Haleakala National Park

Haleakala National Park rises from a lush valley beneath a waterfall at sea level to a red desert of cinder cones at the volcanic summit of Haleakala, with an array of climates and life zones in between. These contrasting worlds are vitally linked, as rain falling on the volcano’s slopes carves its valleys and nourishes a multitude of life forms. In Hawaii, coastal areas like Kipahulu are called kahakai, where islanders migrating from Polynesia settled along coastlines and evolved a unique, complex, and rich culture. The summit area of Haleakala is referred to as kua mauna, the uninhabited regions above the clouds. The park preserves and helps perpetuate the cultural richness of both kua mauna, kahakai, and the diverse features in between. Summit District overlooks offer views of volcanic terrain considered sacred by many, panoramas of Maui and neighbor islands, and trails entering the cinder desert and winding through shrub land unlike anyplace else on Earth.

Hana, Hawaii · United States