National Park Feature: Haleakalā
Visiting all 63 of the flagship American National Parks is no easy feat. Yes, most of them are relatively easy to get to, and most Americans have a national park within a day’s drive of them. However, some parks are very far away. Case in point, Haleakalā National Park, which recently celebrated its 109th anniversary as a national park, is located on the Hawaiian island of Maui. It requires a flight over the Pacific Ocean, one that often involves a layover on the more populated islands of the Big Island or Oahu.
However, Haleakalā National Park is absolutely worth the travel time it takes to get there.
Before we dive in, check out this sweet YouTube reel of Kenneth Crane, one of our collaborating artists, exploring Haleakalā National Park!
Describing Haleakalā
From its volcanic crater at the highest point of Maui to the lush rainforests and waterfalls that one descends to, Haleakalā National Park invites visitors to experience Hawai'i’s hushed, tranquil beauty and its diverse topography and ecosystems. While camping, catching the sunrise, or traversing the park’s boardwalks, beaches, and lava-strewn paths, visitors enjoy a rare opportunity to witness dozens of endangered species, some of which exist nowhere else on Earth and whose preservation relies entirely on the park’s existence.
When we think of national parks, our imaginations wander to some of the most unique depictions of nature found in the United States. It is as though the parks themselves promise to offer majesty and wonder. Haleakalā National Park delivers on that promise, a 32,265-acre national park that towers over the island of Maui in the state of Hawai’i. Most of Haleakalā is also a protected wilderness area. The park comprises the dormant volcano Haleakalā, with its tallest point standing at 10,023 feet above sea level.
Home to the Silver Sword Plant
Haleakalā National Park is home to a very special plant. The silvery hairs, fleshy leaves, and low-growing rosette of the Haleakalā silversword (Argyroxiphium sandwicense) enable it to survive in hot, dry climates, such as the aeolian desert cinder slopes of the crater.
Silverswords live between 3 and 90 years or more. They flower once, sending up a spectacular flowering stalk, and then die soon afterward, scattering drying seeds to the wind. Although the plant can live for a long time, it is threatened by hotter temperatures and low rainfall. Given that they only flower once, they present a once-in-a-lifetime viewing opportunity for the lucky visitor.
Forests of Bamboo
Did you know that Haleakalā National Park is so high up in elevation that the peak of the park is above more than one-third of the Earth’s atmosphere? Or that it snows on the volcano that the national park encompasses? Or that the volcano is technically taller than Mount Everest? (when measured from the ocean floor, that is). Or that the bamboo there grows in such dense, tall climbs that they create a literal forest of stalks?
Though they look right at home, the park’s iconic bamboo forests are not native to the island. Ancient Polynesians brought the plants with them when they migrated to Hawai'i between 1000 and 1200 AD.
The best way to see the bamboo is on the Pipiwai Trail. A hike along this trail is one that visitors will cherish for eternity! As a welcome ocean breeze sifts through the forest, the bamboo stalks creak, clack, and pop. Hike along the well-maintained path and enjoy the natural music of the bamboo orchestra. It is undoubtedly one of the park’s best features.
The Park, Like Much of Hawai’i, has Distinctly Different Climate Zones
Due to unique weather patterns, Haleakalā has two distinctly different climate zones. Dry, arid, and cold conditions characterize the Summit District. Just ten miles east, the Kipahulu District experiences frequent rain, warm temperatures, and high humidity. This is caused by a combination of trade winds and elevation change, which traps moisture in certain areas of the park, leading to significantly more rainfall in those areas. One can walk through a jungle and a desert on the same day.
Sunrises and Sunsets are Epic
Watching the sunrise from the 10,023-foot summit of Haleakalā is a popular park attraction, but be sure to visit the park’s website to reserve a spot for the morning of your choice. Additionally, bird enthusiasts observe the Hawaiian petrel returning from the sea at sundown to nest at the summit of Mount Haleakalā. Another bird to look for is the Nene goose (Hawaii’s state bird), which was brought back from the brink of extinction in the late 1900s.
Twisting, Turning Roads Bring Visitors to Waterfalls
As if the park couldn’t get any better, this national park is also home to waterfalls! The Road to Hana is a must-see, but it has 690 hairpin turns and is slow-going. Plan at least 2.5 hours to reach the Kipahulu District.
There are over 15 waterfalls on the Road to Hana in the Kipahulu District. Several can be seen from the road, some have bridges traversing them, and others require a short (but worthwhile) hike. Two must-sees are Waimoku Falls and the sacred Pools of Ohe’o.
Banyan Trees and Naupaka Flowers Make Visitors Rethink Their Views on What Trees and Flowers are Supposed to Look Like
It is no surprise that a park as stunning as this one will also have its share of peculiar and interesting plants and animals. Found along the Kūloa Point Trail, banyan trees are recognizable for the unique way their vertical branches descend from the horizontal limbs and into the ground, becoming roots and supporting the huge tree’s incredible weight. While most trees have branches that extend towards the sky, the banyan has evolved to direct some of its branches back down into the Earth, a survival mechanism that allows the tree to grow and better root itself in the landscape.
Then there are the flowers. Hawaiian legend has it that when the naupaka flower blooms on both the seashore and high up in the mountains, it tells a story of two lovers who could not reach each other, one who lived among the high peaks and another who lived in the sea.
Mythical Legends of Haleakalā National Park
Last but not least, there are the mythical legends associated with Haleakalā National Park. Visitors to the wild and beautiful rainforests of Hawaii should be extra cautious, for the Green Lady of Wahiawa may be nearby! Clad in leaves, moss, and grass, with green skin and seaweed in her hair, legend has it that the Green Lady is a woman who lost her children in the woods and who has spent an eternity looking for them. Sadly, years spent alone have transformed the Green Lady into a desperate creature, and the stories say she will grab any child she sees, even if it is not hers.
Poster Art to Remember a Beloved Trip to Haleakalā National Park
If you are returning from a trip to Haleakalā or you’re still planning one, our talented poster artists have celebrated the iconic park and its recent anniversary with several original illustrations and poster designs of the park and some of its most beloved features.
We hope you enjoy the art and the adventures to come.
-Ren Brabenec
Anderson Design Group Staff Writer
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