Haleakalā National Park is an American national park located on the island of Maui in the state of Hawaii. Named after Haleakalā, a dormant volcano within its boundaries, the park covers an area of, of which is a wilderness area. The land was designated a national park in 1976 and its boundaries expanded in 2005.
History
Haleakalā was originally part of Hawaii National Park along with the volcanoes of Mauna Loa and Kilauea on the island of Hawaii, created in 1916. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park was made into a separate national park in 1961. The park area was designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980. 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. The Hawaiian National Park Language Correction Act of 2000 was proposed to observe the Hawaiian spelling, but it did not become law. The park features the dormant Haleakalā Volcano, which last erupted sometime between 1480 and 1600 AD. The park is divided into two distinct sections: the summit area and the coastal Kipahulu area.
Summit
An extremely winding but well maintained road leads up the mountain. 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. There is a visitor center, with parking and restrooms, near the summit. At the summit itself is another parking lot and a simple observatory without facilities. The main feature of this part of the park is Haleakalā Crater which, despite its name, is geologically an erosional valley. It is across, wide, and 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. Visitors frequently come to the summit of the volcano to watch the sunrise and/or sunset. One attraction of the park is Hosmer's Grove, a unique forest of trees including deodar from the Himalayas, sugi from Japan, eucalyptus from Australia, and several species from North America. Native plants and trees are also present in the forest but are not common due to the little light available. 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. 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 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.
Current issues
Threat
Haleakalā National Park has a lot of feral goats, pigs, and deer on their land. These free-roaming animals are detrimental to the native plants that live in Haleakalā National Park. They destroy the natural vegetation and it has even put plants like the Silversword on the endangered species list. The U.S Park Service has put up fences along the park's borders to keep the invasive animals away.
Enviromental issues
The goats and pigs in Haleakalā National Park destroy the vegetation lands. They trample on the ground and break down the native plants and soil. The broken-down soil becomes soil erosion and impacts the biodiversity as well as the groundwater reserve.
Endangered
The Nēnē bird is on the endangered species list. The bird was once on all the islands of Hawaii but now it is only on the Island of Hawaii. People hunt these birds for commercial gain and the population dwindled. Since 2010, only 2,000 birds were left. These birds were then kept in captivity to increase the population.
Silversword
This plant is the quintessential plant of Haleakalā since it only grows there and nowhere else on Earth. Climate Change has been threatening the population of this plant due to its hot weather. As well as the tourist and native people taking the plants as souvenirs.
Kipahulu
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 Oheo. 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
More endangered species live in Haleakalā National Park than any other national park in the United States. Once traveling to this part of the island became more frequent, native species were destroyed. One example is the āhinahina, which formerly covered Haleakalā Mountain to a degree where the mountain looked as if it were covered with snow. Other endangered species include the endangered Haleakalā schiedea. The park is home to many tardigrade species surviving in the extreme environment near the mountain summit. In the 1980s, local biologist Sam Gon III discovered 31 tardigrade species here and described Haleakalā as the "richest place on Earth for tardigrades".
Haleakalā Observatory
is an observation site located near the visitor center. It lies above the tropical inversion layer and so experiences excellent viewing conditions and very clear skies. For over 40 years, the University of HawaiiInstitute for Astronomy has managed this site, conducting dedicated astrophysical experiments. One of its missions, the Maui Space Surveillance System, tracks satellites and debris orbiting the Earth. The buildings are on a gated road just past the summit and are not within the park boundary.
