Kīlauea Point
Kilauea, HI 96754
Plan Your Visit
Refuge Hours
- Wednesday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Visitors must arrive before 3:30 p.m.
- Closed on (or the Saturday before) major holidays.
Reservations
RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL ADULTS 16 AND OLDER
- To make a reservation visit Recreation.gov and select Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.
- America the Beautiful passes (Senior, Annual, Military, 4th Grade and Access) are accepted. Passholders select "Interagency Pass Holder Entry."
- Residents with valid Hawai‘i ID should select “Buy Pass Upon Arrival” to use or purchase an annual Kamaʻāina pass.
Parking
- There is no additional fee for parking.
- Walking into the Refuge is not permitted due to the steep and narrow driveway. Visitors must arrive in a vehicle or on a bike.
Accessibility
It is a five-minute walk on a paved path with a slight uphill grade to get from the parking lot to the point. A golf cart is available by request for visitors needing assistance.
Directions
From Līhu‘e, drive north on Kūhiō Highway for approximately 23 miles to the town of Kīlauea, turn right on Kolo Road, then left on Kīlauea Road and drive 2 miles to the Refuge entrance.
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Visiting Kaua‘i or want to tour our Wildlife Refuges virtually? Download the app to access stories, video galleries and more.
If you wish to purchase an America the Beautiful pass, or use a military ID, Duck Stamp, or Golden Age pass, select “Buy Pass Upon Arrival” in the reservation system and bring cash and photo ID to the Refuge.
Hawai‘i residents can purchase a $20 annual Kamaʻāina pass on site with a valid state ID.
America the Beautiful passes (Senior, Annual, Military, 4th Grade, and Access) and Golden Age passes are accepted. These passes admit the cardholder and up to three additional adults. Pass holders must be present with a photo ID and select the pass holder entry option when making a reservation.
The Refuge is located within Kīlauea town at the end of Kīlauea Road. From Līhu‘e, drive north on Kūhiō Highway for approximately 23 miles to the town of Kīlauea, turn right on Kolo Road, then left on Kīlauea Road and drive 2 miles to the Refuge entrance.
Activities
Get Involved
Our volunteers, Friends Group, and partners are integral to Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge management. Volunteers support various refuge programs including native habitat management, natural history and cultural interpretation, wildlife monitoring, and more. We are currently looking for new people to join our 'ohana (family).
Services
We offer several different types of environmental education opportunities, whether it be field trips, home-school, or worksheets to use in your classroom. Learn more here.
About
Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1985 to protect and enhance migratory seabirds and threatened and endangered species and their habitats. Management focuses on enhancing native habitats and coastal plant communities while interpreting cultural and natural resources for visitors.
The refuge is located on the northern-most point of the main Hawaiian Islands on a portion of the former Kīlauea volcanic vent and includes spectacular views from atop a 180-foot ocean bluff.
The Refuge is the best places in the state to view seabirds rarely seen from land, like the red-footed booby (ʻā in Hawaiian), great frigate bird ('iwa), and Laysan albatross (mōlī). The world's rarest goose and Hawai‘i's state bird, the Hawaiian goose (nēnē) is a frequent sight as well. Visitors also have a chance to view spinner dolphins (nai‘a), Hawaiian monk seals (‘Ilio holo i ka uaua), green sea turtles (honu), and humpback whales (koholā, October - April) in the water below. Native Hawaiian coastal plants are also abundant.
The Refuge is also home to the Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse, whose 2nd order bivalve Fresnel lens lit the way for seafarers. The lighthouse is part of the Kīlauea Point Light Station, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The lighthouse played a key role in the first trans-Pacific flight from the West Coast to Hawai‘i and has been part of Kaua‘i’s history since its completion in 1913.