The Maui News

Haleakala National Park visitors are being reminded that the National Park Service’s new reservation system for sunrise viewing will begin Feb. 1.

The online reservation system has been implemented to ensure visitor and employee safety, protect natural and cultural resources, and to provide a quality visitor experience at the summit from 3 to 7 a.m., according to a news release from park.

Sunrise visitors in personal and rental vehicles will need to make reservations in advance at recreation.gov. There is a fee of $1.50 per vehicle that must be paid at the time the reservation is made. This fee is in addition to park entrance fees. The system allows reservations to be made at least 60 days in advance. As of Monday afternoon, reservations were still available for Feb. 1 and every day through mid-March.

One-day sunrise reservations will not be sold at the park and cannot be transferred. To enter the Summit District between 3 and 7 a.m., park visitors must show both a sunrise reservation receipt for that day and a photo ID, according to the news release. Visitors without a reservation will have to wait until after 7 a.m. to enter the park.

The reservation requirement does not change the National Park Service’s current policy regarding Native Hawaiians who wish to conduct traditional practices in the park nor the Commercial Use Authorization policy regarding sunrise tours.

For more information about the sunrise reservation system, call 572-4400 or see recreation.gov or the park’s website at www.nps.gov/hale.