as the House of Sun, Haleakala National Park is the highest peak on the island of Maui. These birds were then kept in captivity to increase the population. The park is known for its volcanic features, its long scenic drive with numerous overlooks, and the unusually clear views of the night sky available. Other areas of Haleakala are rated comparable to the lava-flow hazards of Mauna Kea and Kohala (Hazard Zones 7 through 9). Some of the telescopes operated by the US Department of Defense are involved in researching man-made (e.g. All of Hualalai is rated as Hazard Zone 4. 1961 – Haleakala National Park established. Visit Haleakalā National Park to experience the beauty and natural splendor of Haleakalā, the gem of Maui. [6] The name Haleakalā is Hawaiian for "house of the sun." Recent advanced dating tests, however, have shown that the last eruption was more likely to have been in the 17th century. However, the frequency of eruption of a volcano is only one of the criteria on which hazards are based. The interior of the crater is dotted by numerous volcanic features, including large cinder cones. Haleakala Crater looms 10,023 feet above the Pacific Ocean, taking up three-quarters of Maui’s 727 square miles.Haleakala sunrise inspire 1.5 million visitors annually. The lowest elevation found in Haleakala is 0 feet at the Pacific Ocean; The highest elevation found in Haleakala is 10,023 feet at Haleakala Summit; The entrance fee for Haleakala is $25 per vehicle per 3 days; Haleakala National Park lies in the Hawaii time zone; Random Facts About Haleakala. All sunrise entries between 3am and 7am require reservations made in … ELEVATION. [15] Some tour operators now offer a modified version of the service which descends 6,500 feet from outside of the National Park.[16]. Haleakala National Park is home to Maui's highest peak. ", "National Park Service suspends popular Hawaii bike tour", National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Time Lapse animations of the Haleakalā Crater Webcam, Hike Maui, An Authorized Haleakalā Tour Operator, The 126 most prominent summits of the United States of America, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Haleakalā&oldid=992189729, Highest points of United States national parks, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the United States Geological Survey, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 3 December 2020, at 23:57. 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. The astronomers on Haleakalā are concerned about increasing light pollution as Maui's population grows. Recommended. Biodiversity has been compromised and is negatively affecting the groundwater reserve. Panorama of the milky way over Haleakala National Park's camp site Hosmer Grove at 6500 feet in ...[+] elevation Getty. There is a visitor center, with parking and restrooms, near the summit. Public transportation does not go through the park, but there are four vehicle based tour companies (Polynesian Adventure Tours, Skyline Eco Adventures, Haleakala EcoTours, and Valley Isle Excursions) that operate tours of the park and trips to the summit. Haleakala National ParkHawaii A dormant volcano with a picturesque sunrise and sunset. Haleakalā Crater provides epic, sweeping views of the island from an elevation of just over 10,000 feet. Hualalai has an eruption rate comparable to Haleakala. Park is closed to public from 1941 to 1943. 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. In its prime, Haleakala may have reached a height of 12,000 feet before water and wind erosion, and possibly glaciers, began to carve two large river valleys out of the rim. Because of this, hikers are faced with a difficult return ascent after potentially descending 2000 ft or more to the crater floor. Sign at Haleakala National Park indicating trail to Pa Ka'oao, Keonehe'ehe'e and Sliding Sands. Consider sticking around after sunset for some of the best stargazing in the world. Our most popular tours and activities. At the summit itself is another parking lot and a simple observatory without facilities. Visitors frequently come to the summit of the volcano to watch the sunrise and/or sunset. It is separated from the summit area of the park by the upper portion of the valley. [17], Entrance of the Mount Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawaii, Pa Kaoao White Hill Trail Mount Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii, List of national parks of the United States, "Listing of acreage as of December 31, 2011", "National Park Service: Historic Listings of NPS Officials", "Biosphere Reserve Information: United States of America: Hawaiian Islands", "Legends of Maui: A Demi-God of Polynesia and His Mother Hina", "Hawaiian National Park Language Correction Act of 2000 (2000 - S. 939)", "Youngest lava flows on East Maui probably older than A.D. 1790", "Maui's Boy Scouts mark 40-year link to nene", "Environmental Factors - Haleakalā National Park (U.S. National Park Service)", "Haleakala Silverswords - Haleakalā National Park (U.S. National Park Service)", Haleakala National Park Roads, Pukalani, Maui County, HI, Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park, Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Haleakalā_National_Park&oldid=994907573, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 18 December 2020, at 04:32. 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