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Hanalei
National Wildlife Refuge
State Hwy 56 and Lighthouse Rd
Kilauea, HI   96754 - 1128
E-mail: Mike_Hawkes@fws.gov
Phone Number: 808-828-1413
Visit the Refuge's Web Site:
http://www.fws.gov/hanalei
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  Overview
Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge
Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge is located in the beautiful Hanalei River Valley on Kaua'i's north sore. Encircled by waterfall-draped mountains, the 917-acre refuge was established in 1972 to provide nesting and feeding habitat for endangered Hawaiian water birds, including the Hawaiian duck (koloa maoli), coot ('alae ke'oke'o), moorhen ('alae 'ula), and stilt (ae'o).

In order to protect the endangered species, most of the Hanalei Refuge is closed to the public, but wildlife can be viewed from the Hanalei Valley Overlook across from the Princeville Shopping Center.


Getting There . . .
To find the refuge office, turn left just after crossing the Hanalei River Bridge onto Ohiki Road and continuing past the Haraguchi Rice Mill to the last buildings on the right.

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NOTE: When using this feature, you will be leaving the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service domain. We do not control the content or policies of the site you are about to visit. You should always check site policies before providing personal information or reusing content.

These driving directions are provided as a general guide only. No representation is made or warranty given as to their content, road conditions or route usability or expeditiousness. User assumes all risk of use.

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Wildlife and Habitat
Past over-hunting, introduced predators, and loss of wetlands, have caused them to be endangered. The refuge is also home to migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. The surrounding hillsides are wooded primarily in exotic species. An extensive water delivery system provides water for wildlife impoundments and wetland agriculture.

Learn More>>


    Recreation and Education Opportunities
Photography
Wildlife Observation
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Managment Activities

Without significant management efforts such as impoundment construction and maintenance, prescribed burning, discing, tilling, herbicide application, taro farming and cattle grazing, invasive exotic vegetation rapidly degrades water bird habitat quality. Current programs include cooperative taro farming to provide habitat for four endangered Hawaiian water birds, managing Service impoundments to lower bird depredation on farmers' crops, and a native plant reintroduction program in the uplands.

Farming practices beneficial to wildlife are carried out, such as leaving unharvested buffer zones around nests. Leaving patches fallow for a month after harvest allows birds to feast on invertebrates that build up on decaying vegetation. Although the birds are shy, they adapt to the regular, non-threatening presence of humans. Stilts even follow tractors, snatching insects turned up by the plow.