Haleakalā Headquarters Visitor Center to Close for Two Months

The Headquarters Visitor Center at Haleakalā National Park will close for two months while repairs are made to the structure, roof and entrance.

The closure affects that Headquarters Visitor Center only, located one mile past the Summit entrance at the 7,000 foot elevation, as well as the nearby restrooms, car parking lot and bus parking. The closure does not affect the Haleakalā Visitor Center, located 11 miles past the Summit entrance station near the rim of the crater, at the 9,741 foot elevation.

The facility closure goes into effect at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, with work slated for completion and reopening in late November 2015, according to a park announcement.

While the roof had been scheduled for replacement in the Summer of 2015, the ceiling beam crack and subsequent repairs occurred in February 2015.

The Headquarters Visitor Center was temporarily closed from Feb. 25 to March 17 while a structural engineer assessed damages from a cracked beam in the ceiling located directly above the visitor center desk.

Park officials say the estimated cost of roof, seismic and structural repairs is $238,741; and the projected cost of the building’s entrance renovation is $54,170.  Both projects are funded by park entrance fees, which are currently being increased over the next three years to meet national standards for parks with similar visitor amenities.  The first incremental increase went into effect on June 1, 2015.

Haleakalā Visitor Center, file photo by Wendy Osher.

Headquarters Visitor Center Closed due to Structural Concerns. Photo courtesy Haleakalā National Park.

Headquarters Visitor Center Closed due to Structural Concerns. Photo courtesy Haleakalā National Park.

The roof had been scheduled for replacement in Summer 2015. The ceiling beam crack and subsequent repairs occurred in late February 2015. Photo credit: Haleakalā National Park.

The roof had been scheduled for replacement in Summer 2015. The ceiling beam crack and subsequent repairs occurred in late February 2015. Photo credit: Haleakalā National Park.

A new door will be built in the left interior wall of the existing foyer (where the S. Cayless mural is). Photo credit: Haleakalā National Park.

The doorway will be reconfigured so that wind and rain will not blow directly onto visitors or flood the visitor center. A wall will replace the existing interior doors. Photo credit: Haleakalā National Park.