The Natural World at Haleakala

The significance of Haleakala National Park is revealed as we explore its cultural and natural resources. The story of the natural and cultural resources is one of survival, adaptation and constant change. Although now protected as part of a national park, the difficulties are not over for the unique species and resources found at Haleakala.

The most isolated major island group on earth, the Hawaiian archipelago is 2400 miles (3862 km) from the nearest continent. For at least 81 million years, new islands have been forming as the Pacific Plate moves northwestward over a stationary plume of magma rising from a "hot spot" within the earth's mantle. The fluid rock makes its way up through the ocean floor and countless eruptions over hundreds of thousands of years eventually create a high volcanic island. But the plate's unceasing movement slowly separates the volcano from its source, terminating its growth even as a new volcano rises from the ocean floor over the hot spot. As this happens, the forces of erosion are at work tearing down the islands and drastically changing the landscapes.

Across vast expanses of ocean, life eventually came to the barren volcanic islands in the form of seeds, spores, insects, spiders, birds, and small plants. They drifted on the wind, floated on the ocean currents or hitched a ride on migrating or storm-driven birds. Many groups of organisms (amphibians, reptiles, social insects, and almost all land mammals) were unable to make the long journey, while some arrived but did not survive in their new home. It is estimated that an average of only one species every 35,000 years successfully colonized the islands.

Needless to say, these original native inhabitants survived incredible odds to arrive and faced many challenges to survive in their new home. The colonizers that survived did so by adapting to the new environment of the islands that lacked the predators and competitors of their homelands. Eventually most evolved into entirely new (and often defenseless) species found nowhere else in the world.

When the Polynesians navigated their way to the Hawaiian archipelago on outrigger canoes over 1500 years ago, they found islands that had been untouched by humans. The native flora and fauna of Hawaii quickly became an intrinsic part of the culture of the Hawaiians as they began life in a new place. Large human populations were sustained through careful land organization and resource sharing as the Native Hawaiians thrived in the isolated archipelago. However, this human presence, and that of the 30-40 species of food plants and animals voyagers brought with them to Hawaii, set off a chain reaction of alterations to the natural environment.

Many changes occurred after the arrival of the ancient Hawaiians, but the rate of change has accelerated dramatically just in the last few hundred years starting with contact with the Western world. Huge sailing ships brought animals and plants that had never been seen in Hawaii. Some new species such as the boar and the goat, wrought quick change on the island landscapes. Modern air travel and cargo ships bring more and more organisms to Hawaii that could never survive the accidental journey made by native plants and animals. Today more than 20 alien species are introduced to the islands every year.

The isolation which has made the plants and animals of the Hawaiian Islands unique also makes them vulnerable to the rapid changes precipitated by humans. Hawaiian species often cope poorly with habitat alterations, foreign diseases, predation, and competition from introduced species.

Further loss of Haleakala volcano's endemic plants and animals threatens not only the health of remnant Hawaiian ecosystems but endangers intricate connections with living Hawaiian culture. Active intervention by conservation managers has become essential to the survival of the natural and cultural heritage of Hawaii.

At Haleakala National Park each of these elements - geology, geography, biology and culture - come together and are interwoven to form unique and compelling landscapes and stories which require careful attention and management if they are to survive into the next generation.