[guitar music and birdsong]
(male narrator) From lush rainforests filled with birdsong,
to windblown volcanic desert,
HaleakalÄ National Park protects a rare and sacred landscape.
[gentle rain falling]
[birdsong and water sounds]
[waves crashing]
Rising from sea level to over 10,000 feet, the park preserves diverse habitat
for more than 50 endangered species.
Unique plants, rare birds, even tiny insects found nowhere else on earth.
[music continues]
The Ê»Äina, or land, tells the stories of centuries of tradition,
where kÄnaka maoli, Native Hawaiians, were provided abundant resources for life
in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
[tropical birds sing and call]
In 1960, the National Park Service joined countless generations in the stewardship of this land
and the traditions that link the past to the present and future.
HaleakalÄ National Park, on the island of Maui, is divided into three distinct areas:
the Summit, the Wilderness Area, and KÄ«pahulu.
[ambient music]
[blowing winds]
(woman) If you are into a rocky and volcanic landscape,
the summit of HaleakalÄ is for you.
This area of the mountain is known as wao akua, which is the realm of the gods.
So, akua is a Hawaiian word for god
and wao refers to the realm that we are in.
Native Hawaiians still come up to the mountain and do an oli or a chant,
or a hula or a dance.
âª E ala e Ka la i kahikina âª
âª I ka moana Ka moana hohonu âª
âª Piâi ka lewa Ka lewa nuâu âª
âª I kahikina Aia ka la. âª
âª E ala e! âª
Humans are the same, no matter what culture you're from,
you're drawn to these amazing mountain tops.
(narrator) High elevation, dry air
and lack of light and air pollution make the summit of HaleakalÄ
an ideal skywatching location.
[blowing winds]
Impressive by light of day, the summit takes on a new dimension after sunset,
when darkness reveals a brilliant night sky.
Day or night, remember that the weather on top of a 10,000 foot mountain
is often unpredictable.
It may be hot and dry, or cold and wet.
Water, sunscreen and layers of clothing are essential.
Wear proper footwear and be sure to walk slowly in the high thin air.
[bright mandolin music]
Between the summit and KÄ«pahulu lies the HaleakalÄ Wilderness,
showcasing dramatic and unexpected landscapes in the upper reaches of the park.
The impressive summit crater of HaleakalÄ is actually the meeting of two valleys,
formed over millennia by weathering and erosion, creating a dramatic bowl.
Dozens of lava vents and cinder cones have filled this bowl
with countless shades of red, grey, and brown.
Windy and exposed, this vast expanse of lava and cinder appears barren,
but signs of life can be found throughout this bewildering landscape.
The most striking is the Ê»Ähinahina, the HaleakalÄ silver sword.
Adapted to the harsh sunlight of high altitude, with leaves insulated by silver hairs,
Ê»Ähinahina can live for up to a century, but flower only once.
In just a few weeks time, they send up a tall stock of maroon flowers,
pollinated by native insects.
Soon after, the Ê»Ähinahina dies,
scattering its seeds in the wind to begin a new generation
Visitors to the HaleakalÄ Wilderness can day hike,
spend the night in a tent, or reserve a historic cabin along the trail.
In just a few miles your feet can take you from towering cinder cones
to dripping cloud forests, draped with moss.
In the lower, wetter parts of the wilderness,
attentive hikers may see endangered nÄnÄ and rare honeycreepers,
while at night, the haunting calls of Ê»uaÊ»u, nesting seabirds,
echo beneath a star-filled sky.
[many Ê»uaÊ»u gurgle and call]
The HaleakalÄ Wilderness, as its name implies, is wild and remote.
The air is thin, water is scarce
and the weather, often changing unpredictably,
can be severe.
Before any hike, stop by a park visitor center to discuss your plans
and overnight hikers will need to pick up a wilderness permit.
[slide guitar music]
âª Kuahiwi nani Ê»oe âª
âª E KÄ«pahulu âª
âª Ka Ê»iÊ»ini pau Ê»ole âª
âª A ka makemake âª
Accessed via the famous Hana Highway lush rainforests, towering waterfalls,
and rocky coastlines greet your arrival at KÄ«pahulu.
While the summit is wao akua, the realm of the gods,
KÄ«pahulu is wao kanakaâ the realm of people.
Abundant water, fertile soil, and ocean access
provided resources for permanent habitation,
and KÄ«pahulu remains home to a thriving culture
where kÄnaka maoli, Native Hawaiians, celebrate the bond
between the land and its people.
Today, the National Park shares these traditions
through storytelling and cultural demonstrations.
(man) Demonstrations include weaving, cordage making,
hale building, taro farming.
Everything that we do and share is important
so that it won't get lost.
it doesn't work when you have all this knowledge
and you don't share it out.
(narrator) Unlike the windy, exposed summit,
KÄ«pahulu is often hot and wet,
with up to 400 inches of rain falling in the Upper Valley each year.
âOheâo stream, with its entire length protected in the National Park
is one of a few intact freshwater stream ecosystems in Hawaii,
and native fish and shrimp still thrive in these waters.
While the pools and waterfalls may look inviting,
swimming is not recommended.
frequent rains trigger rock slides and flash floods which can occur unexpectedly,
sometimes leading to serious injuries and death.
For a safe visit, obey all park personnel,
heed all warning signs, and stay out of closed areas.
[a variety of birdsongs]
In the upper KÄ«pahulu Valley lies the remote KÄ«pahulu Biological Reserve.
Richly biodiverse, the bogs and rainforests of upper KÄ«pahulu Valley
protect nearly pristine and increasingly rare Hawaiian ecosystems.
(Hank) What we're protecting is bird habitat,
native forests, a koa forest, an Ê»ÅhiÊ»a forest,
and thousands of other known plants.
(Honeygirl) So, many of the plants that you see here today
are not going to be found anywhere else in the world.
They're endemic species, specific not just to Hawaii,
not just to Maui.
Some of these plants are specific to HaleakalÄ.
(narrator) Entry to the KÄ«pahulu Biological Reserve is only allowed to park managers and scientists,
working diligently to understand and protect this rare jewel of native Hawaiian rainforests.
(Hank) What the National Park has done
is the same thing that the Hawaiians have always been doing within their environments
to protect a special place.
[Music]
(Honeygirl) These are just places that people love.
National Parks are awesome and we're very fortunate that it is protected,
otherwise this will not be here for future generations.
People from all over the world are coming to HaleakalÄ
because they want to see what it's all about.
(narrator) With the help of kÅ«puna, Native Hawaiian elders,
along with volunteers and visitors,
HaleakalÄ National Park is dedicated to stewarding the treasures
of this rare and sacred landscape.
[Music]