Wai’anapanapa State Park, Maui, Hawaii
Wai’anapanapa State Park is a popular recreational site that harbors Maui’s largest breeding colony of “Hawaiian Noddies”. A few other seabirds can often be found there, most consistently Great Frigatebird. The park offers scenery, trails, caves, a black sand beach, and guest cabins, all of which recommend it for multi-purpose visits.
Orientation
Directions
Wai’anapanapa State Park is on the Hana Highway about an hour and 40 minutes’ drive (48 miles) east of Kahului, and 2.5 miles north of Hana.
Birdfinding
The park roads and trails converge at Pa’iloa Bay, where “Hawaiian Noddies” breed on the islets and some of the surrounding cliffs. Great Frigatebirds can often be seen overhead.
On either side of the bay are roads that lead to trails to more prominent points, where other seabirds are somewhat more likely to be seen. Consistent visitors to the area include Yellow-billed Tropicbird, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, and Red-footed and Brown Boobies. Exceptionally, Laysan Albatross and Hawaiian Petrel have also been found at the park.
“Hawaiian Noddy” is especially observable at Wai’anapanapana State Park.. © Pablo Pascual
Common landbirds of the park include Warbling White-eye, Scaly-breasted and Chestnut Munias, and Northern and Red-crested Cardinals.
Notes
When to Visit
The noddies are present all year round.