Kauaʻi has three wildlife refuges, Hanalei, Hulēʻia, and Kīlauea Point,
managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge,
established in 1972, is the oldest and largest (917 acres) of the three
wildlife refuges that make up the Kauai National Wildlife Refuge Complex. It
was established to aid in the recovery of threatened and endangered waterbird
species.

Kauaʻi has three wildlife refuges, Hanalei, Hulēʻia, and Kīlauea Point, managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1972, is the oldest and largest (917 acres) of the three wildlife refuges that make up the Kauai National Wildlife Refuge Complex. It was established to aid in the recovery of threatened and endangered waterbird species.

Bird's eye view of the park

Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1985 to protect and
enhance migratory seabirds and threatened and endangered species and their
habitats. It was expanded in 1988 to include Mōkōlea Point and Nihokū, a
portion of the Kīlauea volcanic vent and spectacular 568-foot ocean bluff. The
focus of Refuge management is to expand and enhance existing habitat for those
species the Refuge protects, while combating the primary threats of invasive
species and allowing for public uses that are compatible with Refuge purposes
and the National Wildlife Refuge System mission.

The Refuge is home to thousands of migratory and resident seabirds including:

  * mōlī (Laysan albatross),
  * ‘ā (red-footed boobies),
  * koa‘e ‘ula (red-tailed tropicbird)
  * koa‘e kea (white-tailed tropicbird)
  * ‘iwa (great frigatebirds)
  * ‘ua‘u kani (wedge-tailed shearwaters)
  * kōlea (Pacific golden plover)
  * nēnē (Hawaiian goose, threatened)
  * ‘a‘o (Newell's shearwater, threatened)
  * pueo (Hawaiian short-eared owl)  

Humpback whales (_Megaptera novaeangliae_), threatened green sea turtles
(_Chelonia mydas_), and endangered Hawaiian monk seals (_Neomonachus
schauinslandi_) can be spotted in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National
Marine Sanctuary just offshore.

The Refuge is also home to the historic Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point
Lighthouse and Light Station, listed on the National Register of Historic
Places in 1979. The Lighthouse and Light Station sit on the northernmost point
of Kaua‘i and the high Hawaiian Islands. The Lighthouse was built in 1913 as a
navigational aid for commercial shipping between Asia and Hawai‘i. For 62
years, the light guided ships safely along Kaua‘i's rugged north shore.

Native plants are grown in an on-site nursery in an ongoing effort to restore
native coastal communities.

Cultural and natural resources are interpreted at the Visitor Center, by staff
and volunteers, and signs located along the pathway to Kīlauea Point.

Visitors can also browse through the Visitor Center Nature Store, which is run
by the Friends of Kaua‘i Wildlife Refuges (FKWR), a non-profit organization
that supports the environmental and wildlife conservation, historic
preservation and community education programs of the Kauaʻi National Wildlife
Refuge (NWR) Complex.

Wildlife viewing, the lighthouse, and dramatic views makes this refuge a top
attraction on Kaua‘i.

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1985 to protect and enhance migratory seabirds and threatened and endangered species and their habitats. It was expanded in 1988 to include Mōkōlea Point and Nihokū, a portion of the Kīlauea volcanic vent and spectacular 568-foot ocean bluff. The focus of Refuge management is to expand and enhance existing habitat for those species the Refuge protects, while combating the primary threats of invasive species and allowing for public uses that are compatible with Refuge purposes and the National Wildlife Refuge System mission.The Refuge is home to thousands of migratory and resident seabirds including:<ul><li>mōlī (Laysan albatross),</li><li>‘ā (red-footed boobies),</li><li>koa‘e ‘ula (red-tailed tropicbird)</li><li>koa‘e kea (white-tailed tropicbird)</li><li>‘iwa (great frigatebirds)</li><li>‘ua‘u kani (wedge-tailed shearwaters)</li><li>kōlea (Pacific golden plover)</li><li>nēnē (Hawaiian goose, threatened)</li><li>‘a‘o (Newell's shearwater, threatened)</li><li>pueo (Hawaiian short-eared owl)  </li></ul>Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), threatened green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), and endangered Hawaiian monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi) can be spotted in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary just offshore.The Refuge is also home to the historic Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse and Light Station, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The Lighthouse and Light Station sit on the northernmost point of Kaua‘i and the high Hawaiian Islands. The Lighthouse was built in 1913 as a navigational aid for commercial shipping between Asia and Hawai‘i. For 62 years, the light guided ships safely along Kaua‘i's rugged north shore.Native plants are grown in an on-site nursery in an ongoing effort to restore native coastal communities.Cultural and natural resources are interpreted at the Visitor Center, by staff and volunteers, and signs located along the pathway to Kīlauea Point.Visitors can also browse through the Visitor Center Nature Store, which is run by the Friends of Kaua‘i Wildlife Refuges (FKWR), a non-profit organization that supports the environmental and wildlife conservation, historic preservation and community education programs of the Kauaʻi National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex.Wildlife viewing, the lighthouse, and dramatic views makes this refuge a top attraction on Kaua‘i.

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

Hulē‘ia National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is approximately 241 acres and was
established in 1973 under the Endangered Species Act to recover threatened and
endangered species including the koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck,_Anas
wyvilliana_), ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian coot, _Fulica alai_), ‘alae ‘ula
(Hawaiian gallinule, _Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis_), ae‘o (Hawaiian
stilt, _Himantopus mexicanus_) and the nēnē (Hawaiian goose, _Branta
sandvicensis_). Managed wetlands within the Hulē‘ia River Valley provide for
the birds’ lifecycle history requirements. In addition, 26 other bird species
(18 of which are introduced) also use the Refuge.

The Refuge is located in a relatively flat valley along the Hulē‘ia River
bordered by a steep wooded hillside. This land was used for wetland
agriculture including taro and rice but is managed today as a refuge for
wildlife.

In order to protect the endangered species that live in Hulē‘ia NWR, it is
closed to the public but can be viewed at an overlook maintained by the State
of Hawai‘i at the historic Alakoko (Menehune) Fishpond.

Hulē‘ia National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is approximately 241 acres and was established in 1973 under the Endangered Species Act to recover threatened and endangered species including the koloa maoli (<a href="https://fws.gov/node/30048" rel="nofollow">Hawaiian duck, Anas wyvilliana</a>), ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (<a href="https://fws.gov/node/40066" rel="nofollow">Hawaiian coot, Fulica alai</a>), ‘alae ‘ula (<a href="https://fws.gov/node/34914" rel="nofollow">Hawaiian gallinule, Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis</a>), ae‘o (<a href="https://fws.gov/node/30469" rel="nofollow">Hawaiian stilt, Himantopus mexicanus</a>) and the nēnē (<a href="https://fws.gov/node/29997" rel="nofollow">Hawaiian goose, Branta sandvicensis</a>). Managed wetlands within the Hulē‘ia River Valley provide for the birds’ lifecycle history requirements. In addition, 26 other bird species (18 of which are introduced) also use the Refuge. The Refuge is located in a relatively flat valley along the Hulē‘ia River bordered by a steep wooded hillside. This land was used for wetland agriculture including taro and rice but is managed today as a refuge for wildlife.In order to protect the endangered species that live in Hulē‘ia NWR, it is closed to the public but can be viewed at an overlook maintained by the State of Hawai‘i at the historic Alakoko (Menehune) Fishpond.

Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge

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Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

Hulē‘ia National Wildlife Refuge