Helakala Weather
Ascending the slopes of Haleakala, the temperature drops about 3 deegrees F. per 1,000 feet rise in elevation. Average annual temperature at Park Headquarters (7000’ elevation) is 53 degrees F. At Headquarters, the highest recorded temperature was 80 degrees F. (10/73), and the lowest recorded temperature was 30 degrees F. (a/69, 1/82, 1/90). A wind indicator near the Summit broke in December, 1990 at 128 mph.

Average annual rainfall:
Headquarters 53 inches
Summit 40 inches
Halemau’u 100 inches
Paliko 150 inches
Kipahulu 187 inches

The maximum amount of rainfall recorded at Headwuarters in a 24 hour period is 18.5 inches (1/80).

Habitats in the Park vary from sea level to 10,023 feet:
low elevation rainforest
high elevation couldforest
dryland forest
montage bogs
subalpine grassland
subalpine shrubland
apline cinder desert

When you drive from sea level to 10,023 feet, you drive through as many different life zones as you would if you drove north from central Mexico to Alaska!