Haleakalā National Park
Hosmer Grove Rare Bird Viewing Improvements
Hosmer Grove Rare Bird Viewing Improvements
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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 is a spectacular natural landscape that vibrates with stories of ancient and modern Hawaiian culture and protects the bond between the land and its people. The park also protects many endangered species, some of which exist nowhere else on earth.
Hosmer Grove, in the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park, is located in a restored native Hawaiian forest. It is home to some of the rarest birds on earth, all species that adapted from the honeycreeper that landed on the islands millions of years ago. Formerly, visitors to the grove had to bring their own optical equipment to see these rare birds up close and the educational displays were outdated and inadequate. The Fund for People in Parks made a grant that provided two permanently-mounted viewing scopes at the most popular spot along the trail. It also provided three benches on the trail: one at the bird viewing area and the other two at popular trailside viewpoints. Finally, it funded an educational sign adjacent to the scopes to inform visitors about the rare and beautiful Hawaiian bird species they see in the forest. Project Cost: $23,950 Project Completed: 2020 The Fund for People in Parks: $20,950 National Park Service: $3,000 Your grant gives visitors new opportunities to see rare endemic Hawaiian birds. Many of the forest birds in Haleakalā are found in Hawai'i and nowhere else in the world. As their populations decline, it becomes even more important to share opportunities like those funded by the Fund to increase awareness of these species at risk. Subsequent to the installation of the spotting scopes and the updated trailside sign at Hosmer Grove, we have observed many park visitors, especially families, taking time and effort to identify the birds they see in the area." |
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One of the highlights of our visit to the National Park. A wonderful short little jaunt through a gorgeous forest full of quiet, nothing but trees and birds chirping and nice signage describing birds and trees in the area. There are two viewing spots with big metal fixed binoculars to look through and check out the birds (or whatever). Super easy stroll and nice setting."
-Visitor from Castelbuono, Italy, via Alltrails.com
