It was originally made part of the Hawaii National Park along with the volcanoes of Mauna Loa and Kilauea on Hawaii Island in 1916, but was made into a separate national park in 1961. The park area was designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980. The name Haleakala is Hawaiian for "house of the sun." According to a local legend, the demigod Maui imprisoned the sun here in order to lengthen the day. The park features the dormant Haleakalā (East Maui) Volcano, which last erupted at around 1790. The park is divided into two distinct sections: the summit area and the coastal Kipahulu area. The two sections of the park averages 1,450,000 visitors per year. Hiking in Haleakala National Park can be a fun and rewarding experience as in other national parks. It is a great way to both see and experience the park. Haleakala National Park stretches from the rugged Kipahulu coastline up through rainforest and shrubland to the summit of the volcano. Much of the rainforest and upper slopes are designated wilderness, ensuring that the primeval character of the area will remain. Though many people refer to the summit's cinder landscape as a "crater", it is actually a valley carved into the volcano by thousands of years of erosion during a period of dormancy. Renewed volcanic activity has partially filled in the valley with cinder cones and lava flows, which can be viewed from the Haleakala Visitor Center if weather permits. To experience different perspectives of the Park, plan to hike in. The 27 miles of trails in the Haleakala wilderness cover a land of great contrasts, not only of terrain, but also of topography. Weather changes rapidly. You may be exposed to intense sunlight, and then engulfed in thick clouds and heavy rain. Haleakala rises to 10,023 feet, with a decent to the valley floor of 1,400 feet to 3,000 feet. Trails are strenuous at this elevation due to the lack of oxygen and altitude sickness is a concern. Be on guard for the symptoms; nausea, headaches, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Pregnant women and people with heart or respiratory conditions should consult with their doctor before visiting the Park. Temperatures commonly range between 40° - 65° F, but can be below freezing at any time with the windchill factor. Hypothermia (life-threatening loss of body heat) is a danger due to the combination of exertion and exposure.