NPS Photo 0 AD-800: Polynesian's colonize the Hawaiian Islands (based on current scientific information). 660-1030: Current earliest calibrated radiocarbon date range for Hawaiian use of Haleakalā Crater. 1164-1384: Current earliest calibrated radiocarbon date range for Hawaiian use of Park lands in Kīpahulu. 1778: First European contact with Hawaiians is made by Captain Cook. 1819-1850: American missionaries and whalers arrive on Maui. 1828: First written record of an ascent to the summit of Haleakalā is made by three missionaries. 1881: Sugar production from sugarcane begins in Kīpahulu, bringing with it a diverse range of immigrants to the area. Sugar production continues until mid-1920's. 1888: Haleakalā Ranch is established. Grazing of cattle begins on the slopes of Haleakalā. Cattle are pastured in Haleakalā Crater until 1922. Ranching is established in Kīpahulu after sugar production ends in the mid-1920's. 1890's: Nēnē, the Hawaiian goose, no longer found on the island of Maui due to predation by introduced cats, rats, and mongeese, as well as habitat destruction. 1898: The Republic of Hawai`i is annexed as a territory of the United States. 1916: Hawai`i National Park is established by Congress, including Haleakalā Section. 
NPS Photo 1933-1935: The road to the summit of Haleakalā is built. 1934-1941: Early NPS park development (Civilian Conservation Corps). Haleakalā Visitor Center at summit is built in 1936. The backcountry cabins were built in 1937. 1941-1946: U.S. Army occupation of Haleakalā. The park is closed to the public from 1941 to 1943 1946-present: Later NPS development in Haleakalā National Park (Mission 66). Park Headquarters is built in 1958. Observatory built at Red Hill in 1963. 1951: Kīpahulu Valley is authorized for inclusion into Haleakalā National Park. 1959: Hawai`i becomes the 50th state. 1961: Hawai`i National Park's units are separated and re-designated as Haleakalā National Park and Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. 
NPS Photo 1962-1978: Nēnē re-introduced into Haleakalā National Park. 1974: Crater Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 1976: Fencing of park boundary begins. The fencing is designed to exclude feral animals such as goats and deer in order to protect park resources. This work continues today. 1999: Ka`apahu lands are added to Haleakalā National Park. 2008: Nu`u lands are added to Haleakalā National Park. |
Last updated: February 28, 2015