Hawaiian Wildlife

Wildlife of Hawaii Island

The Big Island

Photos and information about Hawaiian wildlife.

Hawaii has an unusually high proportion of species that are native to only to Hawaiian Islands. Many of the original Hawaiian species are now endangered or even exinct due to introduced species. All land mammal species in Hawaii were introduced by humans except for the Hawaiian Hoary Bat. In contrast, all marine mammals found around Hawaii are native. Hawaii has no native species of terrestrial reptiles or amphibians. All now found here were introduced. However, the sea turtles and sea snakes are native.

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The Hawaiian Monk Seal

01/02/2014: We spotted a two month old Hawaiian monk seal baby sunbathing on the beach in Keokea Beach Park. We were told by the volunteers from the Monk Seal Foundation that the mother was away feeding.

There are currently only around 1,100 Hawaiian monk seals left and their numbers continue to go down by 4% per year. A health care center for seals is being built in Kailua-Kona and the name will be: 
Ke Kai Ola (The Healing Sea).

Nene – The Hawaiian Goose

The Nene, also known as Nēnē and Hawaiian Goose, is a species of goose endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The Nene is the official bird of the state of Hawaii and is only found in the wild on the islands of Hawaii, Maui and Kauai. The Hawaiian name Nēnē comes from its soft call.

Hawaiian Sea Turtles

Hawaii is the home to five species of sea turtles. It is common for snorkelers and divers on the Big Island to see the green sea turtle and they can be seen resting on lava and beaches along the Kohala Coast (10 min. from our cottages). Loggerheads, leatherbacks and Olive ridleys are for the most part only encountered in deep offshore waters. Hawaiian hawksbill turtles are very rare and are watched over very carefully by the Hawaii Wildlife Fund’s research projects. Under State and Federal law, it is illegal to harass, touch, or crowd them. Be respektful of the sea turtles and observe them and take photoes from a safe and reasonable distance.

Hawksbill sea turtle Hawaiian name: Honu’ea or Ea
Green sea turtle Hawaiian name: Honu

Birds Of Hawaii

With Biologist/Photografer Jack Jeffrey in Hakalau, Hawaii Island.