A large private corporation (Haleakala Ranch Company) wants the State to exchange the historical Haleakala Trail on Maui for an unknown dirt track in a remote part of East Maui. The State needs to put the people’s interests first -- not a private corporation’s. The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) will make a decision on the proposed land exchange in January 2014. Tell BLNR to stop putting corporate interests first. Reject the land swap. Hawaii's people deserve better!

Haleakala Trail's assets need to be preserved for the people, for current and future generations:

-- It has a rich cultural past, and was used by Native Hawaiians for centuries. 

-- It has an important and fascinating post-contact history, and was used by thousands of tourists in the 1800s and 1900s to visit the world renowned Haleakala Crater.

-- It is a beautiful trail that offers great recreational opportunities, with breathtaking views and vistas.

-- This recreational amenity is valuable to the State's economy.

Haleakala Trail, which has been shown on the earliest maps in Hawaii, and into modern times, now starts at the top of Olinda, above Makawao, on the Island of Maui. The Hawaiians made the first trail and used it for cultural practices at the summit, as well as to gain access to resources inside Haleakala Crater. They also used it as an quick overland route from Makawao (on the northwest slopes of the crater) to Kaupo (on the southeast slopes of the crater). Thereafter the trail was adopted by westerners who used it for adventure seeking, as well as for ranching and trade. Early Hawaiian governments, including the Kingdom of Hawaii and the Territory of Hawaii appropriated and expended public works funds on the improvement of Haleakala Trail. The trail fell into disuse after Crater Road was opened in 1935. However, the trail has not been forgotten!

Long ago the State of Hawaii claimed ownership of the trail. When the State failed to challenge Haleakala Ranch Company's claim of ownership, Public Access Trails Hawaii filed a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of the people of Hawaii. In 2012, the State of Hawaii agreed to sue Haleakala Ranch Company. Now that ownership is no longer in doubt, Haleakala Ranch Company has pushed its corporate weight and encouraged a few State employees to fast track a land exchange that will cause Haleakala Trail to be lost forever.

Haleakala Trail needs to be held by the State of Hawaii in trust for the people of Hawaii. In addition, the people of Hawaii deserve the right to have real public access to this beautiful and historical trail -- not the limited guided hikes proposed by Haleakala Ranch Company.