A few miles northwest of Kahuku town heading toward Turtle Bay, this rare freshwater wetland provides habitat for four of Hawaii's six endangered waterbirds – the ʻalae keʻokeʻo (Hawaiian coot), aeʻo (Hawaiian black-necked stilt), koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck) and ʻalae ʻula (Hawaiian moorhen). During stilt nesting season, normally mid-February through mid-October, the refuge is off-limits to visitors.
The rest of the year you may only visit by taking a volunteer-guided tour. Finding the refuge is tricky, so ask for directions when you call ahead for tour reservations.
