Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
Maui, Hawaii

A photo and information about the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge on the south shore of the island of Maui in Hawaii.

Photo Credit: Forest & Kim Starr (USGS)

I think this 400 acre area was first established as a reserve in 1963 and establed as a national reserve in 1992. There are restrictions on entering the reserve but it is still possible to birdwatch from locations around the reserve.

Wonderful spot for bird watching
- Aukuu (Black-crowned Night-Herons)
- Aeo (Hawaiian Black-necked Stilts)
- Alae keokeo (Hawaiian Coots).

The Kealia Pond is usually very full of water during the winter but it is usually much smaller in summer, therefore there are more birds here during the winter then during the summer.

The Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge was established on the south coast of Maui in 1992 to provide a protected home for more then 30 species of shorebirds, migratory ducks, and Hawaii's native water birds. The refuge is 700 acres in size and when the pond is full it covers 250 of those acres. Kealia Beach, a nesting ground for the hawksbill turtle, is locate next to Kealia Pond.

Nature Trail Through the Refuge
A 2200-foot pedestrian boardwalk installed in 2005, at a cost of $2 Million, was never opened to the public because the recycled plastic materials used for the deck and handrails started cracking soon after it was installed. In September of 2006 the boardwalk repairs began. The deteriorating plastic boards and rails are being replaced with a new kind of plastic and wood composite material made by the Trex Company from recycled grocery bags. The repair project will cost approximately $600,000 and it is expected to be completed sometime in 2007.

Refuge Location
Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge is located in the Maalaea Flats on North Kihei Road, on the southeast coast of Maui.

Articles

Recreation Dot Gov Kealia Pond NWR Article

News About the Kealia Pond Wildlife Refuge

2006 Sep 25: Kealia Boardwalk Repairs Start

2005 Nov 18: Cracks Show in Kealia Project

2004 Feb 10: Effort to Cut Midge Population

Refuge Contact Information
Maui National Wildlife Refuge Complex
101 North Kihei Road, P.O. Box 1042
Kihei, Hawai`i 96753
Phone: 808-875-1582 \ Fax: 808-875-2945

See also:

Eco Tours on Maui

Other Attractions on Maui

Activities on Maui

Related Links
Maui Island - Main Menu
Islands of Hawaii
Hawaii for Visitors

Home Page - About Us - Contact Us - Hawaii Search Engine - Site Map

Hawaii Topics: About Hawaii \| Activities \| Annexation \| Arizona Memorial \| Big Island \| Haleakala \| Events \| Hana \| Hawaii Island \| Horseback Riding \| Hotels \| Honolulu \| Horseback Riding \| Islands \| Kahoolawe \| Kauai \| Lahaina \| Lanai \| Maui \| Military Bases \| Molokai \| Niihau \| North Shore \| Oahu \| Pearl Harbor \| Plantation Village \| Polynesian Cultural Center \| Princess Kaiulani \| Recipes \| Restaurants \| Tropical Drinks \| Transportation \| Volcanoes \| USS Missouri \| Waikiki \| Waikiki Historic Trail \|		Recreation SkateLog Forum SkateLog.com Scuba Doll Hawaiian Music Ask About Sports Web Site Editor Kathie Fry Dot Com Pictures of Kathie Venice Beach Skating	U.S. States Arizona for Visitors California for Visitors Hawaii for Visitors Nevada for Visitors New Mexico for Visitors U.S. Cities Los Angeles for Visitors Miami for Visitors Do It In Long Beach	Continental Travel Do It In Africa Do It In Asia Do It In Europe Do It In Oceania Do It In The Americas More World Travel Travel Guides International Vietnam for Visitors Do It In Thailand

Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge Maui, Hawaii

Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
Maui, Hawaii