Photo: Patrick_McNally / CC BY 3.0

Parks 3 ft Bortle 1 Solitude: 90/100 (remote)

Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge on the island of Moloka‘i was established in 1976 to permanently protect wetland habitat for endangered waterbirds, primarily Hawaiian stilt and Hawaiian coot, and to provide habitat for wintering migratory wetland birds.

Near Kaunakakai, HI in Hawaii

What to Pack for Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge, Maui

The right gear makes all the difference — here's a packing list tailored to this area.

Your packing list for Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge should account for the Tropical terrain and Unknown.

Essential

Water (minimum 2L) — Water sources marked on maps may be seasonal or dry; carrying enough to complete your route prevents a dangerous shortfall.
Navigation (map/GPS/compass) — Getting lost is the leading cause of backcountry search-and-rescue calls; reliable navigation prevents the situation entirely.
Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen) — Prolonged sun exposure causes headaches, fatigue, and heat exhaustion that can cut a trip short or create a medical emergency.
First aid kit — Remote locations mean longer response times for help; a first aid kit bridges the gap between injury and professional care.
Extra food — High-energy snacks weigh little but provide crucial fuel if you need to bushwhack out or wait for conditions to improve.
Headlamp with extra batteries — Hands-free light is essential for navigating uneven terrain, setting up camp, or signaling for help at night.
Fire starter — Waterproof matches or a ferro rod weigh almost nothing and can be the difference between a cold night and a survivable one.
Emergency shelter (space blanket) — Wind and rain strip heat faster than most people realize; a compact emergency shelter blocks both.
Knife or multi-tool — A multi-tool handles problems you can't predict: jammed zippers, tangled line, first-aid tape cutting, or gear fixes on the trail.
Extra clothing layer — A lightweight fleece or puffy stuffs small but provides critical insulation if temperatures drop unexpectedly.

Activities & Best Time to Visit Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge, Maui

The Tropical terrain here lends itself to a range of outdoor activities throughout the year.

Visitors come to Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge primarily for birdwatching, though the Tropical terrain opens up other options too.

With a photography score of 35/100, Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge offers Exceptional dark sky (Bortle 1-2) and 1 excellent meteor showers worth capturing.

Activities

birdwatching — Binoculars and field guides help track seasonal migrations and rare sightings.
hiking — Hiking ranges from gentle nature walks to challenging summit climbs.
photography — Golden hour and dramatic weather can transform ordinary scenes into striking images.
picnicking — Picnicking turns a scenic overlook or shady grove into a memorable gathering spot.
walking — Walking lets you slow down and notice details — wildflowers, birdsong, shifting light through trees.
wildlife_viewing — Early mornings and dusk offer the best chances to quietly spot native wildlife.

Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Terrain: Tropical — Dense plant growth and broadleaf species dominate many tropical areas.

Nature & Wildlife at Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge, Maui

The Tropical terrain here supports a rich ecosystem worth noticing as you explore.

The forests and meadows around Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge support a diverse community of wildlife, from Humpback Whale and Hawaiian Monk Seal to Zebra Dove and Common Myna.

Trees (2)

Portia tree — Portia tree is a coastal species with heart-shaped glossy leaves.
thatch screwpine — Thatch screwpine has long strap-like leaves arranged spirally around the stem.

Shrubs (1)

White leadtree — White leadtree is a thorny shrub or small tree with finely divided compound leaves.

Other Plants (5)

beach naupaka
Beach Morning Glory
Sea Almond
coconut palm
Guinea Grass

Mammals (4)

Humpback Whale — Dark body with white underside markings unique to each individual.
Hawaiian Monk Seal — Whiskered snout and streamlined body.
Spinner Dolphin — Known for spinning leaps out of the water.
Domestic Cat — Retractable claws and sharp teeth adapted for hunting.

Birds (14)

Zebra Dove — Blue eye ring
Common Myna — Black head
Pacific Golden-Plover — Golden-spangled back
House Sparrow — Plain brown female with buff eyebrow
Semipalmated Plover — Single black breast band

Reptiles (5)

Brown Anole — Males display an orange-red throat fan.
Green Sea Turtle — Head is relatively small compared to body size.
Gold Dust Day Gecko — Red markings may appear on snout and head.
Asian House Gecko — Adhesive toe pads allow climbing smooth surfaces.
Mourning Gecko — Large eyes and adhesive toe pads are prominent.

Amphibians (1)

Cane Toad

Insects (4)

Monarch
Gulf Fritillary
Giant Asian Mantis
Black Witch

Other Wildlife (20)

African Giant Snail
Wedgetail Triggerfish
Thin-shelled Rock Crab
Yellow Tang
Moorish Idol

Nature Bingo at Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge, Maui

Can you spot them all? Check off each species as you find it on your visit.

Wildlife Challenge

Western Cattle-Egret (bird)
Humpback Whale (mammal)
Brown Anole (reptile)
Cane Toad (amphibian)
beach naupaka (plant)

Botany Challenge

Abelmoschus
Abelmoschus Moschatus
Cyrtandra Hashimotoi
Gahnia Beecheyi
Panicum Beecheyi
Catharanthus Roseus

Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge, Maui Climate & Sun

Month-by-month climate and daylight information for Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge.

Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge experiences Unknown conditions with average temperatures ranging from °F in to °F in .

Climate type: Unknown

Winter 0°

1.6"

Spring 0°

1.0"

Summer 0°

0.3"

Fall 0°

0.9"

Month	Avg Temp	Precip
Jan	0°F	1.6 in
Feb	0°F	1.6 in
Mar	0°F	2.2 in
Apr	0°F	1.0 in
May	0°F	0.3 in
Jun	0°F	0.4 in
Jul	0°F	0.3 in
Aug	0°F	0.5 in
Sep	0°F	0.6 in
Oct	0°F	0.9 in
Nov	0°F	0.6 in
Dec	0°F	2.0 in

Daylight & Sun Times

Daylight ranges from 10.9 hours in winter to 13.4 hours in summer — a difference of 2.5 hours.

Summer: 5:45 AM – 7:09 PM

Winter: 6:56 AM – 5:48 PM

Winter Solstice: Sunrise 6:56 AM, Sunset 5:48 PM Golden hour from 5:16 PM

Summer Solstice: Sunrise 5:45 AM, Sunset 7:09 PM Golden hour from 6:37 PM

Spring Equinox: Sunrise 6:37 AM, Sunset 6:37 PM Golden hour from 6:07 PM

Fall Equinox: Sunrise 6:14 AM, Sunset 6:31 PM Golden hour from 6:02 PM

Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge, Maui Trip Planning & Access

Ready to visit? Here's what to know about getting here and what it'll cost.

Getting to Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge means a 2375-mile drive from San Jose, the closest major city.

Nearest city: San Jose (2375 mi)

Estimated fuel cost: $593.84 (28 mpg, $3.5/gallon)

Carbon footprint: 1919.3 kg CO2 (round trip by car)

Visitor Friendliness

Visitor friendliness: families (excellent), dogs (likely_allowed), elderly (highly_suitable).

Dogs: likely_allowed — No restrictions found
Families: excellent
Elderly: highly_suitable
Strollers: excellent (100/100)
Beginners: Perfect for beginners (Moderate difficulty (+5), Good information available (+5))
Accessibility: Generally accessible to most visitors (90/100)

Places Near Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge, Maui

If you're in the area, these nearby destinations are worth considering too.

The area around Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge includes trails, campgrounds, and other destinations.

Nearby Trails

Pali Trail, Kalaupapa NHP 8.34 mi
Phallic Rock Trail, Kalaupapa NHP 8.7 mi
Kalaupapa Overlook Trail, Kalaupapa NHP 8.76 mi
Lighthouse Trail, Kalaupapa NHP 10.27 mi

Nearby Attractions

Judd Park, Kalaupapa NHP 7.52 mi
Father Damien's Grave, Kalaupapa NHP 7.8 mi
St. Philomena Church, Kalaupapa NHP 7.8 mi

Stargazing & Night Sky at Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge, Maui

If you're staying past sunset, the stargazing conditions here are worth planning around.

With Bortle class 1 skies, Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge offers Excellent dark-sky site conditions for observing the night sky.

Bortle 1 Excellent dark-sky site

Constellations

Look for Ursa Minor — all visible from this location depending on the season.

Ursa Minor — This compact constellation contains Polaris at the end of its handle, a reliable guide to true north.

Meteor Showers

For meteor viewing, the Geminids (December 13-14) offers the best show at this location.

Geminids — peaks December 13-14 (excellent)
Cold December air often means clear skies—look overhead after midnight for bright, slow-moving meteors.
Quadrantids — peaks January 3-4 (good)
Bundle up—January nights are frigid, but dark skies can produce bright fireballs.
Perseids — peaks August 11-13 (good)
Peak activity typically builds after midnight when Perseus climbs higher.
Eta Aquariids — peaks May 5-6 (good)
Southern U.S. observers often get better rates due to the radiant's position.
Delta Aquariids — peaks July 28-29 (good)
This steady shower rewards patient observers in dark, moonless conditions.

Planets

Planets visible to the naked eye from this location:

Venus — The brightest planet, often called the Morning or Evening Star
Jupiter — The largest planet, bright and steady in the night sky
Saturn — Famous for its rings, visible as a golden steady light
Mars — The Red Planet, recognizable by its reddish-orange hue

Equipment Guide

Naked eye: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Mercury (with care)
Binoculars: Jupiter moons, Uranus, Saturn rings (barely)
Small telescope: Saturn rings, Jupiter bands, Mars surface features, Neptune

Viewing Tips

Check planets rise/set times for your specific date
Planets appear along the ecliptic (zodiac path)
Planets don't twinkle like stars - steady light
Venus and Jupiter are unmistakable - brightest objects after Moon
Use a stargazing app to confirm planet positions
Best viewing: when planet is highest in sky (transit)

Best Viewing Months

Evening: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Morning: Jul, Aug, Sep

Seasonal Highlights at Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge, Maui

Each season brings something different to this area.

What you'll see at Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge depends heavily on when you visit.

Indigenous Land at Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge, Maui

Long before trails were marked and campgrounds built, this land was home to Indigenous peoples.

This area is part of the ancestral territory of Nā moku ʻehā.

Territories

Nā moku ʻehā

Languages

2 Indigenous languages are associated with the peoples of this area: ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Hoailona ʻŌlelo o Hawaiʻi (Hawai’i Sign Language).

Data from Native Land Digital

Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge, Maui Geology & Natural History

Beyond the trails and wildlife, Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge sits within a landscape shaped by millions of years of geological processes. Here's what researchers and surveys have documented about this area.

Endangered Species

Species at Risk: 1780
ESA Endangered: 149
ESA Threatened: 2
Conservation Score: 100/100

Temperature Records

Record High: 98°F (1920-05-26)
Record Low: 47°F (1958-12-31)

Watershed

Watershed: Halawa Bay-Pacific Ocean

Shipwrecks

Known Wrecks: 5
Avg Depth: 1 ft

Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge, Maui Safety & Conditions

Conditions change fast outdoors — bookmark these official sources for your visit.

Real-time safety data for Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge — weather, fire, flood, and road conditions.

Flood zone: In FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (Zone A)