On Jan. 17, 2018, Haleakalā National Park will host a public meeting regarding its Environmental Assessment (EA) for sunrise visitor management at the summit of Haleakalā. The public meeting will be held from 5pm-6:30pm at the Pukalani Community Center, in the building next to the pool. Park staff will provide information, answer questions, and accept comments. Public comments will also be accepted online or via email or postal mail from January 12 to Feb. 20, 2018.
The purpose of the EA is to analyze the impact of potential actions to manage sunrise summit visitation in a manner that provides for the safety of employees and park visitors; protects sensitive natural and cultural resources; and improves the visitor experience.
Sunrise viewing at the summit of Haleakalā is a top visitor attraction on Maui. Pre-dawn through sunrise is the busiest time of day and there has been an ongoing, steady, and significant increase in sunrise visitation. In response to concerns about safety and resource damage due to overcrowding, the park implemented emergency restrictions via a pilot sunrise reservation system. This reservation system, which began Feb. 1, 2017, dramatically reduced crowding during sunrise and will be evaluated in the EA, along with other potential solutions.
Public comments can be made online or via postal mail or email from January 12 until Feb. 20, 2018. Online comments can be posted at the NPS Planning, Environmental, and Public Comment website: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/sunrise. Comments can be postal mailed to Haleakalā NP, Sunrise Visitor Management EA, Attention: Linette King, P.O. Box 369, Makawao, HI, 96768; or emailed to HALE_Superintendent@nps.gov with the subject line “Sunrise Visitor Management EA."
Comments will not be accepted by FAX or in any manner other than those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted.
Before including any personal identifying information, anyone providing written comment should be aware their entire comment - including their personal identifying information - may be made publicly available at any time. While anyone wishing to comment may ask the National Park Service in their comment to withhold their personal identifying information from public review, the National Park Service cannot guarantee it will be able to do so.
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Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
