WHERE
TO WATCH BIRDS IN HAWAI'I -WHERE
TO WATCH BIRDS IN HAWAI'I -
O'AHU
O'ahu is by far
the most populated and developed island in the Hawaiian Chain. The Island covers 594 square miles and is the third
largest of the Hawaiian islands. Two separate volcanoes existed which formed O'ahu's two mountain ranges - Waianae
and Ko'olau, which both run from Northwest to Southeast. the highest point of O'ahu is Mount Ka'ala in the Waianae
Mountains which is 4020 feet high.
Rainfall on the island is, as would be expected, determined by the trade winds and the windward coasts get more
rain than the leeward sides. The annual average rainfall in Waikiki is 25 inches, whereas in the higher areas,
such as Lyon Arboretum the average rainfall is 158 inches.
Honolulu, Waikiki and the Pearl Harbor area are the most heavily developed areas of O'ahu and all are on the South
side (as is Honolulu airport) and is a bustling, noisy urban city, which on the most part could be anywhere, except
for the weather and the palm trees .
The North Shore is far less developed and is laid back and the pace of life is slower
and less stressful. Here long sandy beaches, wetlands and scrubby areas form a slightly more wild habitat setting.
The windward coast has beaches and several offshore islands that are mostly sanctuaries for seabirds and a large
bay (Kaneohe Bay) where seabirds can often be seen foraging. The Ko'olau Mountain Range runs down the length of
the Eastern side of oahu and is home to some of Hawaii's endemic forest birds, including
O'ahu 'Elepaio, Common 'Amakihi,
'Apapane (below right) and I'iwi. It was also home to the O'ahu Creeper, an
island endemic, but that species has not been reported since 1985.
The leeward coast is dry and remote, has no offshore islands and provides little of interest to most birders, although
Ka'ena Point State Park is a good seawatching location and there are a few other spots which might warrant further
exploration. The Waianae mountain range runs down the entire length of the leeward side.
The central portion of O'ahu, wedged between the two mountain ranges is a flat area
given over largely to the growing of Pineapples as well as large sections being controlled by the military.
Although O'ahu has less endemics to see than the other Islands (currently only O'ahu
'Elepaio and O'ahu 'Amakihi are
the only species able to be seen here and nowhere else) there are good birding opportunities to see several Hawaiian
endemics, lots of seabirds, a good variety of migrant shorebirds, waterfowl, Gulls and Terns and a wide range of
introduced species, many of which are not found on the other islands.
The following sites are dealt with below:
1). Kapiolani Park, Honolulu Zoo & Diamond Head
2). Sand Island State Recreation Park
3). Manana Island & Makapuu Point
4). Kaneohe Marine Corps. Base & Moku Manu Islet
5). James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge
7). Kualoa Park and Mokoli'i Island
9). Waipio Peninsular/Soccer Complex
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1). KAPIOLANI PARK, HONOLULU ZOO & DIAMOND HEAD Access to park free and unlimited. Zoo open 9am - 4.30pm daily,
Nutmeg Mannikins and Chestnut Munias, Northern and Red-crested Cardinals, Red-vented and Red-whiskered Bulbuls, Orange-cheeked and Common Waxbills, Yellow-fronted Canary, Java Sparrow, House Sparrow, Spotted and Zebra Doves, House Finch (and occasionally reported Lavender Waxbills) may all be seen here easily. Of these the Yellow-fronted Canary, Red-whiskered Bulbul and Lavender Waxbill are of most interest. Yellow-fronted Canaries only occur on O'ahu and Hawai'i, and Kapiolani Park provides the easiest and almost guaranteed sightings of the species. Red-whiskered Bulbuls are confined to O'ahu and have been slowly spreading throughout the Southeastern area. Birds can usually be seen easily (and close) in the zoo, especially around the main lawn. they can also be seen along the Eastern and Northern edges of the park. Nearby in some of the valleys running down into Honolulu from the Ko'olau Mountains they can also be easily seen.
Diamond Head has several introduced species, and although several species which once occurred here and at nearby Kapiolani Park, have now died out, eg. Pin-tailed Wydah and Red-cheeked Cordonbleu, there are still a few species, and a fantastic view to make the trip worthwhile.
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| 2). SAND ISLAND STATE RECREATION PARK Open All Year. No Entrance Fees. Open 7am-7.45pm Accessed off Nimitz Highway, just along from the H1 intersection. Drive right down the access road which passes through warehouses alongside the harbor. Although not a spectacular birding area the park does frequently turn up Gulls during the winter and several species have been recorded. Pomarine Jeagers are frequently and regularly seen throughout the winter from here also and it is worth checking them closely just in case another species is present. Brown Boobies, Red-footed Boobies, Great Frigatebirds, Sooty Terns and White Terns are all regularly seen from here as well, although sometimes they are far out and a telescope may be beneficial. Presumably Masked Booby, Gray-backed Tern and Petrels or Shearwaters could be seen from here in the right winds and time of year too. Introduced species include Cattle Egret, Java Sparrow, House Sparrow, Common Myna, Spotted, Zebra and Rock Dove, Chestnut Munia and Nutmeg Mannikins, and Yellow-fronted Canary has been seen a few times. The park here is also worth investigating for true migrants as well, as both European Starling and Great-tailed Grackle have turned up here, no doubt assisted by a container ship, the former on several occasions, and so it is possible that other species may arrive in the same way. Peregrine Falcon has been sighted flying over the area as well. Best Time To Visit: Winter and Fall |
| 3). MANANA ISLET & MAKAPU'U POINT No access to islands, but viewable from Windward Coast. "Open" All Year. No Fee. Reached via Highway 72 from the Eastern end of Waikiki or Highway 61 and then 72 from downtown Honolulu. Manana Island is a seabird sanctuary and there is no unauthorized landing or access. Occasionally the Hawai'i Audubon Society undertakes trips to the islet and it may be worth inquiring when their next trip is planned. Viewing is rather distant from Makapu'u Beach or the Manana Island overlook and therefore a telescope is essential.  The most abundant species present here is the Sooty Tern (right), which swirl around in great clouds over the island. Occasionally Gray-backed Terns are seen amongst the throng of Sooties, but they can be hard to pick out. Red-footed and Brown Boobies, Great Frigatebird and Red-tailed Tropicbirds are commonly seen, as are Black and Brown Noddies. Laysan Albatross are seen most years but do not nest. Masked Boobies have been recorded fairly frequently (they nest on nearby Moku Manu). Wedge-tailed Shearwaters nest on Kaohikaipu Island, which lies between Manana Island and Makapu'u Point and can be seen best at dusk, when they return to their burrows. Christmas Shearwaters nest on nearby Moku Manu Island and may occasionally be seen here too.  The nearby Sealife Park has a colony
of Red-footed Boobies (left) which originally consisted
of rehabilitated birds. The Red-foots are sometimes joined by Brown and Masked Boobies.This is probably the easiest location on O'ahu to see seabirds, although perhaps not always the closest. Best Time To Visit: Spring and Summer |
| 4). KANEOHE MARINE CORPS BASE and MOKU MANU ISLAND Restricted Access. No fees. Visits are only allowed with confirmation from the Marine base well in advance (at least 30 days). Please DO NOT just turn up at the Base as all visitors doing so will not be granted access. Please do not give birders a bad reputation by arriving unexpectedly without an appointment. Although the end of the Mokapu Peninsula is closed to the public, it is possible to arrange to visit by contacting: Commanding General/PAO Marine Corps Base Hawaii Box 63002 MCBH Kaneohe, HI 96863-3002 808-257-8839 (Phone) 808-257-2511 (Fax) Link: Hawai'i's Birding Hotspots - Kaneohe MCB There is a sizeable colony of Red-footed Boobies (right) at the NE extreme of the Point in Ulupau Head  Crater and close views can be obtained, as well as views of Great Frigatebirds, which often harass the Boobies. Nesting season is the best time to visit, but birds are present
all year.The offshore island is Moku Manu ("Bird Island") and is home to thousands of Sooty Terns as well as numbers of Brown Boobies, Brown Noddy, Gray-backed Tern (only breeding site in the Main Hawaiian Islands), Christmas Shearwater and a few Masked Boobies. Black and Brown Noddies also nest on the cliffs below Ulupau Head and can be seen below you whilst you view Moku Manu Island. Laysan Albatross are also seen most years but despite efforts to persuade them to stay, none have yet nested successfully. At the entrance to the Marine Corps Base there are Nu'upia Ponds which has Stilts and Moorhen nesting and there are usually Black Noddies feeding over the ponds. This is also a good site to observe migrants and there have been records of rare shorebirds, Wildfowl, Gulls and Terns. Recent migrants have included Caspian Tern, Peregrine Falcon, Osprey and Great Blue Heron. It is possible to view the East end of Nu'upia Ponds without entering the Base by observing from the Kane'ohe Bay Drive/H-3 on-off ramp and walking along the path to the H-3 gate. Full access details (2002): Near the H3 interchange with Kaneohe Bay Drive, there is a pedestrian walkway along the perimeter fence of the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base. There is a good view of the ponds from there. For parking: 1) Travelling west: On Kaneohe Bay Drive, right before the yellow curve sign, before the public pathway (to your front, on the right), in the grass off the shoulder o  f the road. This is just before
the H3 on-ramp to KMCBH. 2) Travelling east: Pass
under the H3 overpass to KMCBH and park on the shoulder just before the bus stop. There is a crosswalk leading
to the public walkway.Remember that there are certain restrictions on the usage of video and still cameras in these areas. Nearby in Kaneohe itself, especially near the golf course and along the bay edge, there are good places to look for Common Waxbill and it is one of the most reliable areas in the State for Orange-cheeked Waxbills (right), which can sometimes be seen in fairly large flocks. Areas with plenty of grass seed heads will be most productive and so areas which have been freshly mown are unlikely to produce a sighting. Best Time To Visit: Spring and Summer for nesting seabirds. Fall and Winter for migrants on the Ponds. |
| 5). JAMES CAMPBELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Restricted Access. No Entrance Fees. Guided Tours outside nesting season - August 1st - February 15th - Kii is closed during stilt breeding season, from February 16 through July 31. Telephone: 1 808 637 6330 for information and tour reservations or E mail: Pamela_Gibson@r1.fws.gov Link: James Campbell NWR Link: U.S. FWS Refuge checklists Link: Directions to Refuge Link: Hawai'i's Birding Hotspots - James Campbell NWR James Campbell NWR is one of Hawai'i's premier wetland sites. The refuge is situated near the north tip of O'ahu. There are two refuge units, Kii and Punamano. There is no public access to Punamano. There is limited public access to Kii from August 1 to February 15. Guided public tours are offered on Thursdays (4-6 p.m.) and on Saturdays (3-5 p.m.). To sign up for a tour, contact the refuge office by phone: (808) 637-6330 or by email Pamela_Gibson@r1.fws.gov The Kii unit of James Campbell NWR is located off Kamehameha Highway between the town of Kahuku and the Turtle Bay resort at Kuilima. The refuge is located about ½ mile northeast of the highway, behind a large aquaculture operation. There are a series of gates along the entrance to Kii. If a public tour is scheduled, the gates will be open and signs will be posted. It is not a good idea to drive through the gates unless you are going on one of the tours - the gates could be locked behind you. If the refuge is closed, you can pull off the road and look out over the aquaculture ponds from the roadside.  The main purpose of the refuge
is to provide habitat for four endangered birds, the endemic Hawaiian
Stilt (right), Hawaiian
Coot, Hawaiian Moorhen and Hawaiian Duck
(below). These species are all present in good numbers but the Hawaiian
Moorhen can be difficult to see and many of the resident ducks are Hawaiian Duck/Mallard hybrids. Two other species of wetland birds
are resident at James Campbell, NWR, the native Black-crowned Night Heron and the introduced Cattle Egret. From August through May, many migrant ducks join the resident Hawaiian Ducks. Northern
Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon,
Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Ducks are usually present and many vagrants have been seen. A small population of Fulvous Whistling Ducks
became (naturally ?) established in the 1980's, but the closing of the nearby aquaculture farm in the early 1990's
may have been a causing factor in the subsequent decline of the species and between 2000 and 2002 only one bird
remained. This lone individual was last recorded in the first few weeks of 2002. None have been reported since
in Hawai'i.The recently re-opened (late 1990's) aquafarm is also a good place to look for migrants, as well as resident species, and is always worth a look even if a visit to the actual refuge is not possible.  Pacific Golden Plover (left), Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling
and Wandering Tattler are present from August to May
and other migrant shorebirds are often found. Other migrant shorebirds regularly found include Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Pectoral Sandpiper and Semipalmated
Plover. Recent rarities have included Greater Yellowlegs, Black-tailed Godwit and
Whimbrel. Many other Shorebird
species have been recorded here and almost anything could turn up.The Refuge is the best location in the Main Islands to observe Bristle-thighed Curlews, with up to 26 having been recorded. Birds are usually present only during the winter months, but birds do occasionally over-summer. If whilst on O'ahu James Campbell NWR is closed for the nesting season, birds may be able to be observed from Kahuku Golf Course, which is open to the public, by a Japanese (or Chinese) cemetery on a rise that overlooks the pastures and dunes (private land, posted) between the golf course and the refuge. Although the outermost ponds are pretty far away, with a scope it is possible to identify quite a few species (ducks etc.). Specific directions are to follow the road at the north end of the parking lot until it dead-ends at a fence adjacent to the small cemetery. This should be done on foot, but it's only about a quarter mile (if that). DO NOT make the mistake of driving in (there is a warning sign that is hidden by foliage!) as you may get locked inside the gate, and you will have to call the police to let you out. Great Frigatebirds can be seen year-round and Laysan Albatross sometimes fly over the refuge during the winter. Remember that James Campbell NWR is dedicated to the preservation of endangered species. Please stay out of the refuge unless you have official permission to enter. Best Time To Visit: All Year |
| 6). KULI'OU'OU VALLEY TRAIL Unrestricted Access. No Fees. Kuliouou Valley Trail is the best site to observe the endangered Oahu Elepaio Kuliouou Valley Trail is located in East Honolulu about 5 miles east of Kahala, just west of Hawai'i Kai. To reach the trailhead, get on Kalanianaole Highway, Route 72, and head East from Kahala or West from Hawaii Kai. Turn north, towards the mountains, on Kuliouou Road. About ½ mile north of Route 72, Kuliouou Road bends sharply to the left, then back to the right. Continue about ½ mile farther north, almost to the end of Kuliouou Road, then turn right on Kalaau Place. Continue north about ¼ mile to the end of Kala'au Place and park along the road, but not in the No Parking zone at the very end. Kuli'ou'ou Valley Trail starts right at the end of Kala'au Place. The trail follows a streambed, which is usually dry. The trail runs about 1 mile up the valley through thick, mainly non-native forest. About ¼ mile up the trail, Kuliouou Ridge Trail branches off to the right. This is a very nice hiking trail, but stick to the valley trail if you are interested in finding O'ahu 'Elepaio.  Spotted Dove, Zebra Dove, Japanese White-eye,
Red-vented Bulbul, White-rumped
Shama, Red-billed Leiothrix, House Finch,
Common Waxbill and
Nutmeg Mannikin are common along the trail and Oahu
Amakihi are sometimes present. The birds can be hard to see in the thick vegetation. O'ahu 'Elepaio (right) can be found along the
valley trail anywhere past the junction with the ridge trail. Listen for the birds' whistled "el e pai o"
song or chattering scolds. The O'ahu 'Elepaio can be hard to find, especially if they are not vocalizing. If you are patient, you should be able to spot the birds working their way through the thick vegetation hunting insects. The Oahu Elepaio is an endangered subspecies of Elepaio endemic to Oahu. Many authorities consider it to be a separate species and it is likely that it will be split in the future. Note: The O'ahu 'Elepaio is an endangered species, which has been decreasing in population and range. Please DO NOT play any recordings of the birds' vocalizations. Playing recordings could jeopardize the well-being of the birds. (Playing recordings could also put you in jeopardy of being fined or jailed for harassing an endangered species.) Best Time To Visit: February and March. O'ahu 'Elepaio can be found along Kuli'ou'ou Trail year-round, but they can be hard to find when they are not vocalizing. The 'Elepaio are most vocal in February and March. |
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7). KUALOA REGIONAL PARK AND MOKOLI'I Open Access. No Fees.
Access off Kamehameha Highway (Route 83) on the Eastern side of O'ahu between the towns of Kaaawa and Kaneohe. There is a small fishpond, Apua Pond (photo, right), on the south side of the recreation park which holds Hawaiian Stilts, Hawaiian Coots and Hawaiian Moorhen as well as the occasional shorebird such as Tattlers and Sanderling and Gulls, so is always worth a look for something a bit more unusual. The native Black-crowned Night Heron is also present. In the surrounding vegetation and grassy areas there are Common Waxbills, Japanese Whiteeye, Northern and Red-crested Cardinals, White-rumped Shamas, Common Myna, Cattle Egret and sometimes Yellow-fronted Canary. Offshore it is possible to see Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, White-tailed Tropicbirds, Red-footed and Brown Boobies, Great Frigatebird and occasionally Laysan Albatross, Masked Booby and Bulwer's Petrel. Black and Brown Noddies are sometimes seen feeding in the bay here from their nearby nesting sites to the south.
To the south of the park there is Molii fishpond, an ancient Hawaiian construction which is now rather overgrown with mangrove and other vegetation. Best Time To Visit: No Particular best time, but Spring - Summer for seabirds. Fall for migrant shorebirds, Winter for Gulls. |
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Open access between 7am and sunset. No Fees. Camping by permit in advance. The Aiea Loop Trail is about 4.5 miles long and starts by the restrooms and returns a little further down by the campsite, about a third of a mile below the trail start. From the trail there are great views of downtown Honolulu (right), Pearl Harbor and the Ko'olau Mountain Range. The trail begins in a Eucalyptus grove but soon gives way to a more "normal" modern Hawaiian forest with good numbers of Ohia and native trees, as well as introductions such as ironwood and Norfolk Pines.
Pueo may be seen occasionally drifting over the forest and along the valley ridges and very occasionally Yellow-faced Grassquits are reported, although these are more frequent along the nearby Manana Trail. One species for which this trail is probably the best chance of an observation is the Mariana Swiftlet (previously Guam Swiftlet), which was introduced to O'ahu's Halawa Valley in the 1960's from Guam. The areas where the Swiftlets nest and feed is out of bounds as it fringes the H3 Highway, but with patience and luck birds can be seen on the Eastern side of the trail feeding over the valley and sometimes below eye level over the highway. Sightings are usually from the end of the trail, but it is possible to sometimes see birds further back along the trail, so keep an eye open for them. Remember that the Halawa Valley and the area around the H3 highway is strictly out of bounds and trespassers may be arrested. Best Time To Visit: All Year, perhaps Spring is the best time for O'ahu 'Amakihi and Swiftlets. |
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9).WAIPIO PENINSULAR / SOCCER COMPLEX Open Access to limited area. Accessed from H1 Highway or Farrington Highway (Route 93) from Pearl City or Honolulu and through Waipahu. Follow signs for Waipio Soccer Fields Complex. The site adjoins Pearl Harbor. This site is included for the simple fact that for many years this area was THE prime migrant and vagrant spot on O'ahu, and possibly in all Hawai'i. The site used to be home to wetlands, ponds, settling basins, drainage ditches and scrubby areas which attracted many migrant Shorebirds, Waterfowl, Herons and Egrets and Gulls. In fact most of the species on the Hawai'i list visited the area at least once! However, the navy and the Sugar Mill which was housed on the site made it increasingly difficult for people to visit the area until in the 1980's they ceased all access to the site, depriving Hawai'i's birders of their prime site. The situation remained the same until the late 1990's when the whole area was converted to hundreds of soccer pitches and very little useful habitat was left for birds to use. Any birds in the area now have to be content with a few scattered pockets of water, most of which are out of bounds for the general public. The Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge has two wetland areas but both are not open to the public at present, and these often turn up a few good birds. Hopefully in the future more money will become available to increase wetlands in the Pearl Harbor area that birders will be able to visit. A few birds do still visit the area though and these are dealt with in the following paragraphs. At the entrance to the soccer complex there is sometimes a small pool on the right hand side as you enter, this is very dependent on the weather and easily dries up in hot weather. A few Shorebirds and Ducks are seen during the winter and Spring/Fall migration. Recent birds have included Killdeer, Long-billed Dowitcher and Green-winged Teal. The soccer pitches themselves don't hold much but Skylark, Chestnut Munia, Red-crested Cardinal, Red-vented Bulbul, House Sparrow, Red Avadavat and Common Myna are present. Cattle Egrets are present in large numbers, especially after mowing and during the right time of the year. Pacific Golden Plovers are numerous, especially in winter and fall when hundreds may be present. Common Waxbill are sometimes seen along the less manicured edges and occasionally African Silverbill may be present, although the area is not really dry enough for them. Occasional Gulls may wander onto the pitches, but it is by no means the best place to look for them on O'ahu. This is one area that highlights the terrible destruction of many of the State's valuable habitat, especially wetlands - hopefully planners in the future will be forced to make wiser, more informed decisions. Best Time To Visit: Fall and Winter |
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Open Access. No Fees. Some amenities on South Side. Located on the North West corner of O'ahu and reached on the North Shore along the Farrington Highway (Route 930) from Waialua or Haleiwa and Highway 803 from Wahiawa. continue past Dillingham Airfield which is on the South side of Farrington Highway until the road ends. From the South the Park is reached via Highway 93, also called Farrington Highway from Honolulu via Kapolei on the South West side of O'ahu. The State Park is an undeveloped area of 853 acres of coastal strip on both the North and West side of Ka'ena Point. Until the mid-1940's a railroad ran right around the point from Honolulu to Haleiwa. Ka'ena Point Trail, which is about 2.5 miles long, starts at Yokohama Bay (at the end of the paved road) on the South side and follows the old railroad, or starts at the end of the Farrington Highway on the North side.The trail has no shade and can become very hot, so it is important to take water with you. Ka'ena means "The Heat" in Hawaiian. NOTE: Ensure no valuables are left in the car when you visit
this site as many vehicles are broken into here, particularly along the North side. Birds that can be seen from Ka'ena Point include Laysan Albatross, Great Frigatebird, Red-footed and Brown Boobies (and sometimes Masked Booby), Black and Brown Noddies, Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and Sooty Terns.Gray-backed Terns are recorded irregularly but frequently. The site is also a good seawatching location and many other migrant seabirds have been recorded off the Point, and pelagics in the area have seen species including Sooty Shearwater, South Polar Skua and Arctic Tern. Occasionally Laysan Albatrosses (chick, right) stay and nest and are occasionally successful if cats, mongoose or humans don't disturb or destroy the nest or eggs. Up to twenty-four birds were present in early 2002. On the Point itself the usual introduced birds are present, although with little shade or vegetation they tend to be the drier-habitat species. Northern Mockingbird, African Silverbill, Red-vented Bulbuls and Common Myna, as well as Cattle Egrets. Pacific Golden Plovers are present during the winter, as are a few Ruddy Turnstones, Wandering Tattlers and Sanderling. Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins can often be seen offshore here and very rarely a Hawaiian Monk Seal may haul out to rest on the beach. There are also many native plants at Ka'ena, which have been helped by closing the area to off-road vehicles. The extensive dry, windswept coastal dunes are home to Ka'ena Akoko, a species only found here. Other native plants include Beach Naupaka, Pa'u-o-Hi'iaka, Beach Morning Glory (Pohuehue), Coastal Sandalwood, Hawaiian Cotton, Beach Vitex, Ilie'e, Ohai, Naio and Ilima. If one approaches from the South side stop at Kea'au Beach Park or Makua Beach and look for Red Avadavats. Best Time To Visit: Spring and Fall |
