Haleakala National Park was initially established as a unit of Hawaii National Park on August 1, 1916. Hawaii National Park had three units: the Summit area of Haleakala on Maui, Kilauea Volcano on the island of Hawaii and portions of Mauna Loa on the island of Hawaii. The park was established "as a public park or pleasure ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of the United States…and [to] provide for the preservation from injury of all timber, birds, mineral deposits, and natural curiosities or wonders within said park, and their retention in their natural condition as nearly as possible."

On September 13, 1960, Congress authorized the establishment of Haleakala National Park as a separate unit of the National Park System. This effectively redesignated the units of Hawaii National Park as two new national parks: Haleakala National Park on Maui and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii These parks were to be administered in accordance with the National Park Service Organic Act of 1916, which created the National Park Service. Thus, the purpose of Haleakala National Park is further reflected in a key provision of the Organic Act-"to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

Since 1960, Haleakala National Park has had several boundary expansions which enable the national park to continue its conservation work and meet its guiding mission of preservation. The pristine rainforest of Kipahulu Valley was authorized for addition to the park on March 26, 1951. The Kipahulu coastal area of 'Ohe'o was authorized for addition to the park on January 10, 1969. The adjacent coastal area of Puhilele was added to the park in 1998. Ka'apahu was added to Haleakala National Park in February 1999.

On Oct 20, 1964 congress created the Wilderness Act which designated a large portion of Haleakala as "Wilderness". Today of its 30,183 acres, 24,719 acres are designated wilderness.

Haleakala National Park now stretches from the summit of Haleakala to the sea. Today, visitors from around the world come to Haleakala National Park to experience those natural wonders that have inspired generations.

To learn more about the park's natural and cultural resources, visit the Haleakala Resources page.