Puʻu Waʻawaʻa Forest Bird Sanctuary

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Description

Puʻu Waʻawaʻa Forest Bird Sanctuary was established on October 12, 1984, after the state BLNR withdrew 84,397 acres, including the 3,820 acres of land dedicated to this forest bird sanctuary. On July, 2002, an executive order was issued to formally label the area, with a legal defined purpose as a forest bird sanctuary.

Prior to 1985, very few young trees were present and old ones were dying without replacements. Native vegetation was being invaded by exotic and invasive grasses and weeds. Grazing from cattle and ungulates became a problem and further threatened the native vegetation. Feral pigs also damaged native tree seedlings, ferns, and herbs growing on the forest floor through trampling due to their hooves. If grazing had continued, the entire mountainside may have been transformed to an open grassland.

Beginning in 1990, management actions such as feral ungulate control, fencing of rare plants, removal of non-native trees, and control of banana poka were initiated to safeguard and improve forest cover and wildlife habitats. The forest experienced extensive recovery after livestock removal – koa, ‘ōhi‘a (Metrosideros polymorpha), and other native plants germinated by the thousands. Most of these species grew rapidly and exhibited excellent survival. Several rare plants, not recorded for several decades, have reappeared and show signs of increasing distribution.

Activities

Hiking, wildlife watching.

Permits & Rules

This sanctuary is RESTRICTED, per administrative rules Chapter 126 (Wildlife Sanctuaries). No motorized vehicles. Access restricted to marked roads or trails only, or as provided in administrative rules Chapter 13-122.
Commercial activities are prohibited.
Other activities (like scientific research, conservation management, or subsistence, traditional, and customary practices by Native Hawaiians consistent with the long-term preservation of the wildlife sanctuary resources) may be possible with a permit. Individuals interested in permits should review the detailed information on our Permits & Guidelines page and contact their local DOFAW office.

Some Native Plants & Animals

These are examples of native species associated with this site. This is not intended to be a comprehensive species inventory.

Pueo

(Asio flammeus sandwichensis)

ʻIo

(Buteo solitarius)

Iʻiwi

(Drepanis coccinea)

ʻApapane

(Himatione sanguinea)

Hawaiʻi ʻAmakihi

(Chlorodrepanis virens)

Nēnē

(Branta sandvicensis)

‘Ōpe‘ape‘a

(Lasiurus cinereus semotus)

Blackburn’s Sphinx Moth

(Manduca blackburni)

ʻŌhiʻa lehua

(Metrosideros polymorpha)

Koa

(Acacia koa)

Hawaiian vetch

(Vicia menziesii)

Haha

(Cyanea stictophylla)

Explore from Home

The virtual tour below explores the Puʻu Waʻawaʻa area. While the focus is on the Puʻu Waʻawaʻa Forest Reserve, there is information about the larger Nāpuʻu area in which the Forest Bird Sanctuary sits. If you have trouble loading the tour, try opening it fullscreen.