A virtual field trip to Kaena Point, Oahu

If you've never been to Kaena Point, this post will be a great way to get to know the area a bit, and maybe inspire you to make the trip out to the Northwestern tip of Oahu someday!

Sometimes you can see huge waves along the shoreline, especially in the winter months.

Have you ever wondered what an albatross bolus is, or what a dancing albatross looks like? See below for answers to both of these strange questions!

A bolus (see photo at left) is the regurgitated mass composed of undigestable items. Recently, rather than squid beaks and other natural food items, plastic has made up a large portion of the contents of many albatross boluses, reflecting the growing problem of plastics in the marine environment. Photo (left) by Forest and Kim Starr.

See video below to see a dancing Laysan Albatross!



The hike to Kaena Point is relatively flat, with no noticable elevation gain. The road is bumpy and there are many potholes created by 4 wheel drive vehicles. The hike is 6 miles, roundtrip, and the area is usually hot and dry. Be prepared and bring plenty of water, a hat, sunscreen, and wear good walking shoes.  You'll begin your hike in the Kaena Point State Park area. make sure to pay attention to posted signs and warnings. 

You may run into the Kaena Point Ambassedor along the way, in which case you can feel free to ask any questions you may have, and learn a bit more about the area and what makes it so special.

Above: A group of middle-schoolers engaged in a cultural lesson shared by the Kaena Point Ambassedor.

The Natural Area Reserve boundary is marked with a boulder barracade that prevents any vehicle traffic from going any further. Once you make your way through the "gate," depending on the time of year, you may begin to see Laysan albatross flying overhead. 

Remember to stay on the path and you'll be rewarded with the sight of many native plants that thrive in the Kaena Point coastal ecosystem. 

Naupaka kahakai - "Naupaka by the sea":

'Ohai (Sesbania tomentosa):

Pa'u o Hi'iaka (Jacquemontia ovalifolia):

Once you reach the point, look out toward the tidepools and the edge of the water and you may see monk seals resting on the shore. They can be hard to see at first:

 

 Can you see the seals in the above photo?

A closer photo of two monk seals at the point.

Make sure to give the seals some room and stay at least 100 feet away from them. A great way to see them closer is to remember to bring a pair of binoculars. Or just use the zoom function on your camera.

Depending on the time of year, you may see adult Laysan albatross:

Or maybe even a newly hatched Laysan albatross chick:

For more information about hiking to Kaena Point, or about the plants and animals that call it home, click here.

Volunteer Opportunities

This page will be updated as volunteer opportunity info becomes available. Stay tuned!

On Oahu:
What: Makiki Watershed Awareness Initiative needs volunteers to help clean up and care for Makiki stream.

When: Every last Saturday of the month from 9am to 2pm.
Join the Oahu Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Program and Hawaii Nature Center in removing invasive plants, building trails and bridges, planting native plants and working as a team to improve Makiki Valley. Click here for more info.

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Help keep Ka'ena beautiful!
Location: Ka'ena State Park
Groups: Friends of Ka'ena
Activities: Volunteer activities such as trash cleanups, vegetation restoration, cultural site protection, interpretation, and education. 
Contact: Josh Heimowitz, (808) 637-4615, friends@friendsofkaena.org
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Care for Kawai Nui marsh!
Location: Na Pohaku, Kawai Nui State Park Reserve
Groups: ‘Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi
Activities: Workdays for site maintenance, tours, educational groups, restoration of the cultural landscape.
Contact: Chuck Burrows, (808) 595-3922, chuckb@hawaii.rr.com

If you know of other volunteer opportunities, we'd love to hear about them. Leave a comment below!

This Week in Nature: The 4th Week in February - Laysan Albatross

What's Happening in Hawaii

during the 4th week in February:

Newly hatched Laysan albatross chick at Kaena Point NAR, O'ahu

Chicks of the Laysan albatross (Diomedea immutabilis), known to the Hawaiians as mōlī or ka'upu, are starting to hatch.

Above: A juvenile Laysan albatross at Kaena Point NAR, O'ahu

A mōlī begins to call even before its shell is cracked, and its parents respond, establishing a dialogue that lasts until the chick emerges, as much as six days later. Most nesting occurs on the remote northwest islands, but there is a large nesting colony at Ka'ena Point on Oahu. 

Full-grown members of this handsome and powerful species have a wingspan of more than six feet and sometimes can be seen in flight off O'ahu and other main islands. But the search for squid, their primary food, commonly carries them hundreds of miles out to sea.

Noting its keen attention to life under the sea, Hawaiians took the albatross as a metaphor, calling an especially observant person ka manu ka'upu hālō ale o ka moana - "the ka'upu, the bird that observes the ocean."

Visit the Comprehansive Wildlife Conservation Strategy fact sheet here to learn more about the Laysan albatross.

The above information comes from "Hawaii: A Calendar of Natural Events"

Published by Bishop Museum and Kamehameha Schools in 1989

All photos by C. Tucker

This Week in Nature: The 3rd week in February

What's Happening in Hawaii

During the 3rd week in February:

 

On the atolls and islands at the northwest end of the archipelago, the Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) is beginning to bear its young. Already 30 pounds at birth, a seal pup grows rapidly during the next five or six weeks, increasing in weight to as much as 200 pounds. Throughout this period, its mother devotes all her time to nursing the pup and teaching it to swim, not even pausing to feed herself.

The monk seal once lived throughout the archipelago and, except for the Hawaiian bat, is the only native mammal remaining on the islands.

Biologically unchanged in 15 million years, it does not flee from intruders, and after centuries of human predation and intrusion into breeding areas, the monk seal today is a federally listed endangered species.

Its Hawaiian name, ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua, means "dog running in the toughness" and probably refers to its awkward gait as well as to its doglike face.

Click here to visit a previous DOFAW blog post about the Hawaiian monk seal, including information about hiking at Kaena Point, Oahu.

Also, visit the Monk Seal Mania blog, where photos, frequent updates and even video will keep you up-to-date with Monk seal activity on Oahu.

Some text from "Hawaii: A Calendar of Natural Events"

published by the Bishop Museum and Kamehameha Schools in 1989

All photos by C. Tucker

Laysan Albatross Return to Kaena Point

The birds are back!

Laysan Albatross have begun to arrive at Kaena Point after being out at sea for several months.

Albatross at Kaena Point, Oahu.
Photo: C. Tucker

Birds of breeding age come back to areas, including Kaena Point, at this time of year to lay eggs and raise their young.

Female albatross with egg.
Photo: C. Tucker 

For more information about the Laysan Albatross and their habits, check out... the National Audubon Society albatross page.

To learn about some of the challenges the albatross are facing, click to read the article "Bringing Home the Trash."

Like the beach? Help clean it up on Saturday December 12!

The Friends of Kaena invite you to 
Malama Kaena...


By helping with a beach clean-up
Saturday December 12 2009
9am-12pm

Want to help? Meet at YMCA Camp Erdman  69-385 Farrington Hwy.

Come dressed to work outside in hot weather. Don't forget sunscreen and a hat!

Afterwards, join the Friends of Kaena board members for lunch, where they'll discuss plans to further malama Kaena.

The Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi)

can often be seen at the very end of Kaena Point. 

pōhinahina (vitex rotundifolia)
is one of the first plants to colonize coastal dunes, keeping the sand from blowing away. This hardy shrub bears handsome deep blue to purple blossoms that are a favorite of lei makers and growers of Hawaiian plants.
Pōhinahina is a native plant that grows at Kaena Point.

Native Species of the Week: Hawaiian monk seal

What's that in the tidepool? A fish? A shark?

It's an endangered Hawaiian monk seal!

These monk seals were spotted at Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve on the island of Oahu. Hawaiian monk seals are native to Hawaii, and they are endemic, meaning they are found no place else in the world. This is their only home.

Monk seals love to relax and recharge in the tidepools, and can often be seen here, at the Western-most point of Oahu.

Monk seals used to live throughout the Hawaiian archipelago, and along with the Hawaiian Bat, is one of only two native mammals that live in the islands.

The Hawaiian name for monk seal is 'īlio-holo-i-ka-uaua, and translates into English roughly as "dog running in the toughness," which probably refers both to it's doglike face and it's awkward way of moving on land.

To learn more about monk seals, visit the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center page.

Other animals you may see at Kaena include Laysan Albatross and Humpback whales, depending on the season.

If you visit Kaena Point, make sure to respect all posted signs within the Natural Area Reserve, and be prepared! (See below for guidelines)

Keep an eye out for the monk seals, but make sure to observe them from a distance. Bring your binoculars and zoom-lens camera, and you'll be able to watch these endangered animals play and lounge in the shallows.

Some guidelines for visiting this amazing place:

- Be prepared! Bring lots of water. It is usually hot and sunny in this area.

- Wear comfortable clothes, hiking or walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat.

- The hike is 2.5 miles long, and can take up to 3 hours, depending on your pace.

- Be aware of the big waves and strong currents along the coast, and stay away from the water unless you are familiar with these hazardous conditions.

Kaena Point is a favorite spot on Oahu for Endangered Hawaiian monk seals, you can help their home be a pleasant place for them and for visitors:
- Leave your pets at home; dogs can disturb or even kill ground-nesting birds.

- Stay on the trails and avoid disturbing the birds.
- Prevent fires and carry out all your rubbish.
- Lend a hand and pick up litter on the ground.
- Leave all living things as you found them.

For more info about Kaena Point, visit The Kaena Point NAR info page.

Click here to watch "Restoring A Sanctuary," a movie about restoration at Kaena Point.

Click here to learn more about the Kaena Point Ecosystem Restoration Project. 

All photos: B. Gagne