Located on the southeast side of Kaua'i near the town of Līhu‘e, Hulē‘ia National Wildlife Refuge lies adjacent to the famous Alakoko (Menehune) Fishpond, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visit Us

In order to protect the endangered species that live in Hulē‘ia National Wildlife Refuge, it is closed to the public but can be viewed at an overlook maintained by the State of Hawai‘i at the historic Menehune Fish Pond.

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

       

      Located on the southeast side of Kaua‘i, Hulē‘ia National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) lies adjacent to the famous Menehune Fish Pond, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

      In order to protect the endangered species that live in Hulē‘ia National Wildlife Refuge, it is closed to the public but can be viewed at an overlook maintained by the State of Hawai‘i at the historic Menehune Fish Pond.

      The Refuge is located in a relatively flat valley along the Hulē‘ia River bordered by a steep wooded hillside. This land was used for wetland agriculture including taro and rice but is managed today as a refuge for wildlife.

      Thirty-one species of birds, including endangered ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt, Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian coot, Fulica alai), ‘alae‘ula (Hawaiian moorhen, Gallinula galeata sandvicensis), and koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck, Anas wyvilliana) can be found here. As well as the nēnē (Hawaiian goose, Branta sandvicensis) which is now listed as Threatened. Twenty-six other species of birds (18 of which are introduced species) also call Hulē‘ia home.

      What We Do

       

      In accordance with the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, one of the most important management functions at Hulē‘ia National Wildlife Refuge is to provide habitat that meets the life history requirement needs of the four endangered water birds, with an emphasis on the kaola maoli (Hawaiian duck / Anas wyvilliana). The other three birds include the  ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt, Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian coot, Fulica alai), and the ‘alae‘ula (Hawaiian moorhen, Gallinula galeata sandvicensis).

      Our Species

       

      Thirty-one species of birds, including endangered ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt, Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian coot, Fulica alai), ‘alae‘ula (Hawaiian moorhen, Gallinula galeata sandvicensis), nēnē (Hawaiian goose), and koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck, Anas wyvilliana) can be found here. Twenty-six other species of birds (18 of which are introduced species) also use the Refuge.

      Somewhat similar in appearance to a Canada Goose except only the face, cap, and hindneck are black; and Hawaiian geese have buff-colored cheeks. The front and sides of the neck appear to have black and white stripes. This is caused by diagonal rows of white feathers with black skin showing...

      FWS Focus

      The Hawaiian Duck or koloa, is generally mottled brown and has a green to blue speculum (the distinctive feathers on the secondary wing feathers) with white borders. Adult males tend to have a darker head and neck feathers (sometimes green). Both sexes have orange legs and feet. Females have a...

      FWS Focus

      The Hawaiian common moorhen is recognized as a distinct subspecies, differing from other races in having a red blush on the front & sides of the tarsus (Taylor 1998). However, there are no evident plumage or measurement differences from forms in North America (Wilson and Evans 1890-1899;...

      FWS Focus

      The Hawaiian coot is smaller in body size than the American coot, & the bulbous frontal shield above the bill is distinctly larger than that of the American coot & is usually completely white (Shallenberger 1977; Pratt et al. 1987). From 1 to 3 percent of the total Hawaiian coot...

      FWS Focus