In total, we saw some 30 or so birds including the Nene, I’iwi, Apapane, Amakihi, Alauahio/Maui creeper and the Pueo/Hawaiian short-eared owl.
Only Birdwatching Company On Maui
Explore a Bird Lovers Paradise
Expert Guided Maui Birdwatching
Experience Maui’s Incredible & Diverse Birdlife Together
Come with us on this group bird watching Maui tour, where we head to Haleakala National Park and Kealia Wildlife Refuge. Join fellow birders, bird lovers, and other wildlife enthusiasts on this specialized excursion and discover the unique species of birds found on the island, learn about their habits and the various ecosystems in which they thrive, as well about their importance in Hawaiian culture and legends. A checklist will be provided for all birds living on Maui, including their Hawaiian names, and you can borrow our binoculars if you didn’t bring your own.
Trip Details
Trip Details
Price
$265 pp
Included
- Entrance fees to Haleakala National Park ($15pp)
- Water, juices & soda, hot beverages, snacks
- Picnic lunch
- Rain ponchos/umbrellas
- Hiking poles
- Binoculars
- First aid kit
- Reef-safe sunscreen
Departure time
8 am (between 7:15 am and 7:45 am for South Maui hotels–specific pick-up time will be communicated the day prior)
Meeting point
We’ll pick you up from your accommodation in Kihei and Wailea, or meet you at the Maui Tropical Plantation.
Season availability
Our birding tours are available all year round!
Weekly availability
Tuesday and/or Thursday only
Duration
8 hours
Group size
4-8 (a minimum of 4 passengers is required to run the tour)
What to bring
- Layered & warm clothes
- Jacket
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Your own binoculars or scope
- Phone/camera
Physical Requirements
While this tour can be customized to fit your physical abilities and can be very mellow, guests still must be able to enter and exit the vehicle unassisted. Please contact us for details.
Note
- Please note: It is extremely important to ensure that all shoes and gear are free of potential debris from the Big Island & Kauai in attempts to help stop the spread of the Rapid Ohia death fungus that is killing Ohia Lehua trees.
- Due to the fact our native honeycreepers have been decimated by avian malaria, we have to drive to 7,000 ft elevation to find them. We also drive to the summit of Haleakala for a chance at finding Nene, Pueo, and Chukars (and breathtaking views too!) We do our best to spend as much time as possible at the viewing spots, however, be aware that we have to do a fair amount of driving on this tour.
- Temperatures at Haleakala can be 20-40 degrees cooler than sea level, and the weather is unpredictable, so we recommend bringing a rain jacket and a hoodie.
Highlights
Drive up to the 10,023ft summit of Haleakala National Park
Walk around the native and alien-looking silversword endemic plants
Explore Hosmer’s Grove in search of the ‘Apapane, ‘I’iwi, ‘Alauahio (Maui Creeper), ‘Amakihi, Pueo (Short-eared Owl), Nene (Hawaiian Goose), and other birds that live in the park
Travel to Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge to look for the Hawaiian Stilt, the Hawaiian Coot, and other beautiful shore birds!
Discover colorful exotic, introduced, and invasive birds, and learn about their role in Hawaiian ecosystems
What You'll Do
This tour is for all the bird and nature lovers!
On this tour, we start with visiting the summit of Haleakala National Park in search of the endemic Pueo (Hawaiian Short-eared Owl), the Nene (Hawaiian Goose), and the Chukar, as we make our way above the clouds and marvel at the amazing views into the “crater.”
At Hosmer’s Grove, we spend a while looking at our endemic ‘Apapane, ‘I’iwi, ‘Amakihi, and if we’re lucky ‘Alauahio (Maui Creeper), as well as other birds that live in the park.
After a picnic lunch in the park, we head to the Kealia National Wildlife Refuge to find shorebirds and migrants. Local residents include the Black-crown Night Heron, Hawaiian Coots, the elegant Hawaiian Stilts, Wandering Tattlers, and different species of ducks. Depending on the season and our luck, we might find winter-time migrants like the White-faced Ibis, Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitcher, Ruddy Turnstones, and others.
We will provide a checklist so you can keep track of your progress. On any given day, we can find a total of between 18 and 32 species. Guests will also enjoy complimentary juices, snacks, and a full picnic lunch while learning about the ecology, history, and the myths and legends of Maui.
All levels of birding enthusiasm welcome–from hardcore listers to first-timers!
Note: a minimum of 4 participants is required to run this tour. In the unlikely event this number is not reached on your scheduled tour, we will be in touch to discuss options and either reschedule, convert into a private tour, or cancel with a full refund.
See What Our Previous Guests Say
Though I have been to Maui many times, this tour has changed how I think about wetlands and birds. I can now identify many bird species, understand how they eat, reproduce, and otherwise interact with their environment. I loved this tour. I’m now recommending it to my visiting friends.
Great tour for birdwatching. The tour guide Wendy is very knowledgeable and pleasant. I took some good photos of Apapane and Amakihi. The whole day went by so fast! I would recommend it to other birdwatchers and will do it again next time!
