Contrasting Representations of Place: A Case Study of Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii

Keywords: Haleakalā National Park, Regional Geography, Tourism, National Park, Protected Area
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

This study examines Haleakalā National Park with a focus on regional geography and tourism. The objectives are to assess: a) the cultural and physical geography of the park; and b) how Haleakalā National Park is being represented by tourism companies. The findings indicate that most visitors to Haleakalā National Park receive information about the park from hotel concierges or tourism companies, leading park visitors to visit only popular areas within the park, such as going to see the sunrise. Park visitors do not gain an understanding of the park as a whole, which leads them to miss both the historical and physical beauty of Haleakalā National Park. Understanding the similarities and differences in how the National Park Service and tour companies represent Haleakalā National Park can help the two identify the areas with the greatest and the least overlap, which can then inform efforts to provide more effective outreach in the future.