WHERE
TO WATCH BIRDS IN HAWAI'I -WHERE
TO WATCH BIRDS IN HAWAI'I -
MOLOKA'I AND LANA'I
Moloka'i and Lana'i are the two least developed and visited of the Main Islands (excluding the "private" Island of Ni'ihau) and are generally underwatched by visiting birders as neither has any extant Island endemics and the endemics which are present can be seen more easily on the other Islands.
Moloka'i is the fifth largest island in the chain and comprises about 264 square miles. The western half of
Moloka'i is dry and arid with hills and the slope of Maunaloa, which is 1381 feet at its highest point. The highest
point on the whole of the Island is Kamakou, which rises to 4970 feet in the Eastern half of the Island. Moloka'i
was formed by two shield volcanoes that originally erupted and formed two islands. Later eruptions piled lava into
the middle area, now known as the Hoolehua Plains, and joined the Island as one.
The North shore of the Island possesses the highest sea-cliffs in the World, which reach heights of 3300 feet and
Hawaii's highest waterfall, Kahiwa falls, plunges 1750 feet from these cliffs.
The
following sites are dealt with below:
2). Kamakou Forest Preserve, Molokai
Lana'i
lies about nine miles South of Moloka'i and about nine miles West of Maui and its 140
square miles were formed from a single volcano, Palawi. A ridge which runs from the Northwest to the Southeast
reaches 3370 feet at its highest and controls the rainfall on the island. The Northwest of the Island is dry and
barren and slopes gently to the sea, whereas the Western side and Southwest side are cooler and wetter. Cliffs
at the Southwestern end of Lana'i are over 1000 feet high.
The following sites are dealt with below:
There are several locations where endemic waterbirds can be observed and there is enough
habitat for migrants and perhaps the odd vagrant to turn up. Seawatching will probably turn up many of the same
species as seen on the other islands, but there may be a few surprises to be had by birders wishing to take a chance
of spending a little time on these Islands.
Moloka'i has
three extant endemic species, 'Apapane,
Common 'Amakihi and possibly I'iwi,
as well as Pueo, but it is far easier to see these species
elsewhere in Hawai'i. The endemic Olamao and Kakawahie no longer survive in the forest here, probably as a result
of Mosquitoes carrying avian Malaria, as there is still some good native forest remaining. Gray and Black Francolin, California
Quail and Wild Turkey are commonly
seen gamebirds.
Lana'i has only two endemic birds remaining, due
to terrible overgrazing - 'Apapane and Pueo. Mongoose are absent from the island and so introduced Gamebirds thrive on the island and it is
possible to see Ring-necked Pheasants, Gray and Erckel's Francolins, Chukars, Gambel's and California
Quails and Wild Turkeys.
| 1). KAKAHAIA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE No Access but area can be viewed from Roads. Link: Kakahaia National Wildlife Refuge Link: U.S. FWS Refuge checklists Link: Directions to Refuge  Although closed to the public at present the area can be viewed, with some difficulty, from the main highway which runs through it. Reached along the Kamehameha V Avenue (Route 450), which runs between Kaunakakai and Kamalo on the South side of the Island. The two species which the refuge was created for are the Hawaiian Coot and the Hawaiian Black-necked Stilt and both are usually present in decent numbers, as there are few other sites on Molokai that provide a wetland habitat. Migrant shorebirds and waterfowl are regularly attracted to the "oasis" that is provided by the refuge in the dry landscape, but the area is very underwatched and the true range of species that turn up is not known. Black-crowned Night Herons, Cattle Egrets, Pacific Golden Plovers, Wandering Tattler and Ruddy Turnstone can often be found at or near the refuge. Commonly seen introduced species include Northern and Red-crested Cardinals, House Finch, House Sparrow, Nutmeg Mannikin, Japanese Whiteeye and Common Myna. Best Time To Visit: Fall and Winter. |
| 2). KAMAKOU PRESERVE No Access except by arrangement or tour. Contact for visits to the preserve: The Preserve Manager, PO Box 40, Kualapuu, HI 96757 or telephone 1 808 567 6680 Link: The Nature Conservancy Hawaii.  Although once home to two Island endemics, the Olomao and the Kakawahie (Molokai Creeper) the only Hawaiian endemics found on Molokai now are 'Apapane (below), Common 'Amakihi and I'iwi, and these are far more easily seen on the neighboring islands. The Molokai Creeper has not been seen since the 1960's and the Olomao (right) has not been seen for at least 15 years and is presumed extinct as searches for it have failed to locate any.  The endemics that do remain are
not common and are not always easy to locate and a visitor is likely to end up with just a few sightings of any
of them. Japanese Bush-Warblers and Japanese Whiteeyes are the most common birds in the forest, which is relatively intact but appears to not be at a great
enough altitude to prevent disease carrying Mosquitoes from becoming established and spreading Avian Malaria.To reach the Preserve take Kaunakakai on Highway 460 turn right three-quarters of a mile after the three mile marker immediately before Manawainui Bridge. The paved road ends just after the Kalamaula hunter check box. The ten mile drive from the highway to Waikolu lookout takes about 45 minutes depending on road conditions. After the check in box bear left at the first fork (about five minutes up) and then follow the main track all the way. The Moloka'i Forest Reserve starts about 5.5 miles up, after a further 1.5 miles there is a camp used by TNC. After a further 2 miles there is a sandalwood pit and after a further mile is Waikolu lookout and the Kamakou Preserve. Best Time To Visit: No particular time, although Spring may be the best for birds feeding chicks. |
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Open Access To reach the area take Lanai Avenue north out of Lanai City. Where the road goes past a golf course and Koele Lodge the road becomes Keomuku Road. Carry on for approximately eight miles over the ridge and down to the sea. Up to this point the road is paved but at this point the road forks and the road is of poorer quality. The left fork continues for a couple of miles and ends at a turnaround, where there is a small picnic area and the site of an old beacon. From here it is possible to see a ship wreck if you look up the coast. The ship has been there for about 60 years. From the beacon site (concreted area) there is a path marked by white stone cairns, if this is followed for about five minutes there is a dry streambed surrounded by Kiawe trees and here there are some very interesting petroglyphs. It can be hot here and there is little shade, so take plenty of water. Birdwise there is little to see: Spotted and Zebra Doves, Japanese Whiteeyes, Northern Mockingbird, Erckel's and Gray
Francolins, Nutmeg Mannikins
and African Silverbills. There may also be Northern and Red-crested
Cardinals and the odd Wild Turkey. If you take the other turning at the fork, which is straight on and then veering right, the road approaches the coast and after six miles the site of the old town of Keomuku. Along this road there are pretty much the same species as the other turning: Wild Turkey, Erckel's and Gray Francolins, Skylark, Northern and Red-crested Cardinals, Northern Mockingbirds (right), Mannikins and Silverbills and Common Myna. Best Time to Visit: No particular time of year. |
| 2). LANA'IHALE Open Access This is an area of remnant forest on the slopes of Lana'ihale where there are still a few 'Apapane surviving. To get to the site go north on Keomuku Road from Lana'i City for a about a mile to the trailhead which is a paved road heading southeast from the highway. This trail is sometimes called the Munro Trail but is unmarked. The paved road ends quite quickly and continues on a dirt road, a four-wheel drive car is almost always necessary, as the road can become wet and slippery. It is usually best to attempt this route only in dry weather. If you go over the top you can return to Lana'i City through the aband  oned
Pineapple fields and down Manele Road. Alternatively return the way you arrived.Along this track there are Northern Cardinals, Japanese Whiteeyes, Common Myna, Japanese Bush Warbler and if you are lucky 'Apapane. On the way down through the Pineapple fields it is possible to see Wild Turkey, Erckel's and Gray Francolins, Nutmeg Mannikins, African Silverbills (right) and occasionally Pueo and Gambel's and California Quails. Best Time to Visit: No particular time of year. |
