Summit Visitor Center Reopens

Intense, caustic smoke from a fire on neighboring state land forced a closure of Haleakala National Park’s summit visitor center last Thursday morning. Wind shifts had funneled the smoke column from the Polipoli State Park fire up the ridge of Haleakala and over the summit, completely enveloping the backcountry and crater wilderness. On Friday, strong trade winds blew the smoke away from the park, permitting the reopening of the visitor center. All services are now back to normal.