Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge

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Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge

Established in 1985 to protect and manage endangered Hawaiian forest birds and their habitat You are fully responsible for the content of your comments.

Established in 1985 to protect and manage endangered Hawaiian forest birds and their habitat on the windward slope of Mauna Kea. We welcome your comments and hope that our conversations here will be courteous. We do not discriminate against any views, but we reserve the right to delete any of the following:

- off-topic comments
- violent, vulgar, obscene, profane, hateful, or racist comments
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mments that threaten or defame any person or organization
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References to commercial entities, products, services, or nongovernmental organizations or individuals are provided solely for information. These references are not intended to reflect the opinion of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the United States Government, or its officers or employees concerning the significance, priority, or importance to be given the referenced entity, product, service, or organization. Such references are not an official or personal endorsement of any product, person, or service and may not be quoted or reproduced for the purpose of stating or implying government endorsement or approval of any product, person, or service. Reporters or other media representatives are asked to send questions through their normal channels and to refrain from submitting questions here as comments. Reporter questions may be removed. This Comment Policy is subject to amendment or modification at any time to ensure that its continued use is consistent with its intended purpose as a limited forum.

02/09/2026

Due to the stormy weather, the refuge will be closed to tours, contractors, and SUP holders Monday, Feb 9th.

02/06/2026

Congratulations and thanks to our Invasive Species Control Team staff for nabbing four feral sheep that broke into the Pua Akala Unit at Hakalau. Sheep love to eat mamane—now the hundreds of seedlings we’ve recently planted are safe again!

01/31/2026

As a bureau of the Department of Interior, for which a budget was previously passed, the USFWS is not included in the current partial government shutdown. Tours, volunteer programs, contractors, and staff are operating as normal at Hakalau.

11/23/2025

Happy to be back at the refuge, our whole staff worked together each day this week—Inspecting 27 miles of fence, up-potting 2500 seedlings, and picking contractor bags full of koa and mamane pods. It was a great way to catch up on work and with each other!

11/19/2025

When we say the fire got close, we mean CLOSE!

We’re all still so relieved and grateful! As refuge staff fanned out across the refuge for fence inspections today, we were greeted by a hatch-year ‘elepaio, a brilliant ‘akiapola’au, flocks of feisty ‘apapane…they seemed to be celebrating the return of rain and maybe even safety from the fire!

11/17/2025

Happy news as staff return to the refuge after the furlough and near-miss Mana Road fire—Four fluffy nene goslings have emerged from their nest at the Pua Akala Barn!

The refuge has received over 7” of rain since the fire started November 7th, which helped with fire suppression, and will stimulate grass growth and fruit development to sustain the little nene.

Mahalo to Pablo for the photo.

11/14/2025

The refuge remains closed this weekend while fire crews continue work on the fire.

11/10/2025

As the chopper makes a hard right turn, the sharp-pointed corner of the refuge can be seen, bordered by firebreaks mowed just a few weeks ago. The burnt gorse hillside to the left stretches about a mile further down Mana Road, just a few hundred feet from the refuge along this whole length. Mahalo, mahalo, mahalo for the containment of this fire.

11/09/2025

As of Sunday morning, fire crews have so far been able to keep the refuge safe, by cutting firebreaks using heavy equipment and back-burning where appropriate to create a safety buffer. We are so grateful for their hard work and expertise.

The refuge will remain closed to permit holders, tours, and contractors as long as Mana Rd is closed, and until refuge staff have been able to assess conditions.

10/01/2025

Mahalo to the Mauna Kea Watershed Alliance for helping to get hundreds of keiki plants up-potted and squared away early this week! Isn’t the greenhouse looking amazing?

We won’t be posting for a bit, but look forward to updating you on the progress of all the plants soon!

Address

60 Nowelo Street
Hilo, HI
96720

Website

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/hakalau_forest/

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