Wildlife - Molokai
KAKAHAIA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Located approximately 5 miles east of Kaunakakai on Highway 450
(East Molokai)
A 45 acre refuge that is a year round home for primarily endangered Hawaiian Stilts and Hawaiian Coots. Not open to the public but interpretive tours are available. To arrange a tour, please call the Maui County National Wildlife Refuge office at (808) 875-1582.
KAMAKOU PRESERVE
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF HAWAII
Note: The Kamakou Preserve is open to the public but the preserve is located in a remote mountainous area of northeast Molokai and reaching it requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle and excellent driving skills. For more information, please call the Conservancy's Molokai staff at 808-553-5236.
(East Molokai)
The Nature Conservancy's literature states:
The rain forest of Kamakou Preserve (2,774 acres) lies near the summit of Molokai's highest mountain. Here you will find more than 250 species of Hawaiian plants - at least 219 of which can be found nowhere else in the world. This lush rain forest is also home to countless native insects, supporting a unique array of birds. The last known sightings of the extremely rare Molokai thrush (oloma'o) and Molokai creeper (kakawahie) were in this forest region, and the vivid green 'amakihi can still be seen, as can the 'apapane and the Hawaiian owl (pueo).
Nature Conservancy staff and volunteers lead a monthly hike along a narrow boardwalk through Kamakou Preserve. Hike leaders will meet you at the Molokai airport at 8:30 am, serve as interpretive guides throughout the hike, and return you to the airport by 3:30 pm. Advance reservations and a deposit are required. Space is limited and the hikes are often booked several months in advance. For more information, please call the Conservancy's Molokai staff at 808-553-5236 or visit their Web site.
MOOMOMI PRESERVE
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF HAWAII
Note: The Moomomi Preserve is open to the public but reaching it requires a 4-wheel drive and a Nature Conservancy issued permit. For more information, please call the Conservancy's Molokai staff at 808-553-5236.
(West Molokai)
At first glance, the dunes of Moomomi appear nearly barren. However, in addition to the rare coastal species that grow at Moomomi, and the numerous Hawaiian archaeological sites around Moomomi Bay, the Nature Conservancy literature states:
Deposits of bird bones reveal that the dunes were once home to at least 30 bird species, about one-third of which have since become extinct: a sea eagle, a falconing owl, a flightless ibis, and a giant flightless duck. The pueo (Hawaiian owl) is one of the few native land birds that can still be observed regularly at Moomomi. Native shorebirds, like sanderlings and plovers, and seabirds, like the great frigatebird ('iwa) can also be seen along the preserve shoreline.
Nature Conservancy staff and volunteers lead a monthly hike through this beach dune preserve. Hike leaders will pick you up at the Molokai airport at 8:30 am, serve as interpretive guides throughout the hike, and return you to the airport by 3:30 pm. Advance reservations and a deposit are required. Space is limited and the hikes are often booked several months in advance. Please call the Molokai office for more information at 808-553-5236 or visit their Web site.
KAUNAKAKAI WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT
(Central Molokai)
Awesome birding. Water birds, endangered coots, endangered stilts, Pacific Golden Plover, Wandering Tattler, Bristle-Thigh Curlew and more. For more information on where to see waterbirds on Molokai, please contact Nene O Molokai (see listing below).
NENE O MOLOKAI
Kawela, HI
(Central Molokai)
Mailing address: HC-01, Box 243, Kaunakakai, HI 96748
Tel. (808) 553.5992
Nene O Molokai is a non-profit corporation created to establish and preserve Hawaii's state bird, the endangered Nene (Hawaiian Goose). The organization emphasizes education through community involvement. Founded in 1994, Nene O Molokai is the first non-profit in Hawaii authorized by the State of Hawaii to breed and release nene. Free educational tours (please call in advance).
Located approximately 5 miles east of Kaunakakai on Highway 450
(East Molokai)
A 45 acre refuge that is a year round home for primarily endangered Hawaiian Stilts and Hawaiian Coots. Not open to the public but interpretive tours are available. To arrange a tour, please call the Maui County National Wildlife Refuge office at (808) 875-1582.
KAMAKOU PRESERVE
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF HAWAII
Note: The Kamakou Preserve is open to the public but the preserve is located in a remote mountainous area of northeast Molokai and reaching it requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle and excellent driving skills. For more information, please call the Conservancy's Molokai staff at 808-553-5236.
(East Molokai)
The Nature Conservancy's literature states:
The rain forest of Kamakou Preserve (2,774 acres) lies near the summit of Molokai's highest mountain. Here you will find more than 250 species of Hawaiian plants - at least 219 of which can be found nowhere else in the world. This lush rain forest is also home to countless native insects, supporting a unique array of birds. The last known sightings of the extremely rare Molokai thrush (oloma'o) and Molokai creeper (kakawahie) were in this forest region, and the vivid green 'amakihi can still be seen, as can the 'apapane and the Hawaiian owl (pueo).
Nature Conservancy staff and volunteers lead a monthly hike along a narrow boardwalk through Kamakou Preserve. Hike leaders will meet you at the Molokai airport at 8:30 am, serve as interpretive guides throughout the hike, and return you to the airport by 3:30 pm. Advance reservations and a deposit are required. Space is limited and the hikes are often booked several months in advance. For more information, please call the Conservancy's Molokai staff at 808-553-5236 or visit their Web site.
MOOMOMI PRESERVE
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF HAWAII
Note: The Moomomi Preserve is open to the public but reaching it requires a 4-wheel drive and a Nature Conservancy issued permit. For more information, please call the Conservancy's Molokai staff at 808-553-5236.
(West Molokai)
At first glance, the dunes of Moomomi appear nearly barren. However, in addition to the rare coastal species that grow at Moomomi, and the numerous Hawaiian archaeological sites around Moomomi Bay, the Nature Conservancy literature states:
Deposits of bird bones reveal that the dunes were once home to at least 30 bird species, about one-third of which have since become extinct: a sea eagle, a falconing owl, a flightless ibis, and a giant flightless duck. The pueo (Hawaiian owl) is one of the few native land birds that can still be observed regularly at Moomomi. Native shorebirds, like sanderlings and plovers, and seabirds, like the great frigatebird ('iwa) can also be seen along the preserve shoreline.
Nature Conservancy staff and volunteers lead a monthly hike through this beach dune preserve. Hike leaders will pick you up at the Molokai airport at 8:30 am, serve as interpretive guides throughout the hike, and return you to the airport by 3:30 pm. Advance reservations and a deposit are required. Space is limited and the hikes are often booked several months in advance. Please call the Molokai office for more information at 808-553-5236 or visit their Web site.
KAUNAKAKAI WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT
(Central Molokai)
Awesome birding. Water birds, endangered coots, endangered stilts, Pacific Golden Plover, Wandering Tattler, Bristle-Thigh Curlew and more. For more information on where to see waterbirds on Molokai, please contact Nene O Molokai (see listing below).
NENE O MOLOKAI
Kawela, HI
(Central Molokai)
Mailing address: HC-01, Box 243, Kaunakakai, HI 96748
Tel. (808) 553.5992
Nene O Molokai is a non-profit corporation created to establish and preserve Hawaii's state bird, the endangered Nene (Hawaiian Goose). The organization emphasizes education through community involvement. Founded in 1994, Nene O Molokai is the first non-profit in Hawaii authorized by the State of Hawaii to breed and release nene. Free educational tours (please call in advance).