Forests<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Despite extensive development, Oahu retains a substantial amount of forest cover, most of which clings to the steep terrain of its two low mountain ranges, the Wai\u2019anae in the west and the Ko\u2019olau in the east.\u00a0 In the era of Captain Cook\u2019s arrival, Oahu\u2019s forests supported an additional six endemic songbirds, all of which are thought to have succumbed to avian malaria, which was inadvertently introduced to the island by early European visitors.\u00a0 Two, the Oahu Alauahio<\/strong><\/a> and Oahu Akepa<\/strong><\/a>, are known to have survived into the 1900s.\u00a0 The other four survived just long enough for specimens to be collected in the early or mid-1800s: Amaui<\/strong><\/a>, Oahu O\u2019o<\/strong><\/a>, Oahu Nukupu\u2019u<\/strong><\/a>, and Oahu Akialoa<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Endemic Birds of Oahu<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Amaui \u2020<\/a> \/\u00a0 Oahu O\u2019o \u2020<\/a> \/ Oahu Elepaio<\/a> \/ Oahu Alauahio \u2020<\/a> \/ Oahu Nukupu\u2019u \u2020<\/a> \/ Oahu Akialoa \u2020<\/a> \/ Oahu Amakihi<\/a> \/ Oahu Akepa \u2020<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Wetlands<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Oahu has more extensive wetlands than the other main Hawaiian Islands.\u00a0 Three endemic waterbirds are common: \u201cHawaiian Gallinule\u201d<\/strong><\/a>, Hawaiian Coot<\/strong><\/a>, and \u201cHawaiian Stilt\u201d<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 All of these can be found easily at several locations, including the Kailua<\/strong><\/a> and West Loch<\/strong><\/a> areas (Sites #5 and #15) and James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge<\/strong><\/a> (Site #3). \u00a0Another endemic species, the Hawaiian Duck<\/strong><\/a>, is rare on Oahu, but records suggest that it may be increasing. \u00a0Most recent sightings have been at James Campbell N.W.R., which is also the prime location to see the rare Bristle-thighed Curlew<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Other Hawaiian Endemics Found on Oahu<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Hawaiian Duck<\/strong><\/a> \/ Hawaiian Petrel<\/strong><\/a> \/\u00a0\u201cHawaiian Gallinule\u201d<\/strong><\/a> \/ Hawaiian Coot<\/strong><\/a> \/ \u201cHawaiian Stilt\u201d<\/strong><\/a> \/ \u201cHawaiian Noddy\u201d<\/strong><\/a> \/\u00a0Apapane<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Seabirds<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Oahu is remarkable for its seabirds, with large breeding colonies on several nearshore islets and in protected areas on the island itself.\u00a0 Amazingly, the city of Honolulu is itself a seabird nesting colony, as it hosts a unique urban population of tree-nesting Common Fairy-Terns<\/strong><\/a>, which first arrived in the 1960s and have continued to multiply ever since.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Common Fairy-Tern<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a9 Lars Petersson<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A short drive east of Honolulu, Lanai Lookout (at Koko Head District Park<\/strong><\/a>, Site #6) and Makapu\u2019u Point<\/strong><\/a> (Site #3) are excellent vantage points for tropicbirds (Yellow-billed<\/strong><\/a>, Red-tailed<\/strong><\/a>, and sometimes Red-billed<\/strong><\/a>), Wedge-tailed Shearwater<\/strong><\/a>, Great Frigatebird<\/strong><\/a>, boobies (Red-footed<\/strong><\/a>, \u201cForster\u2019s\u201d<\/strong><\/a>, and sometimes Masked<\/strong><\/a>), Brown<\/strong><\/a> and \u201cHawaiian\u201d Noddies<\/strong><\/a>, and Sooty Tern<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 These sites also occasionally yield sightings of Bulwer\u2019s Petrel<\/strong><\/a> and the rare Gray-backed Tern<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>
At the northern tip of Oahu, a protected (fenced and access-restricted) area within James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge has been dedicated to the translocation of nesting seabirds from the Northwest Chain, including Laysan<\/strong><\/a> and Black-footed Albatrosses<\/strong><\/a>, Tristram\u2019s Storm-Petrel<\/strong><\/a>, and Bonin Petrel<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 This project began in the mid-2010s with the purpose of improving these species\u2019 long-term survival prospects by leading them to nesting areas that are not imminently susceptible to a rising sea level.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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At the western tip of Oahu, Ka\u2019ena Point Natural Area Reserve<\/strong><\/a> (Site #4) protects a colony of Laysan Albatrosses and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, but allows visitors to enter the protected area and see the birds up close, along with Hawaiian Monk Seals and Humpback Whales.<\/p>
Finally, Oahu is among the best bases for offshore pelagic trips, which may depart from either Honolulu or Wai\u2019anae.\u00a0 Trips out of these ports can additionally yield many other species, such as Black-winged<\/strong><\/a>, Cook\u2019s<\/strong><\/a>, Stejneger\u2019s<\/strong><\/a>, Kermadec<\/strong><\/a>, Mottled<\/strong><\/a>, Murphy\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> and White-necked Petrels<\/strong><\/a>, and Christmas Shearwater<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Laysan Albatross<\/em><\/strong><\/a> nests at Oahu\u2019s western and northern tips.\u00a0 \u00a9 Steven Mlodinow<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Bonin Petrel<\/em><\/strong><\/a> was first confirmed breeding on Oahu in 2021.\u00a0 \u00a9 Eric VanderWerf<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Exotics<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Oahu has more than its fair share of exotic (i.e., non-native) species, including the world\u2019s only known introduced population of swifts, the Mariana Swiftlet, which can sometimes be seen at Aiea Ridge.\u00a0 Another species, the Yellow-faced Grassquit<\/strong><\/a>, is not established anywhere else in the U.S., although it occurs naturally from time to time as a vagrant to Florida and Texas.<\/p>
Four more of Oahu\u2019s exotics also have introduced populations on the U.S. mainland, but not on any of the other islands: Red-crowned Parrot<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and Red-whiskered<\/strong><\/a> and Red-vented Bulbuls<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 Several more are established on one or more other islands but tend to be easier to find on Oahu: Indian Peafowl<\/strong><\/a>, Rose-ringed<\/strong><\/a> and Red-masked Parakeets<\/strong><\/a>, White-rumped Shama<\/strong><\/a>, Red-billed Leiothrix<\/strong><\/a>, Red Avadavat<\/strong><\/a>, Chestnut Munia<\/strong><\/a>, Java Sparrow<\/strong><\/a>, Yellow-fronted Canary<\/strong><\/a>, Red-crested Cardinal<\/strong><\/a>, and Saffron Finch<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Oahu \u2013 Orientation Map<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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1 \u2013 Aiea Ridge<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
2 \u2013 Honolulu (Offshore Waters)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
3 \u2013 James Campbell N.W.R.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
4 \u2013 Ka\u2019ena Point<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
5 \u2013 Kailua<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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6 \u2013 Koko Head District Park<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
7 \u2013 Kuli\u2019ou\u2019ou Kalani Iki<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
8 \u2013 Laie Point<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
9 \u2013 Lyon Arboretum<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
10 \u2013 Makapu\u2019u Point<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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11 \u2013 Makiki<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
12 \u2013 Mount Ka\u2019ala<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
13 \u2013 Wai\u2019anae (Offshore Waters)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
14 \u2013 Waikiki<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
15 \u2013 West Loch, Pearl Harbor<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Planning a Visit<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Oahu is a relatively straightforward destination for vacationers.\u00a0 Most visitors either stay on the island for about a week or pass through en route to another destination.\u00a0 Those with enough time should consider dividing it between Honolulu and one or more of the northern, western, or eastern tips of the island.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Honolulu<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Honolulu is one of the world\u2019s best cities for birdwatching\u2014which seems counterintuitive, considering that most of its native songbirds went extinct long ago.\u00a0 Most visitors spend at least one night, if not several, at a hotel in Waikiki, which is occupied by several interesting species from around the globe.\u00a0 The city abuts the Ko\u2019olau Range, which offers a surprisingly large number of hiking options, including Aiea Ridge, Oahu\u2019s key site, where a visiting birdwatcher can find all three species that are effectively unique to the island.<\/p>
Waikiki<\/strong><\/a> (Site #14):\u00a0 The tourist hub of Waikiki is the first stop on many travelers\u2019 Hawaiian itineraries.\u00a0 Those who notice birds will find more introduced species than native ones.\u00a0 Fortunately, they are also likely to see Honolulu\u2019s peculiar specialty, the Common Fairy-Tern, a dainty and ethereal seabird which, for reasons unknown, colonized the city in the late 1900s, and is not readily found elsewhere in the main Hawaiian Islands.\u00a0 Waikiki is a good place to find it, along with various transplanted species such as: Eastern Spotted and Zebra Doves, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Red-vented and Red-whiskered Bulbuls, Common Myna, Common Waxbill, Java Sparrow, Yellow-fronted Canary, Red-crested Cardinal, and Saffron Finch.<\/p>
Aiea Ridge<\/strong><\/a> (Site #1):\u00a0 Aiea Ridge is the most productive place to search for forest birds on Oahu, with local populations of both of the island\u2019s remaining endemics, the Oahu Elepaio and the Oahu Amakihi, and its other surviving honeycreeper, the Apapane.\u00a0 It is the world\u2019s most accessible site for Mariana Swiftlet, which often hunts over the ridge due to its proximity to the colony in the North Halawa Valley, and it is within the home range of a large flock of introduced Red-crowned Parrots.\u00a0 Other exotics often found along the trail include White-rumped Shama, Japanese Bush-Warbler, Warbling White-eye, and Red-billed Leiothrix.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The endemic Oahu Amakihi<\/strong><\/a> can be found in the hills above Honolulu.\u00a0 \u00a9 Stephan Lorenz<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mariana Swiftlet<\/em><\/strong><\/a> in its tunnel colony in Oahu\u2019s North Halawa Valley, near Aiea Ridge.\u00a0 \u00a9 Nathan Christopher Johnson<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Kuli\u2019ou\u2019ou Kalani Iki<\/strong><\/a> (Site #7):\u00a0 Kuli\u2019ou\u2019ou Kalani Iki is a hilly district of East Honolulu where the Oahu Elepaio and the Oahu Amakihi are found consistently, along with the Apapane, which is more sporadic.\u00a0 These birds can be found along a handful of popular hiking trails through forests that also support populations of several exotic species, as at Aiea Ridge.<\/p>
Lyon Arboretum<\/strong><\/a> (Site #9):\u00a0 The Lyon Arboretum is a botanical garden in the hills of Honolulu with an extensive trail network.\u00a0 It is one of the more accessible sites for the endemic Oahu Amakihi and one of the more consistent sites to observe White-rumped Shama.\u00a0 Several other escaped species have inhabited the area, including a mixed flock of cockatoos (mostly Salmon-crested and Sulphur-crested) intermittently since the 1970s and a flock of Common Hill Mynas from the 1960s to the 1990s.<\/p>
Makiki<\/strong><\/a> (Site #11):\u00a0 The hills overlooking downtown Honolulu are popular for day hikes and panoramic views of the city.\u00a0 The most efficient way to reach this area is via Tantalus Drive.\u00a0 Both of Oahu\u2019s surviving honeycreepers, Apapane and Oahu Amakihi, can sometimes be seen there\u2014the latter more consistently than the former.\u00a0 It is also among the most accessible places to find certain introduced species, such as White-rumped Shama, Red-whiskered Bulbul, and Red-billed Leiothrix.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The eastern coastline of Oahu, beyond the urban zone of Honolulu, alternates between rugged volcanic headlands and sandy crescent beaches.\u00a0 The coastal highway connecting East Honolulu to Kailua is a popular scenic drive that includes several \u201clookouts\u201d and trails with distant views of Molokai, Maui, and Lanai on the horizon, and much nearer views of three species of tropicbirds.\u00a0 The nearshore waters are dotted with islets that support the largest seabird colonies in the main Hawaiian Islands, including the only established nesting sites for Christmas Shearwater, Masked Booby, Brown Noddy, and Sooty and Gray-backed Terns.<\/p>
Koko Head District Park<\/strong><\/a> (Site #6):\u00a0 Koko Head District Park is a popular recreation area on the eastern outskirts of urban Honolulu that offers various outdoor activities in a scenic setting.\u00a0 The area of primary interest for birds is the dramatic Ka Iwi Coast, particularly the Lanai Lookout, which is known for its exceptionally accessible colony of Red-tailed Tropicbird, frequent sightings of Yellow-billed and Red-billed Tropicbirds, and occasional sightings of Gray-backed Tern, among other locally common seabirds, including Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Great Frigatebird, Red-footed, \u201cForster\u2019s\u201d, and Masked Boobies, Common Fairy-Tern, Brown and \u201cHawaiian\u201d Noddies, and Sooty Tern.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Red-tailed Tropicbirds<\/strong><\/a> nest beside the highway along the Ka Iwi Coast.\u00a0 \u00a9 Cherry Wong<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Red-billed Tropicbird<\/em><\/strong><\/a> is a rare visitor to the Ka Iwi Coast.\u00a0 \u00a9 graichen & recer<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Makapu\u2019u Point<\/strong><\/a> (Site #10):\u00a0 Makapu\u2019u Point is within view of Manana Island, the largest colony of Brown Noddies and Sooty Terns in the main Hawaiian Islands.\u00a0 It is also one of the most conveniently accessible sites in Hawaii for seeing several other seabirds, including: Yellow-billed and Red-tailed Tropicbirds, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Great Frigatebird, Red-footed, \u201cForster\u2019s\u201d, and Masked Boobies, and Common Fairy-Tern, and offers the possibility of Bulwer\u2019s Petrel, Christmas Shearwater, \u201cHawaiian Noddy\u201d, and Gray-backed Tern.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>
Kailua<\/strong><\/a> (Site #5):\u00a0 The town of Kailua is known mainly for its beaches and Marine Corps base, but it is also a haven for waterbirds.\u00a0 Kawainui Marsh and other wetlands provide habitat for the endemic \u201cHawaiian Gallinule\u201d, Hawaiian Coot, and \u201cHawaiian Stilt\u201d, and various introduced songbirds, including Japanese Bush-Warbler, Red Avadavat and four commoner waxbills.\u00a0 Security at the marine base has tightened since the 1990s, so the famous Red-footed Booby colony at Ulupau Head and its distant views of Moku Manu are generally closed to non-military visitors, but it remains possible to paddle a kayak out to the Wedge-tailed Shearwater colony on the Mokulua Islets.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The North Shore of Oahu is best known for monster waves and the destination resort at Turtle Bay.\u00a0 It is also gaining status a destination for birdwatchers, with the acquisition of property to complete James Campbell N.W.R. and implement an ambitious conservation agenda that includes relocations of imperiled bird species from the inaccessible Northwest Chain as insurance against their otherwise certain demise under anticipated sea level rise.\u00a0 The fully realized vision will be years in the making, but the northern tip of Oahu is already (as of 2021) the best or only accessible site in the U.S. for finding two or three highly sought-after species.<\/p>
James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge<\/strong><\/a> (Site #3):\u00a0 The ponds, marshes, and fields north of Kahuku are among the most productive landscapes in Hawaii for the gamut of wetland and open country birds.\u00a0 A large chunk of this terrain has been consolidated for conservation as James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge.\u00a0 The area is known for breeding populations of Hawaiian Coot, \u201cHawaiian Gallinule\u201d, and \u201cHawaiian Stilt\u201d and substantial numbers and diversity of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds, consistently including Bristle-thighed Curlews, with occasional sightings of Hawaiian Duck.\u00a0 A fenced plot of coastal dunes has been established as a surrogate nesting colony for seabirds, including Laysan and Black-footed Albatrosses, Tristram\u2019s Storm-Petrel, and Bonin Petrel.<\/p>
Laie Point<\/strong><\/a> (Site #8):\u00a0 Laie Point juts prominently into the ocean and allows for relatively convenient viewing of passing seabirds.\u00a0 It sits about a mile south of the islet Moku\u2019auia, which hosts ~2,500 breeding pairs of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters from March to October.\u00a0 Hawaii\u2019s three widespread boobies\u2014Red-footed, \u201cForster\u2019s\u201d, and Masked\u2014all put in regular appearances, and Brown Noddies often fly by in large numbers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Western Oahu is its wildest and least visited sector.\u00a0 The tourist enclave at Ko Olina receives some attention as a more relaxed and family-friendly alternative to Waikiki, but the rest of the west is off the beaten path.\u00a0 Visitors who would find Honolulu and Waikiki oppressively congested and commercial should consider Ko Olina\u2019s advantages as a base to explore the island.\u00a0 It provides convenient access to seabirds at Ka\u2019ena Point and two deep-sea fishing marinas, forest birds on trails into the Wai\u2019anae Range, and waterbirds around the West Loch of Pearl Harbor.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ka\u2019ena Point<\/strong><\/a> (Site #4):\u00a0 Ka\u2019ena Point offers unique access to a seabird colony, where large numbers of nesting Laysan Albatrosses and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters are protected from mammalian predators by a specially constructed fence, with gates for visitors to enter the colony.\u00a0 Several other seabirds are often present, including: Yellow-billed and Red-tailed Tropicbirds; Black-footed Albatross; Great Frigatebird; Red-footed, \u201cForster\u2019s\u201d, and rarely Masked Boobies; Brown and \u201cHawaiian\u201d Noddies; and rarely Gray-backed Tern.\u00a0 It is also among the few consistent sites for Yellow-faced Grassquit.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Yellow-faced Grassquit<\/em><\/strong><\/a> can often be found along the southern trail to Ka\u2019ena Point.\u00a0 \u00a9 Alfonso Auerbach<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mount Ka\u2019ala<\/strong><\/a> (Site #12):\u00a0 Western Oahu receives little attention from tourists, and public access to several potentially interesting areas is restricted.\u00a0 One exception is the trail up Wai\u2019anae Valley to the highest point on the island, Mount Ka\u2019ala, which is open to visitors who are inclined to strenuous hikes.\u00a0 The trail offers a good chance of finding Oahu Amakihi and Apapane, as well as some introduced species that are uncommon or absent from eastern Oahu: Erckel\u2019s Francolin, Kalij Pheasant, and Indian Peafowl.\u00a0 At least until recently, and perhaps still, the valley has also harbored a few pairs of Oahu Elepaio.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>
West Loch, Pearl Harbor<\/strong><\/a> (Site #15):\u00a0 Pearl Harbor is an unusually extensive marine lagoon system that has a narrow entrance from the ocean, then forks into three bays or lochs.\u00a0 The eastern and central portions are mostly off-limits, but the West Loch has some partly accessible wetlands that are managed to preserve some of Pearl Harbor\u2019s natural heritage.\u00a0 In addition to many migrants, three of Hawaii\u2019s endemic waterbirds are common residents: \u201cHawaiian Gallinule\u201d, Hawaiian Coot, and \u201cHawaiian Stilt\u201d.\u00a0 The brushy and grassy margins support large numbers of introduced birds, including Gray Francolin, White-rumped Shama, and six waxbill species, including Red Avadavat.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Avitourist\u2019s Guide to Oahu The endemic Oahu Elepaio.\u00a0 \u00a9 Charlie Bostwick Oahu is by far the most developed and most visited of the Hawaiian Islands, home to the vast majority of Hawaii residents and their cars.\u00a0 Among the four principal islands, Oahu has the fewest remaining endemic landbirds\u2014two, the Oahu Elepaio and Oahu Amakihi\u2014but 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