During Hawaii’s Golden Anniversary, See its Birds of Paradise

Hawaii Birds of Paradise
Image of adult and young Nene
Credit: USFWS

During 2009, when Hawaii celebrates its 50th year of statehood, see one natural resource that has made the state famous -- the Hawaiian i’iwi.  You will recognize its bright red plumage and long, curved beak – perfect for extracting nectar from the tubular ‘ōhi‘a lehua blossoms found in the native rainforest canopy.  Tenacious birdwatchers who make the two-hour four-wheel drive trip from the nearby towns of Kona or Hilo to the remote Upper Maulua Unit of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge  (http://www.fws.gov/hakalauforest/) on the big island of Hawaii may well spot the i’iwi, along with a wide variety of other exotic and rare native Hawaiian forest birds.
The 2,000-acre Upper Maulua Unit sits between 3,600 and 6,500 feet near the top of an inactive volcano. The sloping terrain is forested with some of the finest remaining stands of native montane rainforest in Hawaii.  Eight of the 14 native birds at the refuge are endangered. 
In addition to the colorful honeycreepers like the i’iwi, visitors may glimpse an ‘io – a Hawaiian hawk – soaring above the forest canopy; a pueo – the Hawaiian short-eared owl, which hunts by day; and even the striped nēnē – Hawaiian goose – which adapts to high elevations with relatively few bodies of water.  “Most people are surprised to see geese in this environment,” says refuge manager Jim Kraus.  Reservations are required to visit the Upper Maulua Unit, the only part of the refuge open to the public. (Call 808-443-2300 for more information.)  
For information about other national wildlife refuges in Hawaii, go to:  http://www.fws.gov/refuges/refugeLocatorMaps/Hawaii.html