Summit Area The summit of Haleakala is an island atop a volcanic island, with its own distinctive climate and habitats.  Its cinder desert is sometimes frozen and seemingly barren, Yet a variety of creatures and unique plants like the  ‘ahinahina (Silversword) have adapted to the summit’s extremes. Despite the contrasts to seashores of Maui, the summit is connected to the rest of the island in critical ways. The upper slopes capture moisture to nourish the rain forest of Kipahulu and feed the streams and waterfalls in the valleys.  The summit also preserves portions of the original Hawai’i, including native vegetation and evidence of the early inhabitants. […]