Headquarters Visitor Center Remains Closed Pending Structural Assessment

By Maui Now Staff

The Headquarters Visitor Center of Haleakalā National Park will remain closed until a structural engineer can assess the damage and determine how and when the building can be reopened, staff announced today.  The building, located above Hosmer Grove and below the Halemauʻu Trail Head, has been closed since Feb. 25, when staff reported a cracked beam in the ceiling of the facility.

Park spokesperson, Polly Angelakis said the closure was implemented after a general engineer for the park conducted a visual inspection last week of the cracked beam, located directly over the visitor center desk.

According to Angelakis, park workers stabilized the ceiling beam with support poles and bases inside and underneath the building.

This Headquarters Visitor Center is the one just past the Summit Entrance Station at the 7,000 foot elevation. The headquarters rest rooms, which are not near the damage, remain open.

The closure does not affect the Haleakalā Visitor Center, on the rim of the crater, at the 9,740 foot elevation.  That facility remains open and will be used as an alternate site for camping and cabin permit pickup before 3 p.m.

“To protect visitors and staff, the park decided to keep the visitor center closed until a structural engineer can run a series of tests to fully assess the damage,” said Angelakis in a park

We appreciate everyone’s continued patience and support regarding this safety concern. We will keep you posted as to when the structural engineer will arrive and what the assessment and next steps are.

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.

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

Front of desk footprint of support beams and base. Photo courtesy Haleakalā National Park.

Shaping the plywood base. Photo courtesy Haleakalā National Park.

Cracked beam and support poles. Photo courtesy Haleakalā National Park.

Rear of desk footprint beams and base. Photo courtesy Haleakalā National Park.

Installing plywood base. Photo courtesy Haleakalā National Park.