Priority Projects

The project focuses on enhancing both the aesthetics and accessibility of the building. Key elements include replacing damaged windows, removing view-obstructing elements, improving lighting, and creating wheelchair-accessible viewing areas. This restoration will ensure visitors have the best possible experience while enjoying the center's new exhibits.

The project aims to preserve a valuable collection of historical audio and video recordings from Haleakalā National Park by transferring them from obsolete media formats (cassettes, VHS, film reels) to modern, archival-safe storage. This will ensure the accessibility and longevity of these important records documenting the park's history, management, and educational programs.

This project aims to create a comprehensive record of the rich scientific history within Haleakalā National Park. Two interns will collaborate to build a geodatabase of past research, conduct oral histories with significant researchers, and develop a public GIS StoryMap showcasing the history of park research, highlighting knowledge gaps, and inspiring future scientific exploration, especially in the context of climate change.

Skilled crew members use pack mules to carry in supplies for visitor and patrol cabins, research and invasive pest control equipment, and to carry out significant amounts of trash that visitors leave behind. This project would fund two pack mules, replacing two that have been retired.

Past census work has shown the high levels of decline of natural populations of silverswords at Haleakalā. This project will enhance efforts to stabilize the Silversword population of this unique Haleakala species.

E Ola Koa is a yearlong professional development internship program targeting local college graduates. The training gained during the 12-month internship will provide local youth with an important advantage in careers in conservation in Hawaii, in the National Park Service, or in any other conservation or land management agency.

This project expands upon a pilot program aiming to increase Haleakalā National Park accessibility for local students. It focuses on financially supporting public schools (including Hawaiian Immersion schools) by reimbursing transportation costs for ranger-guided field trips, potentially allowing up to 2,400 Maui students to experience the park's educational programs this year.

Between 4 and 8 young girls who have been within the Honolulu juvenile justice system and are now participating in the Hawaii Girls Court program to reduce recidivism. This program has brought the girls and their parole officers who have completed the program to Haleakalā in years past, providing a transformational experience for the girls, with the program reducing recidivism by 47%.

This project offers travel and hotel for teachers to participate in professional development workshops, focusing on building climate change curricula tailored to the unique challenges facing the Hawaiian Islands. Workshops on Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island will utilize resources from NOAA, national parks, and local experts.

This project requests funds to purchase 3 outdoor all-terrain self-propelled, non-motorized wheelchairs to be kept at each visitor center in Haleakalā National Park. The main scope of this project is to make Haleakalā National Park more accessible for our visitors who may have mobility issues or disabilities and would benefit from having the option to use a wheelchair.

To address recruitment challenges, Haleakala National Park aims to attract local talent through a targeted campaign. This initiative will involve paper mailers and online advertising.

This program aims to coordinate special events with partnering organizations to expand outreach and enrich astronomy experiences for greater audiences. The project will partner with Native Hawaiian organizations and other community-focused groups to broaden staff and volunteer knowledge of traditional Hawaiian night sky use and moʻolelo through guest speakers, trainings, and workshops.