The park preserves the outstanding volcanic landscape of the upper slopes of Haleakala on the island of Maui and protects the unique and fragile ecosystems of Kipahulu Valley, the scenic pools along Oheo Gulch, and many rare and endangered species. Haleakala, originally part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, was designated a separate entity in July 1961. Haleakala National Park was designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980. Of its 28,655 acres, 19,270 are wilderness.

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General Information

Visitation

Busy year-round with peaks during summer months and winter holidays.

Address

Haleakala National Park
P.O. Box 369
Makawao, HI
96768

Telephone

(808) 572-9306

Operating Hours & Seasons

Park headquarters, Haleakala Visitor Center and Kipahulu Ranger Station are open daily year-round, subject to staff availability.

Hours

Park headquarters ,7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Haleakala Visitor Center, sunrise to 3 p.m.
Kipahulu Ranger Station, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Climate & Recommended Clothing

Summit Area

The weather at the summit of Haleakala is unpredictable. Temperatures commonly range between 40¼ and 65¼F, but can be below freezing at anytime of year with the wind chill factor. Weather changes rapidly at high elevations on Haleakala. Intense sunlight, thick clouds, heavy rain and high winds are possible daily. Wear lightweight, layered clothing that will keep you warm even in wet weather, and sturdy, comfortable shoes.

Persons with heart or respiratory problems and pregnant women should check with their doctor before coming to the park, given the reduced oxygen at high elevation.

Kipahulu Area

The weather in Kipahulu is usually warm, and rain is common. Flash flooding of the pools and streams can be hazardous to swimmers and hikers. Always check with the park rangers before entering the pools, and never swim if flood warnings are posted. Mosquitoes can be prevalent in this area.

Directions

Haleakala National Park extends from the 10,023-foot summit of Haleakala down the southeast flank of the mountain to the Kipahulu coast near Hana. These two sections of the park are not connected by road, but both can be reached from Kahului. The summit area of Haleakala is a three-hour round trip drive from Kahului via routes 37, 377, and 378. Follow the signs posted along the highway. The Kipahulu area of the park is at the east end of Maui, between Hana and Kaupa. It can be reached via Highway 36, a curvy, often wet road. Kipahulu is about 90 miles from the resort areas of Wailea or Kaanapali, and 60 miles from central Maui. Driving time is 3-4 hours each way. An extension of Highway 31 goes around the dry side of the island, past Kaupa and on to Ulapalakua. It is only partially paved and can be hazardous or closed during stormy weather.

Transportation

Access the summit area via routes 377 and 378; Kipahulu by Highway 36. Kahului and Hana have small airports. There is no public transportation on Maui.

At the park, transportation is by personal or rental vehicle, bicycle, tour bus or van, or taxi. Arrangements not made by park.

Fees, Costs & Rates

Admission fee of $10 per vehicle is charged at the entrance to the summit area. Bicyclists, motorcyclist, and hikers are charged $5. The entrance fee is good for seven days.

Golden Eagle Passport

The Golden Eagle Passport is an entrance pass to any national park, monument, historical site, recreation area, and national wildlife refuge that charges an entrance fee. It is a great convenience for those who plan on visiting several different areas that charge special fees. It is valid for one year from the purchase date. A Golden Eagle Passport may be purchased for $50 at any National Park Service entrance fee area or by mail. To order by mail, send check or money order (no cash, please) to:

National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Room 138
Washington, DC 20242
Attention: Golden Eagle Passport

Where entry is by private vehicle, the Golden Eagle Passport will admit the passholder as well as any passengers. Where entry by private vehicle is not possible, the pass will admit the passholder, spouse, children and parents.

The Golden Eagle Passport will not reduce use fees, such as those for camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, or cave tours. It covers entrance fees only.

Golden Age Passport

The Golden Age Passport is a lifetime entrance pass for those United States residents 62 years or older. These may be purchased at any National Park Service entrance fee area for a one-time processing fee of $10. The Golden Age Passport cannot be purchased by mail or telephone. Proof of age and citizenship or permanent residence must be shown at the time of purchase.

The Golden Age Passport will admit the passholder and any passengers in a private vehicle. When entrance is not via private vehicle, the pass will admit the passholder as well as children, spouse, and parents.

The Golden Age Pass grants a 50% discount to the holder on any federal use fees charged for things such as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, or tours. It does not, however, reduce the price of special recreation permit fees or fees for concessions.

Golden Access Passport

The Golden Access Passport is a free entrance pass to any national park, monument, historic site, recreation area, and national wildlife refuge for those who are blind or permanently disabled. The Golden Access passport may be obtained at any National Park Service entrance fee area. Proof of a medically determined disability and eligibility for receiving benefits under federal law is necessary at purchase.

The Golden Access Passport will admit the passholder and any passengers in a private vehicle. Where entrance is not by vehicle, the pass will admit the passholder, spouse, children and parents.

The Golden Access Passport also provides a 50% discount on any federal use fees charged for services and facilities. It does not cover special recreation permit fees or fees charged for concessions.

All passes described above are non-transferable.

Facilities & Opportunities

Visitor Center & Exhibits

Park headquarters, Haleakala Visitor Center and the Kipahulu Ranger Station have cultural and natural history exhibits. Books, maps, and postcards are for sale. Rangers are on duty during business hours to answer questions and help you make the most of your visit.

Trails

In the summit area, two trails lead into the wilderness. The 4-mile Sliding Sands Trail starts at the Haleakala Visitor Center parking lot and descends 2,500 feet through a cinder desert to the valley floor. The steep grade, elevation, and reduced oxygen make the return trip difficult. Allow twice the time to hike out as it takes to hike in.

Halemauu Trail begins at the parking lot 3.5 miles above park headquarters. The first mile gradually descends through native shrub land to the valley rim. Two miles of switchbacks then descend 1,400 feet to the valley floor. Sliding Sands and Halemauu trails eventually join after about 9 miles and are also connected by short spur trails. Ask about shorter hikes at park headquarters or Haleakala Visitor Center. Even short walks offer spectacular views on clear days.

At Kipahulu, all trails start at the ranger station. Check at the station for current trail and swimming conditions. Be alert to water conditions as flash flooding may occur within minutes. Obey posted warning signs. The Kaloa Point Trail is an easy half-mile loop toward the ocean along pools and waterfalls and back to the ranger station. Kaloa Point is a windy bluff overlooking Oheo Gulch. Crashing surf and views of the Island of Hawaii are a 5-minute walk from the ranger station. Enjoy a picnic on the grass next to the remnants of an ancient fishing shrine and house site. Explore a Lau Hala thatched building and envision an earlier time. The Papwai Trail is a moderately difficult 4-mile hike (round trip) through the rain forest up to Waimoku Falls. The trail ends upstream, near the base of 400-foot Waimoku Falls. Take a picnic lunch, snack, insect repellant and water along on this 3-hour hike.

Programs & Activities

Both areas of the park offer guided walks and programs on the geology and natural and cultural history of the area. In the summit area, 15-20 minute presentations are given daily in the Summit Building at 9:30, 10:30, and 11:30 a.m. There is a guided Cinder Desert hike on Tuesdays and Fridays beginning at 10 a.m. The hike is 2 miles and takes about two hours. Meet at the Sliding Sands Trailhead at the end of the Haleakala Visitor Center parking lot. In addition, there is a guided Waikamoi Cloud Forest hike on Mondays and Thursdays beginning at 9 a.m. This three-hour, 3-mile hike goes through The Nature Conservancy's Waikamoi Preserve. Meet at Hosmer Grove, just inside the park entrance.

At Kipahulu, programs include a one-mile hike to the Bamboo Forest beginning at 9 a.m. daily; half-mile hikes or orientation talks at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m. daily; and a 4-mile round trip hike to Waimoku Falls, Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. All programs and hikes begin at the ranger station.

Lodging & Camping Facilities (in park)

There are no hotels or concessions within Haleakala National Park. In the summit area, the Hosmer Grove Campground can be used without a permit. It is located just inside the park entrance and to the left. Both the Kipahulu and Hosmer Grove campgrounds have picnic tables, barbecue grills, and outdoor pit toilets.

There are also two wilderness campgrounds - Holua is 4 miles down the Halemauu trail and Paliku is 10 miles down either the Sliding Sands Trail or the Halemauu Trail. Both are primitive with only pit toilets and non-potable water. Campers should have provisions and equipment appropriate for cold, wet weather. Open fires are not allowed in the wilderness, so portable camp stoves and fuel are recommended. Water treatment is required.

Use of these campgrounds requires a permit, available at park headquarters between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily. There is no fee for camping permits. Space at both campgrounds is limited, and advance reservations cannot be made for wilderness camping.

The National Park Service maintains three wilderness cabins for visitor use by advanced reservation lottery. To reach the cabins, you must hike a minimum of 4 miles to Holua, 6 miles to Kapalaoa, and 10 miles to Paliku. Each cabin is allocated to one party, with a capacity of 12 people per night. Fees for the cabins are based on the size of the party: 1-6 people, $40; 7-12 people, $80. At least one member of the party must be 18 or older. To enter the reservation lottery, write to Haleakala National Park, Attention Cabins, at least 90 days prior to your trip.

Include your first and alternate choices of dates and cabin preferred. The more flexible your request, the better your chance of winning a reservation. Keep in mind that weekends are more popular than weekdays. Cabins are occasionally available due to cancellations. To fill a cancellation, call the park at (808) 572-9306 between 1 and 3 p.m. to check on availability. You will need a Visa or MasterCard to secure a reservation by phone.

Stays at wilderness camping areas and cabins are limited to three nights per month, with no more than two consecutive nights at any one cabin or campground.

At Kipahulu, a primitive campground near the ocean is available without a permit on a first-come, first-served basis. No drinking water is available: you must bring your own. The campground has picnic tables, barbecue grills, and an outdoor pit toilet.

Food & Supplies

There are no facilities to purchase food, gasoline or supplies at the park. There is no drinking water at Kipahulu. The towns of Kahului, Pukalani (17 miles from the summit area), and Hana (10 miles from the Kipahulu area) have limited stores and outfitters.

Other Concessions & NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities

Several private companies operate tours within the park. They include downhill biking on the park road, horseback tours of the wilderness, and guided hikes. Check the Yellow Pages of the Maui telephone book, the activities desks at hotels and resorts, or consult the Hawaii Visitor's Bureau for information.

Recommended Activities & Park Use

Stop at one of the several overlooks on the park road or take a short walk away from the traffic noise to watch the clouds. The visual horizon in many places in the park is up to 115 miles out to sea. Even cloudy skies can offer amazing sights, including rainbows, moonbows and halos seen around your shadow. Haleakala offers one of the most easily accessible places to watch stars, planets and their moons after dark. Rent a pair of 10x50 or 7x50 binoculars at one of the island dive shops, pick up a star map at park headquarters or Haleakala Visitor Center, and see if you can find the moons of Jupiter.

Sunrise and sunset are both amazing, but sunrise is more crowded. Arrive at least one-half hour early to watch colors change. A flashlight will come in handy and warm clothes are a must. Good locations to view the sunset include the Halemauu Trail and the summit. Sunrise is best viewed from Leleiwi or Kalahaku Overlooks, the summit, and Haleakala Visitor Center.

Bird and wildlife watching are great at Haleakala. In fact, Haleakala National Park is one of a few places to see rare Hawaiian forest birds. Walk along Halemauu trail or through Hosmer Grove on your own or join our guided Waikamoi hike, offered on Mondays and Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to noon at Hosmer Grove. After dark, watch the tree tops on moonlit nights for one of only two native mammals in Hawaii, the peapea, or Hawaiian hoary bat. On summer nights, stop at Leleiwi overlook and listen to the rare Uau, or dark-rumped petrel, call its mate along the cliffs below. During the winter months, watch for humpback whales from the porch of the Kipahulu ranger station.

You may bike on the park road, but not on any trails. Lights are required before dawn or after dusk. Helmets are strongly recommended. Gloves and rain gear will make your ride safer and more comfortable. Bikes can be rented on the island.

Skateboarding? In-line skating? Hang gliding? Gravity may tempt you, but for safety and the protection of park resources, these activities are prohibited anywhere in the park.

Reservations & Permits

No reservations are required for programs, hikes, or camping. Permits for the wilderness campgrounds in the summit area are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Wilderness cabin permits are on a lottery system run by the park.

Basic Visit Recommendations

Plan on spending at least two hours in the park to drive up to the summit and back to the entrance, longer if you plan to hike or attend natural or cultural history programs. Spend all day or a few minutes enjoying the pools and scenic beauty of Kipahulu. Take time to visit the ranger station, take a short hike, or plan a picnic.

The weather at Haleakala is unpredictable; be prepared for cold wind, heavy rain, and sunshine. No dining or vending facilities are available in the park, so plan your visit wisely. Also remember, there are no gas stations in or near the park. Think ahead!

Special Events & Programs

In the summit area, special star-watching programs are conducted in the summer. Occasionally, special all-day and half-day hikes, three-day service trips, or full moon hikes are offered. Check at park headquarters or call (808) 572-9306 for current schedules.

In the Kipahulu area, cultural demonstrations occur occasionally. Check at the ranger station or call (808) 248-7375 for current schedules.

Visitor Impacts

More than one million people visit Haleakala Summit area and a half million visit Kipahulu each year. With visitors from around the world, it is important that all visitors help protect the park by using only designated trails, leaving all natural features in their place, and using proper trash receptacles. This good behavior can be an example to others visiting a national park for the first time.

Adjacent Visitor Attractions

For more information on the Island of Maui:

Hawaii Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 1738 Kahului
HI 96732
(808) 244-3530

For information about other camping areas on Maui:

State Parks Office
54 South High Street
Wailuku, HI 96793
(808) 984-8109

County Parks War Memorial Center

Wailuku, HI 96793
(808) 243-7389

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History

Haleakala National Park, originally part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, was designated a separate entity July 1, 1961. The park was designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980. Of its 28,655 acres, 19,270 are wilderness.

The park was established on the island of Maui to preserve the outstanding features of Haleakala Crater. Later additions to the park protected the unique and fragile ecosystems and rare species of the Kipahulu Valley, the scenic pools along 'Obe'o Gulch, and the coast.

Stretching eastward from the summit of Mt. Haleakala to the southeast coast, the park joins two special areas - Haleakala Crater near the summit and the Kipabulu coastal area. No roads connect the two, though each can be reached by road from Kabului. Roads lead only to the threshold of this inspiring wilderness so visitors may find an undisturbed, natural environment,.

Cross this threshold and step into the beauty of Haleakala National Park. Learn of the earth and of the mysteries beneath and above its surface - volcanic rocks, cascading streams, quiet pools, dazzling silver plants and flashing scarlet birds.

Haleakala Crater - The Geologic Story

Haleakala Crater is now a cool, cone-studded reminder of a once-active volcano. Streaks of red, yellow, gray, and black trace the courses of recent and ancient lava, ash, and cinder flows. The volcanic rocks slowly break down as natural forces reduce them to minute particles swept away by wind, heavy rain, and intermittent streams.

Modern geology indicates the Hawaiian Islands are situated near the middle of the Pacific Plate, one of a dozen thin, rigid structures covering our planet like the cracked shell of an egg. Though adjoining each other, these plates are in constant slow motion as the Pacific Plate moves northwestward several centimeters per year. Scattered around the world are many weak areas in the earth's crust where magma slowly wells upward to the surface in a "plume." Here, volcanoes and volcanic islands, such as Maui, are born.

The constant northwestward movement of the Pacific Plate over a local volcanic hot spot, or plume, has produced a series of islands one after another. The result is a chain of volcanic islands stretching from the island of Hawaii along a southeast/northwest line for 2,500 miles toward Japan.

Maui, one of the younger islands in this chain, began as two separate volcanoes on the ocean floor; time and again, the volcanoes erupted and thin new sheets of lava spread upon the old, building and building until the volcanoes emerged from the sea. Lava, wind-blown ash, and alluvium eventually formed an isthmus connecting the two and Maui, "The Valley Isle," was born. Eventually, Haleakala, the eastern volcano, rose 12,000 feet above the ocean - some 30,000 feet from its base on the ocean floor.

For a time, volcanic activity ceased and erosion dominated. The great mountain was high enough to trap the moisture-laden northeast tradewinds. Rain fell and streams began to cut channels down mountain slopes. Two streams made their way headward, eventually carving out large amphitheater-like valleys near the summit. Finally, the two valleys met, creating a long "crater." At the same time, a series of ice age submergences and emergences of the shoreline occurred; the final submergence formed the four islands of Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe, and Maui.

When volcanic activity resumed near the summit, lava poured down the valleys, nearly filling them. More recently, cinders, ash, volcanic bombs, and spatter were blown from the numerous young vents in the crater, forming multicolored symmetrical cones as high as 600 feet. The water-carved basin became partially filled with lava and cinder cones, and came to resemble a true volcanic crater.

Several hundred years have passed since the last volcanic activity within the crater. Cessation of volcanic activity in Maui is attributed to the northwestward movement of the Pacific Plate. As the oldest islands on the northwest end of the chain have moved farther away from the plume - the source of new lava - they have ceased to grow; the ravages of wind, rain and time have thus reduced them to sandbars and atolls.

Maui has shifted a few kilometers from the plume's influence. Haleakala, too, is destined to become extinct. Today, earthquake records indicate internal adjustments are still taking place in the earth's crust. Currently, no volcanic activity of any form is visible in the crater or at any other place on Maui.

Though Maui is no longer growing, Hawaii, the youngest island in the chain, is. And as plate drift continues, it is probable that in the distant future, a new volcanic island will appear to the southeast of Hawaii, the Big Island.

Diversity on Haleakala

Found at the highest elevations, the alpine/aeolian zone appears barren. Rainfall sinks rapidly into the porous, rocky ground, whose bare surface becomes "summer every day, winter every night." Few plant species can establish seedlings in this harsh environment, and plant cover is sparse; only a few hardy shrubs, grasses, and the ahinahina, or silversword, survive. Unique communities of insects and spiders thrive by feeding on wind-imported insects, other organic matter, and moisture from lower elevations.

The subalpine shrub land covers extensive areas below the alpine/aeolian zone and above the forest line. More than a dozen species of shrubs and grasses inhabit this zone; many found nowhere else on earth. Shrubs are sparse in the shallow soils at higher elevations, but form dense thickets where soils are deeper. The shrubs provide food for many bird species, including the nene, or Hawaiian goose.

Rain forest occupies the windward slopes of Haleakala. Annual rainfall ranges from 120 inches to 400 inches or more. The forest canopy is dominated by 'ohi'a trees in the upper elevations, grading into a mixed'ohi'a and koa canopy at lower levels. Diverse vegetation - smaller trees, ferns, shrubs, and herbs - grows in the understory. One of the most intact rain forest ecosystems in Hawaii, the Kipahulu Valley is home to numerous rare birds, insects and spiders.

The dry forest zone is found on the leeward slopes of Haleakala, in areas with 20 to 60 inches of annual rainfall. Dry forests may once have been more extensive than the rain forests, but browsing animals, grass invasions, and fire have drastically reduced them. Small patches of dry forest are preserved in Kaupo Gap.

Cutting across several zones, stream ecosystems, hosting fish, shrimp, and limpets, meet the lowland/coastal zone. These ecosystems have been more heavily modified by humans than any other. Native shrubs and herbaceous plants remain only in pockets along the coast.

Life Story

The Hawaiian Islands, thousands of kilometers from a continental landmass, support a complex system of plants and animals. More than 90% of the native species are found only here. How did so many species appear in such a tiny area?

A tiny seed caught among a bird's feathers, fern spores borne aloft by strong winds, and insects cast ashore with floating vegetation are the means by which life crosses an ocean. Of those that successfully survive the trip, thousands, perhaps millions, fail. Over millions of years, several hundred of the hardier survivors established populations on the new islands.

Time and isolation were essential for the development of Hawaii's unique population. Isolated from others of its kind and living in a strange environment, a small breeding population is particularly susceptible to evolutionary development. In some instances, changes have been so pronounced that it is difficult, if not impossible, to trace native species back to their continental forms.

On the other hand, all mammals - except a small brown bat and monk seal - were introduced to the islands, intentionally or by accident, by human beings. Their presence has greatly upset the natural balance here.

Today, wild pigs, brought by early Hawaiians, root through the wet areas of the park. Goats, introduced by Europeans, browse throughout the crater. These are the two most serious threats to native plant and animal populations. Other species, like the predatory mongoose released in sugar cane fields to control mice and rats, also inhabit the park. They all threaten the natural relationship between native organisms and their environment. For this reason, the Park Service has embarked upon an exotic plant and animal control program.

Hawaii is noted for its birds, and many species are found nowhere else. The golden plover commonly seen from September to May is famous for its migratory flights to and from Alaska. You may also see the 'apapane, i'iwi, amakihi, and nene, which are among those birds native only to the Hawaiian Islands. The i'iwi is one of the most beautiful of all Hawaiian birds, with a bright scarlet body, black wings and tail, and an inch-long, curved bill. The 'apapane is also scarlet, but has a white belly and black legs and bill. The bright green and yellow 'amakihi is known for the speed at which it searches for nectar and insects. However, most of the birds seen along the park roads - pheasants, chukars, skylarks, and mockingbirds - were introduced to the island. These, too, have taken their toll on native birds by carrying disease and competing for food.

Kipahulu

In contrast to the red, yellow, gray and black lava ash and cinder cones of Haleakala Crater is the lush greenness and abundant waters that make up the Kipahulu section of the park. Here, visitors are greeted by a chain of pools - some large, some small - connected by a waterfall or short cascade. But 'Ohe'o, the stream joining the pool, has many moods, and at times becomes a thundering torrent of white water burying the quiet pools as it churns and plunges headlong toward the ocean. The upper rain forest above the pools receives up to 250 inches of rain a year and flash floods occur here.

Rolling grasslands and forested valleys surround the pools. Ginger and ti form an understory in forests of kukui, mango, guava, and bamboo, while beach naupaka, false kamani, and pandanus abound along the rugged coastal cliffs. Pictographs painted by long-forgotten artists and farm plots where taro and sweet potatoes were once cultivated remind visitors of an age when the ali'i - Hawaiian chiefs - ruled this island.

In the higher elevations, a vast native loa and'ohi'a rain forest thrives, just as it has for thousands of years. It is here that the endangered Maui nukupu'u, Maui parrotbill and other native birds survive in a delicately balanced environment. Protection of this ecosystem will help preserve some of these rare birds.

The People

Approximately 1,500 years ago, Polynesian colonists sailed large, double-hulled canoes on migrational voyages from the South Pacific. They navigated 2,500 miles of open ocean using nature's signs - stars, birds, winds, tides, and currents. To sustain themselves, the Polynesians brought to the Hawaiian Islands food and medicinal plants, introducing kalo,'uala (sweet potato), uhi (yams), 'ulu (breadfruit), and ko (sugar cane), as well as dogs, pigs, and chickens. Koa trees, found only in the Hawaiian Islands, provided logs for hulled canoes. Single outrigger canoes were used by lawai'a (fishermen) to catch deepwater fish such as aku (bonito).

The coastal Kipahulu area once supported a large population of Hawaiians. Current estimates place several hundred thousand people in the Hawaiian Islands at the time of Captain Cook's arrival. These people were skilled at fishing, farming, collecting, and craftwork. Management of their resources was based on Malama'Aina (caring for the land), an ideal still alive among Hawaiians today. Successful farming, fishing and gathering also depended on lokahi (working together) and laulima (many hands). Lo'i kalo (taro patches), fishing shrines, heiau (temples), canoe ramps, and retaining walls are lasting reminders of these dynamic cultural ideals.

Hawaiians incorporated Western elements into their native dress and architecture, including the Western-style door. At the same time, they maintained their basic cultural identity and continue to live in extended families, enabling them to pursue agricultural and cooperative fishing ventures and gather materials. The halau (long house) was the gathering place for many people. Buildings were usually thatched with pili grass, although other materials, including lauhala (pandanus leaves), were used. The greeting "aloha" and an invitation to share a home-cooked meal (Aloha, e'ai kakou) are a still primary requisite of good manners in the Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaiians showed great skill in creating ingenious beautiful and practical items from stone, bone, wood, and shell. A broad range of tools and utensils such as poi pounders, fish hooks, octopus lures, and adzes were fashioned using only stone implements. The poi pounder was one of the most commonly used. Poi was prepared daily by pounding cooked corms (underground stems) of the kalo plant and thinning with water to the desired consistency.

Agricultural practices were carefully managed according to the rhythms of nature. Farmers specialized in growing kalo, or'uala (sweet potato). The Hawaiian calendar recommended planting based on the changes in a year-round growing season. As with much of Hawaiian life, respect for the spiritual realm was shown during every phase of planting and harvesting. Fundamental patterns of Hawaiian culture were based on the planting and growing cycle of this plant. The concept of 'ohana (the family) is derived from'oha, the sprout used to propagate kalo. The 'ohana worked together to build extensive irrigated terraces to grow more than 300 varieties of kalo.

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Reservation Information

Permits & Fees

No reservations are required for programs, hikes, or camping. Permits for the wilderness campgrounds in the summit area are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Wilderness cabin permits are distributed through a lottery system operated by the park.

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