Album: Park Dedication

Haleakala National Park

Haleakala National Park was originally a section of Hawai'i National Park. Hawai'i National Park was established by Congress in 1916 to include the Haleakala volcano on the island of Maui and the Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes on the island of Hawai'i. The bill to designate Haleakala Section as a separate National Park was introduced in Congress and approved in 1960. The formal dedication for Haleakala National Park was held on July 1, 1961, at the summit in the Haleakala Visitor Center parking lot. On this day, John Stratton assumed his duties as the first Superintendent of Haleakala National Park. There was an abundance of local support from organizations and groups for the event. Guests included four visiting state governors in addition to Hawai'i’s Governor William Quinn. To accommodate event visitors, Haleakala Highway was designated as a one-way road at timed intervals.