Big Island: Hakalau Forest Birdwatching Tour

The Big Island Hakalau Forest Birdwatching Tour is a guided half-day outing on Hawaii's Big Island, taking participants into the upper slopes of the Hamakua Coast where Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge protects one of the largest remaining tracts of native Hawaiian montane rainforest. The refuge was established in 1985 and covers roughly 33,000 acres of koa and ohia lehua woodland at elevations above 5,000 feet.

The tour focuses on native Hawaiian forest birds, including the apapane, amakihi, and the endangered akiapolaau, a honeycreeper with a distinctive two-part bill used to probe bark for insects. Guides lead small groups along forest trails, pointing out bird activity and explaining the conservation pressures facing Hawaii attractions and native ecosystems. Tour tickets typically include transport from a central meeting point, guiding, and optics such as binoculars.