• Cindercones dot the landscape in the Wilderness Area

    Haleakalā

    National Park Hawai'i

There are park alerts in effect.
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  • Water shortage at summit

    The visitor center nearest the summit is very low on water. Please use the toilets at Headquarters Visitor Center near the park entrance if possible.

  • Drive cautiously - Endangered birds land on roadway

    Nene (Hawaiian geese) and 'ua'u (Hawaiian petrels) are nesting in the park and may land on or frequent park roads and parking lots. Drivers are reminded to drive at the posted speed limits and exercise caution.

  • Construction Traffic - May 20

    On May 20, from 6:30am to 11:00am, construction trucks will be using the park road. The road will remain open to staff and visitors.

  • Summit District Parking Lot Rehabilitation In Progress

    During construction, parking spaces at Haleakala Visitor Center (near the summit) will be reduced by at least 50%. Construction is scheduled for May 22 through June 6. Visitors and tour operators may experience delays. More »

Nature & Science

The native hawaiian goose, nene
Nēnē, the native Hawaiian goose, can usually be seen near park headquarters.
NPS photo by Bryan Harry
 

Isolated in the mid Pacific, the Hawaiian Islands are the most remote major island group on earth. They were formed as the Pacific Plate moved across a volcanic "hot spot" within the earth's mantle. Lying 2,400 miles (3,862 km) from the nearest continent, they have never had connection to any other land mass. Natural crossings across this great expanse of ocean by animals and plants were extremely rare and very surprising occasions. After such accidental arrivals, and isolated from mainland populations, these pioneer organisms took strange courses of evolution and allowed a unique biota to develop.

Unaccustomed to mainland competition, however, these remote native island ecosystems are defenseless against mainland alien species, and have been decimated by new grazers, predators and diseases.

Haleakalā National Park, and its East Maui Watershed Partner neighbors, still harbor an astonishing relict of these native island ecosystems. The major effort of Haleakalā's resource stewardship is to preserve intact this superb example of the Hawaiian Islands' native ecosystems.

 

  • Silverswords Silverswords

    You can help these unique plants flourish at Haleakalā... Read More

  • Hawaiian Honeycreepers Hawaiian Honeycreepers

    These endemic Hawaiian birds evolved from a single stray bird species into dozens of different kinds... Read More

  • Identify a Plant! Identify a Plant!

    Download plant checklists for different areas of the park... Read More

  • Birds of Haleakalā Birds of Haleakalā

    An illustrated guide to the birds of Haleakalā National Park Read More

Did You Know?

Did You Know?

The three Wilderness Cabins at Haleakalā National Park, built of redwood in the 1930s by the CCC, are a popular lodging option for overnight hikers - but must be reserved in advance! More...