Government shutdown to delay Haleakala National Park’s projects

The Maui News

Three Haleakala National Park maintenance projects -- one at the summit and two in Kipahulu -- will be delayed due to the government shutdown, according to park officials.

The projects were scheduled to start this month, but will be postponed indefinitely because the park can't pay contractors during the lapse in federal funding, Polly Angelakis, chief of interpretation and education for the park, said Sunday.

Project details include:

• Headquarters visitor center. Plans call for repairing and upgrading the center's hot water and outdoor lighting systems and replacing two sets of automatic sliding doors. The center will be closed about seven days during work, though restrooms will remain open. Narito Sheetmetal has the $213,984 contract for the system upgrades, and Stilten Ltd. Co. has the $47,271 contract for the sliding doors.

• Pipiwai Trail tree removal. The last mile of the trail will be closed from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays once park staff begins to remove hazardous trees. These are non-native African tulip trees, also known as Spathodea campanulata. Visitors still can walk the first mile of the 2-mile hike, from the trailhead to the footbridge before the Bamboo Forest. The section includes the Makahiku Falls overlook. Visitors will not be able to go to the Bamboo Forest or the Waimoku Falls viewpoint at the end of the trail. Hikers will be able to access the entire half-mile Kuloa Point Loop Trail, which leads to the Pools of Oheo.

• Oheo pools. Maris Inc. has the $98,634 contract to remove vegetation, loose debris and rocks likely to fall from the cliff face of Oheo Gulch. The famous pools have been closed since Jan. 3, 2017, because of a rock slide that left a visitor with minor injuries. They will remain closed during the shutdown.

Visitor entrance fees pay for park maintenance projects.

Project updates can be found at nps.gov/hale or on the park's Facebook page, though social media accounts are not being monitored or updated during the shutdown, according to a park release.

During the shutdown, Haleakala's Summit District will also be closed during sunrise viewing hours from 3 to 7 a.m. Roads, lookouts, trails and campgrounds in both the Summit and Kipahulu districts will remain accessible to visitors at all other times. However, there will be no park-provided visitor services, including the headquarters, Haleakala and Kipahulu visitor centers; restrooms; trash collection; and facilities and roads maintenance, including treatment for winter road conditions. Backcountry cabin and camping permits are not being issued. Emergency and rescue services will be limited.

Refunds for sunrise reservations may be requested via recreation.gov after federal operations resume.

All park regulations remain in effect. Electronic message boards outside the park, as well as signs posted on park buildings, will remind visitors of conditions.

For weather updates, go to forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=HIZ022 or ifa.hawaii.edu/haleakalanew/weather.shtml.

For updates on the shutdown, visit doi.gov/shutdown.