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BIRD AND WILDLIFE VIEWING ON THE BIG ISLAND
(Courtesy of the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife) The following areas are accessible to the
general public by car or foot travel. Before you travel to a particular
area, check with the Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural
Resources to see if special permission is needed to enter. Drive
with caution and heed posted speed limits. If you park on road
shoulders, be sure to pull off the road as far as possible. If
visiting an area along the Saddle Road (Highway 200), check with
the U-Drive Company - the Saddle Road is the only road to Mauna
Kea and is off limits to most rental cars. When hiking, take care
not to step on any plants. Terrain varies and drinking water is
not available.
73-4786 Kanalani Street, #14 Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 (North Kona District) Tel. (808) 329-6881 Kaloko-Honokohau is located at the base of Hualalai Volcano, along the Kona coast . It is 3 miles north of Kailua-Kona and 3 miles south of Keahole-Kona International Airport, along Queen Kaahumanu Highway (Hwy 19). The Aimakapa and Kaloko Ponds are home to many water birds, including the Hawaiian coot, Hawaiian stilt, and migrants such as shovelers, pintails, and scaup. Check with the park office for viewing tips and access rules. Shorebirds, including ruddy turnstones, wandering tattlers, and golden plovers, may be seen from the beach-walk trail. KIPUKA 21 This small, beautiful island of rain forest vegetation amid lava flows is easily accessible along the Saddle Road (Highway 200). Pull off the north side of the roadway between mile posts 21 and 22. Walk across the lava flow to the edge of the forest and search the mid canopy for omao and elepaio. Look for red blossoms in the ohia trees and watch carefully for nectar feeding birds such as apapane, iiwi, and amakihi. The akepa and Hawaii creeper are also occasionally seen here. LOKOAKA POND, KEAUKAHA, HILO Take Kalanianaole Avenue past Hilo Harbor and watch for the large pond on the right. Migrant water birds and shorebirds are frequently seen in this area. POWERLINE ROAD AND PUU OO TRAIL The Power Line Road (PLR) intersects with the Saddle Road between mile posts 22 and 23. Park just past the PLR sign marking the entrance to a primitive road heading south across the jumbled lava. Forested kipukas, islands of vegetation, dot the barren landscape. One to three miles down the road, walk across the pahoehoe lava and into the kipuka to see common native forest birds as well as four endangered forest birds - akepa, akiapolaau, Hawaii creeper, and io. Nene also nest in the area and are sometimes seen flying overhead. About a half mile west of Power Line Road, the Puu Oo Trail works its way 3 to 4 miles through kipukas of various sizes. Most of the common native forest birds can be seen along this trail. PUU LAAU Approximately 40 miles from Hilo on the Saddle Road, the Puu Laau Road heads up Mauna Kea to the north. This gravel and dirt road is only accessible by four-wheel-drive vehicles or by foot. The road eventually climbs to 11,000 feet on the southwest side of Mauna Kea. The dry forest habitat is part of the mamane-naio forest community. Watch for pueo gliding low over the slopes and for the endangered palila and the Mauna Kea elepaio amongst the native vegetation. Permission from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources must be acquired prior to entering the area. For information, call (808) 974-4221 on weekdays. WAIAKEA POND, HILO Inland from Hilo Bay is a large pond where migrant water birds and shorebirds are frequently seen. Picnic sites and large grassy areas are available for public enjoyment. If you would like information about other national wildlife refuges in the Hawaiian Islands and the Pacific, please contact: Hawaiian and Pacific Islands NWR Complex Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Department of the Interior 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 5302 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Tel. (808) 792-9540 PUUHONUA O HONAUNAU National Historical Park P. O. Box 129 Honaunau, HI 96726 (South Kona District) Tel. (808) 328-2326 (Administration); (808) 328-2288 (Visitor Center) A 181.8-acre park. Until 1819, vanquished Hawaiian warriors, noncombatants, and kapu breakers could escape death by reaching this sacred ground. Prehistoric house sites, royal fishponds, coconut groves, and spectacular shore scenery comprise the park. Green sea turtles can often be spotted in Keone Ele cove . Humpback whales can be seen during the winter months. Handouts on the local plants and birds are available. A 1871 historic trail (approx. 1 mile) has many archeological sites including temple sites (heiau), some sledding tracks (holua), and old house sites. There is also an open lava tube cave that ends at the face of a sea cliff. Watch your head as the ceiling is low and flashlights are recommended. Ask at the visitor center for a backcountry trail guide. The park celebrates its annual Hawaiian Cultural Festival on the weekend that falls closest to July 1. Note: The Green Sea Turtle is a Federally protected endangered species - please do not touch them and keep 10 feet away. For your own safety, please do not jump from the cliff or opening of the lava tube cave.
HAWAII FOREST & TRAIL, LTD. |
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