Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge: Kihei’s Unique Endemic Bird Sanctuary

Located between Kihei and Maalaea on the Island of Maui, the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge is a beautiful spot to visit for some great birdwatching. There are quite a few migratory birds that make a stop here at Kealia Pond before continuing their journey, so paired with some endemic species and introduced varieties, you’ll love the wildlife you find here. It’s so easy to arrive on Maui and just head to a beach or resort, but there are many wonderful places like the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge to visit.

Have you gotten to stop here and watch the rails and night herons? We’ve got the full scoop on adding the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge to your time on Maui, and some other great birding suggestions too. If you have any questions about visiting or putting together a plan for your time in Kihei, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a memorable trip to Hawaii.

Highlights of Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge

Hawaii is an odd place to go birding because it’s so far out in the ocean that you don’t get a ton of migratory birds, at least in comparison to the continental USA. Here at Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge the birds species might not seem too exotic, but then when you read about them and consider the wildlife you’re watching, it’s pretty cool what you get to see. The primary birds to watch for here are the Hawaiian Stilt (called the Ae’o) and the Hawaiian Coot (‘Alae ke’oke’o). You may see some of these birds other places around the Hawaiian Islands, but those spots are few and far between.

For example, there are very few places that have the right environment for the Hawaiian stilts, so your best chance of seeing them anywhere in Hawaii is here on Maui at Kealia Pond NWR. One of my favorite species of birds to see anywhere, and I was surprised to see them here, is the night heron. I think of these as a Texas bird, not a tropical middle-of-the-ocean bird. We’ve seen them here and on Kauai in the Allerton Botanical Gardens.

Besides the birdwatching, because I know that’s not everyone’s thing, there’s more to visiting Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge. There are two separate areas to visit: the coastal boardwalk and the visitor center area. The boardwalk is always open and has parking areas off the highway. There is also beach access here, so it’s a popular spot for all kinds of visitors to Maui. Kihei has lots of great beaches, and the beach connected to Kealia Pond NWR is one of them! The visitor center area is quite different and focuses more on the namesake pond.

Tips for a Visiting Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge

Before you plan your morning or afternoon visit to Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge, confirm that both parts of the preserve are open to the public. The boardwalk and beach access is always open, but the actual pond trails and visitor center is only open on weekdays and with limited hours. To see the exhibits and visit the larger part of the preserve plan appropriately to be able to access the whole complex. If you only get to do the boardwalk, that’s okay, but you’ll miss the larger portion with the more fascinating birds. Just be sure you enjoy the beach then.

I think the early morning or late afternoon is the best time to visit Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge. If you can get there before the sun is above Haleakala then you’ll get some interesting light for photographs. When the sun is beyond the halfway point and no longer directly beating down, that’s another good time to see birds. While many more will settle in just before sunset, the afternoon just before the visitor center area closes is the best time to be able to see birds AND access that area.

Note: this is a National Wildlife Refuge and these are wild animals. DO NOT bring food to feed the different birds. That is illegal and does much more harm than good.

Being Prepared for the Kealia Pond Trails

The walking paths at the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge are very well maintained and level for the most part. You can enjoy the paths in just slippers (flip flops) or whatever other sort of footwear you’ve got. Well, not high heels. Be sure to put on your sunblock in advance, and if you’re planning to have some beach time, make sure that you’re using reef-safe sunscreen.

For those planning on spending a fair amount of time at Kealia Pond, there’s not a ton of shade, so bringing a broad brimmed hat or umbrella is a good idea. There’s a lot of sun to be had in this part of Kihei and it’s pretty dry. Try to stay cool and NOT get a sunburn. Like at the Kilauea Point NWR on Kauai, this is a very open place that’ll toast you.

For the photographers out there, this is a great opportunity to bust out your big lenses. I don’t travel with anything larger than a 600mm lens, but if you’ve got something bigger, this is a great spot to use it. The trail does get you close to the water’s edge and there are some great viewpoints, but even still the birds do tend to start further from the trail than not. They don’t want to interact with humans so you may need to zoom a bit. The Kanuimanu Dike Trail leaves from the visitor center and is about a mile and a half in total, but you don’t have to do the whole grid if you’ve gotten to see some wonderful birds early on.

Special Events at the Kealia Pond NWR

I love ranger talks and guided wildlife stuff. The first Saturday of the month there Fish and Wildlife rangers do a guided birding talk leaving from the visitor center, covering both parts of the refuge. The also have special educational things going on for kids when they do the Saturday events, so if you have time during your trip to Maui, pay a visit and learn something!

Parking at Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge

At the visitor center for the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge there is plenty of parking to access both the exhibits and the trails. You’ll enter this area from the Maui Veterans Highway that connects Kihei to Kahului. For the boardwalk section, it’s a little more difficult. You’ll enter from and there is parking off of North Kihei Road and it’s a one-way drive in. If you can’t get a spot in this lot, there is more parking as you drive towards Kihei like you’re planning on visiting the beach. Be sure that you park fully off the road and then you’ll be able to walk back towards the boardwalk.