Feds might raise fees to visit Haleakala, Volcanoes parks

The National Park Service is considering a proposal to increase entrance fees to Maui’s Hale­akala National Park and parks on Hawaii island, including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, beginning in 2015.

If implemented, the daily entrance fee would be raised incrementally each year between 2015 and 2017. The per-person fee would go to $8 from $5 the first year and then to $12 in increments of $2 each of the next two years.

The per-vehicle pass would be raised in $5 increments from the current price of $10 to $25 in 2017. The motorcycle fee would rise to $20 from $5, in $5 annual increases.

Public hearings on the proposal, which would mark the first entrance fee hike since 1997, will be held on Maui. None is scheduled for Hawaii island.

"The current National Park Service fee program began in 1997 and allowed parks to retain 80 percent of monies collected," Polly Angelakis, Hale­akala Park spokes­woman, said in a news release. "The remaining 20 percent has gone into a fund to support park units where fees are not charged. … Since 1997, fee revenues have funded $36.6 million in Hale­akala National Park projects."

To reduce the immediate impact of increased fees to people for frequent Hawaii island parks visitors, the cost of an annual tri-park pass would remain at the current rate of $25 in 2015 and 2016, and then increase to nationwide standard of $50 in 2017. The tri-park pass permits unlimited entry into Hale­akala National Park, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Puu­ho­nua o Honau­nau National Historical Park for one year.

Haleakala National Park will hold two public meetings to outline proposed fee increases. Maui meetings are scheduled for 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hannibal Tava­res Community Center in Puka­lani and 5 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Helene Social Hall in Hana.

On Maui, people are invited fill out comment cards at any park visitor center during business hours, bring written comments to any park visitor center, mail comments to the park superintendent or submit comments to the online Planning, Environment and Public Comment System at parkplanning.nps.gov/hale­fees­com­ments.

Haleakala National Park Superintendent Nata­lie Gates said in the release that examples of work funded by entrance fees include building new restrooms, providing potable water to visitors and building a parking lot in the park’s Kipa­hulu District ($2.75 million, in 2000); restoring trails throughout the park ($500,000 annually); and completing archaeological surveys ($499,500 in 2010). Entrance fees also supported the control of invasive species ($299,000, in 2013), stabilization of silversword populations ($60,000 annually, 2012-13) and restoration of native landscapes ($113,000 in 2013).

Haleakala park officials said currently priced entrance fee revenues are estimated to total $14 million between now and 2020. If the proposed fee increases are implemented, the estimated revenue from 2015 through 2020 could double to $28.4 million. In 2013, 785,300 visitors to Hale­akala National Park spent more than $47 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 536 jobs in the local area.

On Hawaii island, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando said, "While we are committed to keeping the park affordable for everyone, we are also dedicated to providing the safest and most enjoyable experience for our visitors and community. Entrance fees are vital to support the numerous services and amenities that make the visitor experience possible."

For instance, a project underway now to replace the wooden boardwalk at the Puu Loa Petroglyphs is paid for by entrance fees. Ongoing trail maintenance, cabin repairs, hike pamphlets, restrooms and picnic tables are all funded with fee money. The transformation of the 1932 Administration Building into a cultural museum that visitors will soon enjoy is also a fees-funded project.

The money also protects the Hawaii ecosystem by funding fencing projects that prevent non-native pests like pigs and goats from devouring rare native plants. Since 2006, fee revenues have funded $24 million in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park projects.

The public in Hawaii County can submit comments online at parkplanning.nps.gov/havo. Select the "Proposed Entrance Fee Increases for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park" link. Then click on the link to the left "Open for Comment," and click on the document name. You can then download the document. You can also comment from the same screen using the link near the top, "Comment on Document." The comment link is valid only during the comment period.

The public can also submit comments in writing, addressed to Superintendent, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, P.O. Box 52, Volcano, HI 96718. To be considered, comments must be received on or before Dec. 15.