Birding Hawaii Extravaganza: 3 Key Islands for Birding: Oahu Island, Kauai and Big Island
Trip Description
Most birders add over fifty bird species to their ABA list with this trip to three of the islands of Hawaii. This tour maximizes your opportunity to get over twenty Hawaiian endemic bird species, all 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. In Oahu, we start with birding the rainforests of the Koolau Mountains, followed by birding Oahu’s North Shore and more.
We next visit Kauai, likely adding another six to eight birds to your ABA-area list (and a chance for more). Kauai birding adds four endemic bird species, and a visit to the Kilauea Lighthouse National Wildlife Refuge (great for coastal sea birding) can add Red-footed Booby and Laysan Albatross (seasonal). This will be your best chance to see up to three tropicbird species.
We will then set off to the Big Island for birding the sub-alpine dry forests of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and more. We will include a guided tour of the highly restricted Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge (Honeycreeper Heaven). In one day at Hakalau, you will likely see ten Hawaiian endemic bird species, including six species of honeycreepers, and much more.
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If you would like to extend your visit to Hawaii, we can help you with plans for a pelagic birding cruise (where you may add Hawaiian Petrel and sometimes other nice surprises) or a visit to Volcano National Park. Let us know if you would like to learn about these or other additions to your trip.
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: AM Flight to Kauai and Birding in Different
Locations
Day 5: Morning Hike Through Kokee State Park; Afternoon Birding and Sightseeing along Kauai’s Western and Southern Coasts
Day 6: AM More Kauai Birding and Late PM Arrival on Big Island
Day 7: Big Island of Hawaii: Big Day of Birding: Sub-Alpine Dry Forest of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and More
Day 8: More Big Island Birding: Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Day 9: Departures from Kona
Detailed itinerary presented below.
More details about this trip:
As a note, our guides can be hired (one or two additional days) to find three more very difficult to find species. Akikiki and Puaiohi require over eight miles of difficult hiking. Akekee is simply very rare, and few birders are fortunate to see this species (even after a lot of work).
Detailed Itinerary
Download our detailed itinerary for our Hawaii Birding tour, or read it below.