Haleakala History Information

At 400 A.D. First Polynesians arrive from Marquesas Islands
At 900 A.D. Earliest recorded Hawaiian habitation on Haleakala
At 1200 A.D. Polynesians from Tahiti arrive in Hawaii
1778 Captain James Cook lands in Hawaii
1820 First missionaries arrive in the islands
1828 First recorded ascent of Haleakala by non-Hawaiians
1916 Haleakala established as part of Hawaii National Park
1935 First permanent ranger stationed at Haleakala
1936 Haleakala Visitors Center built, Road to Summit - built by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Work Project Administration (WPA) is dedicated
1937 CCC completes construction of Kapalaoa, Holua, and Paliko cabins
1959 Hawaii becomes 50th state
1961 Haleakala becomes a separate National Park, Park Headquarters building completed
1962 Summit building completed
1969 Kipahulu costal area added to Haleakala National Park
1976 Park obtains Wilderness designated for 19,270 acres, construction of boundary fence for goat control begins
1980 Park is designated as an International Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO
1988 Crater District boundary fence completed
1993 Roughly one million visitors to Summit area. Roughly 500,000 visitors to Kipahulu area