A partnership of the National Park Service and the Maui Invasive Species Committee has raised $1.2 million. The money will be used to protect and restore Haleakala National Park.

The committee raised $600,000 for the annual National Park Service Centennial Challenge. Most of the money came from Maui County with additional funds provided by the state. The federal government then matched the figure.

In announcing the funding, Hawai'i Congresswoman Mazie Hirono commended the committee for raising so much money "to protect one of Hawai'i's most important ecological treasures."

Hirono said in a news release that the money will also help boost Maui's economy because most of the goods and services required will be provided by island businesses.