Haleakalā National Park
Campground Amphitheaters
Campground Amphitheaters
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National Park
1916 Park Size 33,265 acres Annual Visitors 791,000 Park Fee $30 Superintendent Natalie Gates Park Partner Haleakalā Conservancy Location Maui County, HI |
Haleakalā National Park, on the island of Maui, boasts a massive shield volcano, as well as rare flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world. The park has two frontcountry campgrounds for overnight visitation, neither of which had an amphitheater for ranger programs or large group gatherings, such as school programs. Due to the remote nature of the park, night sky viewing opportunities are of particular interest, but nighttime ranger programs were limited by a lack of venue.
The Fund for People in Parks has provided a grant to the Haleakalā Conservancy to install two small amphitheater areas, complete with bench seating, solar-generated power stations, and projection equipment. To implement the project, the park partnered with local nonprofit Ma Ka Hana Kai'ike, which teaches high school students vocational skills and helps them connect to Indigenous Hawaiian culture. The students made the benches out of natural materials from the park that were dead and downed non-native species. In addition to providing seating for park visitors and opening program opportunities, this project connected local youth more deeply to the park and gave them a window into career possibilities with the National Park Service. Project Cost: $30,000 Project Completed: 2023 Mahalo nui loa (great thanks) for the support on projects like these for our National Parks. There are many ideas for park improvements that would benefit the public are often passed up due to lack of funding. Having financial assistance allowed this amphitheater to come to fruition, ultimately bettering the park and the visitor experience." |
