Kauai Wildlife Refuge Week 2010

Come outside during Kauai National Wildlife Refuge Week (October 10 – 16) and celebrate our wildlife heritage. Kauai has three National Wildlife Refuges – Hule‘ia NWR, Hanalei NWR, and Kilauea Point NWR, and this week will provide you with activities in all three.

Hule‘ia National Wildlife Refuge is located on the East Side of adjacent to the Menehune Fish Pond. It covers approximately 241 acres and provides open, productive wetlands for five endangered Hawaiian waterbirds that rely on the Hule‘ia River Valley for their nesting and feeding habitat – including Hawaiian stilt (ae‘o), Hawaiian coot (‘alae ke‘oke‘o), Hawaiian moorhen (‘alae‘ula), Hawaiian goose (nēnē), and Hawaiian duck (koloa maoli) can be found here. Twenty-six other species of birds also use the refuge.

Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge is located on the North Shore and is encircled by waterfall-draped mountains of Hanalei Valley. The refuge was established under the Endangered Species Act to conserve five endangered water birds that rely on the Hanalei Valley for nesting and feeding habitat – Hawaiian duck (koloa maoli), Hawaiian coot (‘alae ke‘oke‘o), Hawaiian moorhen (‘alae‘ula), Hawaiian stilt (ae‘o), and Hawaiian goose (nēnē). Forty-five other species of birds also use the refuge.

In 1985, the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge was established to preserve and enhance seabird nesting colonies. In 1988, the refuge was expanded to include Crater Hill and Mōkōlea Point, and is now is home to the largest populations of nesting seabirds in Hawai‘i. The refuge is also home to the historic Kīlauea Point Lighthouse which sits on the northernmost point of Kaua‘i allowing visitors to view a piece of history as well as spinner dolphins, Hawaiian monk seals, and native Hawaiian coastal plants.

Take advantage of this national week of celebration, and discover, and enjoy the great outdoors here on Kauai.