Guide to Birding the Hawaiian Islands

Popular Birding Sites on The Island of Maui

Directions to Sites

(Forest Birds)

1. Haleakala National Park (Paliku/Hosmer Grove)
   From Kahului Airport, take the Haleakala Highway (37) past Pukalani to the intersection of the Kula highway (37) and the Haleakala Highway (377); turn left and proceed South past the Kula Lodge to the intersection with Crater Road (378); then mauka along winding road to Haleakala National Park. Hosmer Grove is on the Crater Road (378) about half way to the summit as you cross the Park boundary and just before Park Headquarters on the right. Paliku is a remote area about 8 miles across the Crater floor by foot or mule. Contact Park Headquarters for details on arrangements (Haleakala National Park, P.O. Box 369, Makawao, HI 96768, Phone: (808) 572-4400. www.nps.gov/hale).
    
2. Polipoli State Park
   From the Kahului Airport, take Haleakala Highway (37) past Pukalani on the Kula Highway (37) to Rice Park and junction with Kekaulike Highway (377). Take Kekaulike Highway a short distance North to Waipoli Road, turn right and up a winding road to the Kaonoulu Ranch area. A 4 wheel drive (recommended) road proceeds South on the contour to Polipoli Springs State Park (total of 28 miles). Call the State Parks Division at (808) 587-0300 for more information.
    
3. Hana Forest Reserve
   From Kahului Airport, take the Hana Highway (36/360) 51 miles to Hana Town. Access to the Forest Reserve is up several 4-wheel drive ridge roads through private lands (prior permission required). An alternative to access a forested area is the Kaeleku Ulaino Road mauka off Hana Highway (360). The Kaeleku junction road begins just past the Rodeo Arena, 0.5 miles before the Hana Airport Road. The road angles left through 2 miles of pasture, then enters the forest.
    
4. Ko`olau Forest Reserve
   From Kahului, take the Hana Highway (36/360) 22 miles to the Forest Reserve which extends for another 19 miles above and below the road. Entry can be gained between the Ke`anae Arboretum and the Puohokamoa Stream; between Pa`akea Stream and Waikani Falls; along Pa Gulch; between Waikamoi and Kolea Streams, and along Pi`ina`au Valley Road. Access by vehicle requires permission from the East Maui Irrigation Company (phone: (808) 579-9516).
    
5. `Iao Needle
   From Kahului Town, take highway 32 West through Wailuku Town connecting to Highway 320 past the Hawaii Nature Center to the end of the road at I`ao Valley State Park.
    
6. Ke`anae Arboretum
   From the Kahului Airport, take the Hana Highway (36/360) 34 miles East along a winding road to Ke`anae. The turnoff, right and mauka, is just past the road to the Ke`anae Penninsula, just before the lookout.
    
7. Waikamoi Preserve
   (A) Waikamoi Preserve, the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii (TNCH)
   From the Kahului Airport, take the Haleakala Highway (37) past Pukalani to the intersection of Kula Highway (37) and the Haleakala Highway (377). Turn left and proceed South past the Kula Lodge to the intersection with the Crater Road (378); then mauka along a winding road. Go to Hosmer Grove which is about half way to the Summit as you cross the Haleakala National Park boundary and just before park headquarters on the right. Access to the Preserve is by trail from Hosmer Grove. Contact TNCH at (808) 572-7849 for public hike reservations. Or contact Haleakala National Park at (808) 572-4400 for information on scheduled hikes.
    
   (B) Waikamoi Ridge Trail
   From Kahului, proceed East on the Hana Highway (36/360) about 21 miles to Kailua Village. Proceed another 3.5 miles towards Ke`anae to the picnic and parking area above the road. This is a short nature trail that goes up a slope to a picnic site.