Public Involvement

NPS Photo

Haleakalā Recreational Fee Increases

Haleakalā National Park is seeking public feedback on potential campground fee increases for all frontcountry (drive-in) and backcountry (Crater) campgrounds.

The proposed new rate for all campsites in the park is $20/night per site and is based on maintenance costs, as well as fees for comparable campgrounds on Maui. The increased fee revenue will be used to help maintain campgrounds and fund important projects throughout the park.

In the past year, campgrounds were occupied at less than 75% despite being fully reserved. Proposed fee adjustments will reduce this problem by decreasing the number of unused reservations. There is no proposed change to the campsite reservation system, which is managed by a nationwide contractor Recreation.gov.

"Campground fees are used to improve visitor facilities including visitor centers, trails and restrooms; protect our native wildlife species and landscapes; and provide brochures, exhibits, web-based museum exhibits and cultural demonstrations," said Superintendent Natalie Gates. "The park's fee program also funds school programs with transportation to the park, as well as community outreach."

Since 1997, fee revenues have funded over $42 million in Haleakalā National Park projects. Some of the current and past projects funded by campground fees include:

•Improving the Sunrise Visitor Experience
•Expanding Night Sky Programs
•Engaging Visitors in Traditional Hawaiian Cultural Practices and Programs
•Repairing Hōlua Visitor Cabin
•Upgrading Visitor Restrooms

Public feedback can be submitted through the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website starting May 24, 2024, through June 22, 2024. Haleakalā National Park will consider comments to help inform the final fee updates. To submit a comment on the project, click the "Open for Comment" link on the above website. Then select the Campground Fees document and then click the "Comment Now" button to enter and submit your comments. Comments can also be mailed to: Superintendent, Haleakalā National Park, PO Box 369, Makawao, HI 96768.

Comments will not be accepted by fax, e-mail, or any other way than those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted. Please also note that your entire comment—including personal identifying information such as your address, phone number, and e-mail address—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

 

USFWS Photo

The ʻAlalā Project

The ʻalalā or Hawaiian crow (Corvus hawaiiensis) is extinct in the wild, but a captive population survives in conservation breeding centers in Hawaiʻi. Previous attempts to release captive-bred ʻalalā into the wild on Hawaiʻi Island failed, largely due to predation of ʻalalā by ʻio or Hawaiian Hawk (Buteo solitarius).

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed a pilot project to release captive-bred ʻalalā in forest reserve land on east Maui. This pilot project is intended to evaluate whether ʻalalā can survive and breed on east Maui, where there is not a breeding population of ʻio. The ʻalalā is known historically from Hawai‘i Island and ʻalalā or a similar species also occurred on Maui prehistorically. Both DLNR and USFWS are members of The ʻAlalā Project, a partnership working to contribute to the conservation and recovery of ʻalalā.

Read the Draft Environmental Assessment

The USFWS and DLNR prepared a joint environmental assessment (EA) to address the impacts of the pilot releases of ʻalalā on east Maui. The National Park Service is a cooperating agency on this EA, due to the proximity of the project area to Haleakalā National Park. The EA provides background information concerning ʻalalā biology and outlines the proposed action, potential impacts, and strategies to avoid and minimize potential negative effects of the proposed release of ʻalalā within the project area on Maui.

The public comment period is now closed for this EA, but you can learn more about the status of the project at: The ʻAlalā Project.

 

NPS Photo

Suppression of Non-native Mosquito Populations to Protect Endangered Forest Birds on Maui

Haleakalā National Park has released a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Suppression of Invasive Mosquito Populations to Reduce Transmission of Avian Malaria to Threatened and Endangered Forest Birds on East Maui Environmental Assessment (EA). The FONSI was signed by the Regional Director of Interior Regions 8, 9, 10, and 12, on March 15, 2023, concluding the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for this project.

The Environmental Assessment for the project was available for public review between December 6, 2022, and January 23, 2023, with a total of 853 pieces of correspondence received. The FONSI, EA, and EA Public Comment Report are available by visiting the NPS’s Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/HALE-mosquito.

 

Kalahaku Overlook area provides a stunning crater view on a clear day.

NPS Photo M. Smucker

Kalahaku Overlook Area Managment

Haleakalā National Park plans to rehabilitate the Kalahaku Overlook Areas for visitor safety and enjoyment. Several options for this work are being considered. The options include delineating and creating visitor use areas a variety of methods (which will need analysis in the EA), placing interpretive signs, and repairing a historic trail. The public is invited to provide input on the proposed actions, environmental and cultural considerations, potential alternatives, and any other relevant issues that should be considered. The park will consult with the State Historic Preservation Division regarding potential impacts to the historic Kalahaku Overlook area, and with the USFWS on impacts to threatened and endangered species. Priorities for alternatives in the EA should ensure protection of natural and cultural resources (especially threatened and endangered species), the safety and enjoyment of park visitors, and positive community relations. Read the full document here, Kalahaku Overlook Environmental Assessment.

 

Waimoku Falls on a sunny day in the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā.

NPS Photo CP

Kīpahulu Comprehensive Plan

Haleakalā National Park is developing a comprehensive plan for the lands under National Park Service management in the Kīpahulu District. The purpose of the Kīpahulu Comprehensive Plan (the plan) is to balance recreational access and visitor facilities with protection of the park’s important natural and cultural resources. The renewed planning process will examine current and new visitor opportunities and will outline long-term management strategies. Review the full length, Kīpahulu Comprehensive Plan.

 

A spring time sunrise over the Haleakalā crater.

NPS Photo CP

Haleakalā National Park Sunrise Visitation Management

Haleakalā National Park reviewed sunrise operations and looked at ways the park can be good stewards of the land and ensure that park visitors have a safe and enjoyable sunrise experience, while also being good neighbors to the local community. Sunrise operations including in the areas of: Safety, Stewardship of natural and cultural resources, Impacts to local communities, Impacts to local economy, Visitor Enjoyment, Other. Learn more and view the Sunrise Environmental Assessment at Sunrise Visitation Management.

 

Environmental Assessment: Management and Removal of Feral Animals in Upper Elevations of Nu'u, Maui: Finding of No Significant Impact cover

NPS

Management and Removal of Feral Animals in Upper Elevations of Nu'u, Maui

Environmental Assessment: Finding of No Significant Impact

Nu'u Environmental Assessment Approval Letter

Finding of No Significant Impact

ERRATA and Response To Comments

Determination of No Impairment

 

Environmental Assessment: Management and Removal of Feral Animals in Upper Elevations of Nu‘u, Maui

NPS

Environmental Assessment: Management and Removal of Feral Animals in Upper Elevations of Nu'u, Maui

Environmental Assessment (PDF)