Ever been driving north out of Kihei and wonder what that large expanse of undeveloped property is running from the roadside to the oceanfront?   That large expanse is the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Preserve and it is one of the few natural wetlands remaining in the Hawaiian Islands. 

The Kealia Pond National Wildlife Preserve is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife preserve.  It is slightly less than 700 acres in size and is used to protect many of Hawaii’s endangered species of waterbirds such as the Hawaiian Coot (΄Alae ke΄oke΄o), the Hawaiian Duck (Koloa-maoli), the Black-crowned Night Heron (΄Auku΄u), and the Hawaiian stilt (Ae΄o).  You may also see more populous shore birds here enjoying the natural setting such as the Pacific Golden Plover (Kolea), the Ruddy Turnstone and the Wandering Tattler.

As you drive by the Preserve, you often see a black bird with pink legs.  This is the Hawaiian Stilt, or Ae΄o.  It is a tall, slender, wading bird with a straight black bill, black feathers on the back, white feathers in front, and long pink legs.  The name Ae΄o means “one standing high” in Hawaiian.  In 1983, it was estimated that there were only 1,500 stilts left in the Hawaiian islands with most of them residing on Oahu.   There are no new census reports on the Stilt but it is generally accepted that there are still fewer than 2,000 of them throughout Hawaii.

Along with providing a safe habitat to protect endangered species of Hawaiian birds, Kealia Ponds serves other purposes as well.  The Ponds protect the coral reefs from silting resulting from runoff.  They also act as a buffer to protect the coastal sand dunes at the north end of the preserve which are the natural nesting habitat for another endangered species, the hawksbill sea turtle.   Annually, from July through December, the hawksbill sea turtle come to the shoreline here to lay their eggs.

The preserve has a boardwalk that runs through it.  It starts at the outlet of Kealia Pond on the ocean side of North Kihei Road (near mile marker 2 on Piilani Hwy #31).  It winds its way through the preserve past sand dunes and ponds all the way north to Maalaea Harbor.  Along the boardwalk, you will find many informative signs and displays explaining the pond system and the types of birds you might come across while visiting.  You will also find shade shelters along the way if you want to sit and just observe comfortably with a pair of binoculars. 

The boardwalk is open to the public for self-guided tours 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Mon-Fri.  It is closed on public holidays.  Please call in advance if you are planning on bringing groups of 20 people or larger.

The Kealia Pond National Wildlife Preserve is located about a mile north of the popular town of Kihei.  Located just west of the junction of Piilani Highway #31 and Mokulele Highway #350, the entrance road is located at milepost 6 on the Mokulele Highway.  The entrance is marked by a sign with the US Fish and Wildlife Service logo (featuring a dark blue fish and goose) with the office less than 0.5 miles down this road.

Kealia Pond National Wildlife Preserve
Milepost 6, Mokulele Highway (Hwy 311)
Kihei, HI  96753
Phone:  (808)875-1582

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