Trip Description

Most birders add over forty and often fifty plus bird species to their ABA list with this trip to two of the islands of Hawaii (Oahu and Hawaii Island, also called the Big Island).  This trip was designed to be affordable to most ABA listers, and the tour maximizes your opportunity to get a good number of  Hawaiian endemic bird species, many of the islands’ other specialty bird species, and a nice tally of the many spectacular introduced species as well.

 

We visit all of the key birding areas on the islands, including those requiring special licensing on both Oahu and the Big Island. In Oahu, we will be birding the rainforests of the Koolau Mountains, birding Oahu Island’s North Shore and more. We will then set off to the Big Island for birding the sub-alpine dry forests of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and more.

 

Our bird guide’s special licensing allows a visit to the highly restricted Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge (Honeycreeper Heaven). In one day, you will likely see ten Hawaiian endemic bird species, including six species of honeycreepers, and much more.

We wrap up the trip with a pelagic birding cruise (or alternative visit to Volcano National Park) to add Hawaiian Petrel and Wedge-tailed Shearwater and more.

 

 

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Arrivals into Honolulu and then Off to Waikiki

Day 2: Birding the Rainforests of the Koolau Mountains and Oahu Endemic Birding

Day 3: Oahu Island’s North Shore and More

Day 4: Big Island of Hawaii: Big Day of Birding: Sub-Alpine Dry Forest of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and More

Day 5: More Big Island Birding: Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge 

Day 6: Pelagic Birding from the Big Island or Day of Rest or Volcano National Park

Day 7: Final Birding and Fly Out at Mid-Day or Consider an Extension to Volcano National Park

 

 

 

Detailed itinerary presented below.