Sunrises and sunsets just feel different at the 33,265-acre Haleakala National Park in Maui, Hawaii. Haleakala means “house of the sun” in Hawaiian. The park is also named after its dormant volcano. Aside from the landform, more than half of the park is a wilderness area. Over a million people visited the park in 2018.
History
As a dormant volcano, Haleakala was supposed to be part of Hawaii National Park, which covers Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes. Eventually, that park was abolished and a separate Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was established, covering the two active volcanoes. Haleakala last erupted between 1480 and 1600 AD.
As for the park’s name, legend has it that the demigod Maui, imprisoned the sun in the area so that the day will be longer than the night.
The Haleakala National Park was established on July 1, 1961. Its boundaries were expanded in 2005.
Places to go
The park is divided into two sections: The Summit and the coastal Kipahulu region. Sunrises and sunsets are great in both areas, but sunrise viewing is by reservation. Each region of the park has a few spots which attract tourists from around the world.
The Summit Area
It’s like a sea with a chocolatey landscape—this cinder desert, which surrounds the crater of the dormant Haleakala, offers a vast and stunning view of unique topography. A large part of the summit also features shrubland, home to some unique birds. When at the Summit, visitors should drop by the Haleakala Crater, which is the volcano’s summit. The crater used to be known as the “bottomless pit.”
This is a great place for hiking with trails stretching over 30 miles. Not only will visitors experience a different kind of ground, but they will also be walking with a hint of perfume in the air, due to the abundance of ahinahina blossoms. Not only do these plants smell good, but they are also beautiful and visitors can see them at the Alpine Desert, where the hills that witnessed some volcanic eruptions are located. Ancient lava flows are still visible in the area.
The hike through the Alpine Desert will also take trekkers through the Pele’s Paint Pod, a desert area that features colorful cinder.
The Subalpine Shrubland, on the other hand, offers hikers a colorful vista of the forest, which features the native shrub called pukiawe. Hikers will also get a chance to see the Rainbow Bridge in this part of the Summit.
Visitors may also go on the scenic drive. The summit features some viewpoints, which offer clear panoramic imagery of the park.
Campers can drive up to Hosmer Grove or bust up their tents at the wilderness of Holua and Paliku campgrounds, to become one with nature. Hosmer Grove is a forest with diverse vegetation that includes deodar, a native of the Himalayas; eucalyptus from Australia; sugi from Japan and some American trees like cypress, fir, pine, and spruce.
One of the other famous activities in this area is skywatching. The lack of artificial light pollution makes it an ideal place to stargaze, as well as learn more about astronomy.
Kipahulu District
This area has a thriving community that has lived there for hundreds of years. Exploring this area also provides a different kind of adventure for visitors.
Swimming in The Pools at ‘Ohe’o Gulch may not be advisable (check advisory) because of possible rock slides, but the view that this spot provides is just amazing. There are two dozen pools here, which is along Palikea Stream. This is just one of the spots hikers will see when they trek through the Kipahulu District. Other bodies of water in the district are two famous falls: Makahiku Falls and Waimoku Falls.
Since the district is on the coastline, visitors may have a chance to spot some dolphins, humpback whales, monk seals, seabirds and sea turtles.
Endangered species
The park is home to several endangered species. One of its most popular residents is the ahinahina, which still permeates it's nice scent in the area. But once upon a time, this silversword blossom used to cover most of the Haleakala Mountain, which almost seemed like the landform is covered with snow from afar. Another endangered plant in the park is the Haleakala schiedea, which is endemic to Hawaii.
The park is also the richest place in the world for tardigrades, also known as water bears. There are at least 31 species of tardigrades identified in the park.