HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii (AP) – Throngs of tourists from around the world travel to Maui’s tallest peak to watch the sun rise each morning.
As a result, the National Park Service says cars have been spilling out of the parking lots at the summit of Haleakala (hah-lay-ah-kah-LAH’) volcano, creating a safety hazard. The crowds have also been trampling sensitive habitat.
To address the problem, the Park Service this week started requiring reservations and limiting the number of cars. This will potentially cut in half the number of early-morning visitors.
Park superintendent Natalie Gates says overcrowding started becoming a problem some 15 years ago. About a year ago, it got worse, likely as more people learned about the stunning scenery from images posted on Facebook and other social media sites.