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Welcome to O‘ahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge

On the upper slopes of the northern Ko‘olau Mountains exist some of the last remaining native intact forests on O‘ahu. In December 2000, thousands of acres became part of the National Wildlife Refuge System to protect and recover endangered, threatened, and other rare wildlife, and to protect native biodiversity on the refuge. The greatest threats to the northern Ko‘olau Mountain ecosystem are harmful nonnative plants and animals.

Oahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge - Photo credit USFWS

Nonnative plants compete for space, light, water, and nutrients and nonnative birds eat food and occupy nesting areas needed by native bird species. Mosquitoes and other nonnative insects serve as vectors for lethal bird diseases such as avian malaria. Rats eat the fruit and bark of native plants; prey on birds, their eggs and nestlings; and are major predators of endangered tree snails.

O‘ahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge is home to at least four species of endangered pūpū kani oe (O‘ahu tree snails); 15 endangered plant species; and many native birds; including the O‘ahu ‘elepaio, ‘i‘iwi, pueo, and native honeycreepers.

For more information:
David Ellis, Project Leader
O‘ahu National Wildlife Refuge Complex
66-590 Kamehameha Highway, Room 2C
Hale‘iwa, Hawai‘i 96712
(808) 637-6330
(808) 637-3578 Fax
E-mail: dave_ellis@fws.gov