Haleakalā: New Bilingual Hawaiian-Language Exhibits Open at the Summit

If you're planning to head up to Haleakalā's summit, here's a reason to slow down and stop at the visitor center. New bilingual exhibits have just opened there, in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (the Hawaiian language) and English, according to Maui Now.

These panels walk you through Haleakalā's history and culture. One detail stands out, according to Maui Now. These are the first exhibits in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi shown at any National Park Service site in the region. For a place this meaningful to Hawaiians, the language takes its rightful spot at the heart of the story, and you're finally visiting a summit that's described in its own words.

You'll find them at the Haleakalā Visitor Center, in the summit district, at 9,740 feet. It's one of the highest and busiest spots in the park, the one people often reach very early for sunrise. Pack warm clothes, because at this elevation it gets cold, even in the tropics.

Behind the scenes, the park built the project with two of its partners, the Haleakalā Conservancy and the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association, again according to Maui Now. Natalie Gates is the park's superintendent.

One piece of advice. Don't treat this visitor center as just a quick stop before the photo. Give it a few quiet minutes, on the way up and on the way back, to read these new panels. You'll come away with a better sense of what you're looking at, and why this summit isn't just another backdrop.

To plan your visit, your timing, and the rest of your day on the mountain, you'll find everything in the Haleakalā park guide. It shows you how to fit this stop into your itinerary, and when the visitor center is quietest to visit.