|
Haleakala
National Park
This special
place vibrates with stories of ancient and modern Hawaiian
culture and protects the bond between the land and its
people. The park also cares for endangered species some
of which exist nowhere else. Come visit this special
place - renew your spirit of adventure amid stark volcanic
landscapes, sub-tropical rain forest and the unforgettable
experience of hiking the backcountry.
Haleakala" is Hawaiian for "House of the Rising
Sun"
Comprising the southern section of the island of Maui,
10,023-foot Mt. Haleakala is the world’s largest
inactive volcano (last erupting in about 1790) and one
of Maui’s favorite places to enjoy outdoor activities
and adventures.
Haleakala
National Park, one of two national parks in the Hawaiian
Islands, preserves the outstanding volcanic landscape
of the upper slopes of Haleakala and protects the unique
and fragile ecosystems of Kipahulu Valley’s tropical
raunforest, the scenic pools along Oheo Gulch, and many
rare and endangered species.
The park’s
30,183 acres near the top of Haleakala contain one of
the planet’s most spectacular volcanic "craters."
Portions of the park lie at altitudes from sea level
along the coast to over 10,000 feet at the summit of
the mountain, supporting a range of habitats from subalpine
to subtropical rain forests.
Originally
part of Hawaii National Park, Haleakala was redesignated
as a separate entity in July 1961. Haleakala National
Park was designated an International Biosphere Reserve
in 1980. As with other Hawaiian mountains, Haleakala
is a shield volcano created during successive eruptions
of lava that originally emerged from the sea floor.
These gentle volcanoes become quite massive. Haleakala,
at sea level, is 33 miles long and 24 miles wide. Measured
from its base at the bottom of the ocean the mountain
is over 25,000 feet high.
|
|
|
Summit
Area (Mountain)
The journey
to the summit of Haleakala brings you from coastal Maui,
to the remote, native, high-elevation world protected
by the park. Here on Maui's highest peak you find an
island in the sky where the clouds spread out below
you like a second layer of ocean. Cindercones, rare
plants, native birds, and hiking trails await your discovery.
Nowhere else in the world can you drive on a paved road
from sea level to an elevation of 10,000 feet in less
than 38 miles. As you head toward the summit, you pass
through the towns of Pukalani and Kula.The centerpiece
of the national park is the 2-mile-high summit of Haleakala,
a vast volcanic valley that is often compared to the
surface of the moon. Unique plants such as the Silversword
grow here and nowhere else in the world.
Wilderness
trails wind their way through the “crater”
— more precisely , the eroded center of the volcano
– and are several miles in length. Care must be
taken to allow for unexpected weather like high winds,
heavy rain, cold.
The Haleakala
Visitor Center near the park entrance offers information
and exhibits on wildlife and geology. Puu Ulaula Overlook
at the summit provides a breathtaking view of the crater
and 360-degree view that can include the nearby islands
of Hawaii, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolowe. The summit
is nearly always open to watch the sunrise or the sunset,
which at 10,023 feet can be quite awe-inspiring.
|
|
|
Wilderness
Area (Mountain)
Miles and
miles of trails stretch out before the adventurous hiker.
Choice range from minutes to days, and ecosystems range
from arid to lush. If you come well-prepared for an
overnight backpack trip you will not be disappointed
- this is an area unlike any other.
|
|
|
Kipahulu
Area (Coastal)
Layers of
history are laid out before you when you visit the Kipahulu
Area along Maui's eastern coast. Enjoy the lush green
environment as you explore the way the that people have
interacted with the land here for hundreds of years.
Cool freshwater falls and pools greet the hikers who
revel in the tropical vistas at every turn.
A world away from
the cinder desert of the summit’s eroded valley is
the lush and fertile valley of Kipahulu, a relatively
recent addition to Haleakala National Park. It is located
along the coast ten miles south of Hana and is lined with
beautiful freshwater pools and waterfalls, including the
pools of Oheo, which are accessible by car. The higher
elevation region of Kipahulu Valley protects the largest
intact Hawaiian rain forest ecosystem teeming with native
life. Steeped in the rich traditions of a living culture,
Kipahulu is a place to learn about the life and land of
the Hawaiian people through the generations.
In addition,
the Argonauta Project is currently restoring the Maui
home of Charles & Anne Morrow Lindbergh and establishing
the Kipahulu Conservation Center within the national
park.
|
Haleakala also
Means Great Fun & Adventures
There are numerous activities on Maui that utilize the national
park or areas of Mt. Haleakala for fun, adventure and great
sight seeing, including: Volcano Biking Tours, Helicopter
Flights, Horseback Riding, ATV Tours, Sightseeing Van Tours,
Crater Hikes, Rainforest Waterfall Hikes, Zipline Adventures
and more.
|
