• 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 »

Ungulate Threats

Upper Haleakala is now fenced to exclude alien goats and pigs
Upper Haleakalā is now fenced to exclude alien goats, pigs, and deer. Outside this fence, goats have stripped native vegetation to near oblivion. Inside, fenced Haleakalā National Park is a protected sanctuary of native Hawaiʻi’s unique biodiversity.
NPS photo by Don Reeser
 

Invasive non-native ungulates decimate native plants that have evolved without protective spines, tough bark, unpalatable taste, or poison sap. Non-native predators from house cats to ants overwhelm species with no innate fear or defense against predation. Foreign diseases (avian malaria and pox) spread by alien mosquitoes have caused extinction of most native honeycreepers.

Haleakalā's strategy is to fence the park to exclude alien ungulates; remove all populations of feral goats, pigs and deer; and place snares at remote areas to intercept any individual ungulate that penetrates the boundary fence.

The ubiquitous mobility of modern humans, and frequent transport of accompanying biotic organisms (accidental or deliberate) now overwhelms an island ecosystem that evolved in remote isolation. Haleakalā partially thwarts this ecological destruction. The park staff vigorously defends its native Hawaiian biodiversity from invasive aliens.

  • Birds of Haleakalā Birds of Haleakalā

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

Did You Know?

The peak of Mauna Loa is visible across the ocean in this coastal view at Kipahulu.

When conditions permit, you can see across the channel to the island of Hawaiʻi while enjoying the coastal views in the Kīpahulu Area of Haleakalā National Park.