The Friends of Haleakalā National Park invite the community to join us for our 2026 Annual Public Meeting, which also marks an important milestone: 30 years of service supporting Haleakalā National Park.
Saturday, May 2
3:00–5:00 pm
Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
Milepost 6, Mokulele Hwy, Kīhei
This annual gathering offers an opportunity for volunteers, supporters, and community members to learn about the work of the Friends and hear updates from Haleakalā National Park staff.
Program
The afternoon will include:
• FHNP Annual Update
• Haleakalā National Park Update
• Guest Presentation
Special Presentation
Uncovering the Archaeology of Haleakalā National Park
Rachel Hodara Nelson
Archaeologist & Cultural Resources Program Manager
Haleakalā National Park
Rachel Hodara Nelson will share insights from archaeological work across Haleakalā National Park and how these discoveries help illuminate the long relationship between people and the landscape.
Archaeological sites throughout the park reveal centuries of human activity, travel, and cultural use. These discoveries help park managers and the community better understand the cultural heritage of Haleakalā and guide the protection of these important sites.
About the Speaker
Rachel Hodara Nelson is the Archaeologist and Cultural Resources Program Manager at Haleakalā National Park. Raised on Maui, she is passionate about helping visitors and the local community connect with Hawaiian archaeology, history, and culture.
Rachel earned her B.A. in Anthropological Sciences from Stanford University and her M.Sc. in Environmental Archaeology and Palaeoeconomy from the University of Sheffield.
Celebrating 30 Years of Community Stewardship
Since its founding, Friends of Haleakalā National Park has worked to strengthen the connection between community and park through volunteer service, education, and partnership. In recent years, volunteers have contributed thousands of hours assisting with trail maintenance, invasive species removal, native plant restoration, and seed collection across the park.
As FHNP enters its fourth decade, we look forward to continuing to support the protection and restoration of Haleakalā while building deeper relationships between the park and the Maui community.
We hope you can join us.