Huleia National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
The Hulēia National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge
on the island of Kauai
in Hawaii
. It is adjacent to the Menehune Fish Pond, a registered National Historic Landmark
, on the southeast side of the island. The Hulēia Refuge is approximately 238 acre (96.3 ha) of bottomlands
and wooded slopes along the Hulēia River. It was established in 1973 to provide open, productive wetland
s as nesting and feeding habitat for endangered Hawaiian waterbirds, including the āeo (Hawaiian Stilt, Himantopus mexicanus knudseni
), alae kea (Hawaiian Coot
, Fulica alai), alae ula (Hawaiian Moorhean, Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis
), and koloa maoli (Hawaiian Duck
, Anas wyvilliana) can be found here.
To protect and minimize disturbance to the sensitive endangered species that live there, the refuge is closed to all public access. However, shoreline access is provided just to the east at Niumalu Beach Park
.
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's premiere system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants...
on the island of Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. It is adjacent to the Menehune Fish Pond, a registered National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
, on the southeast side of the island. The Hulēia Refuge is approximately 238 acre (96.3 ha) of bottomlands
Upland and lowland (freshwater ecology)
In studies of the ecology of freshwater rivers, habitats are classified as upland and lowland.-Definitions:Upland habitats are cold, clear, rocky, fast flowing rivers in mountainous areas; lowland habitats are warm, slow flowing rivers found in relatively flat lowland areas, with water that is...
and wooded slopes along the Hulēia River. It was established in 1973 to provide open, productive wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s as nesting and feeding habitat for endangered Hawaiian waterbirds, including the āeo (Hawaiian Stilt, Himantopus mexicanus knudseni
Black-winged Stilt
The Black-winged Stilt or Common Stilt is a widely distributed very long-legged wader in the avocet and stilt family . Opinions differ as to whether the birds treated under the scientific name H. himantopus ought to be treated as a single species and if not, how many species to recognize...
), alae kea (Hawaiian Coot
Hawaiian Coot
The Hawaiian Coot or alae keokeo is a species of bird in the rail family, Rallidae, that is endemic to Hawaii....
, Fulica alai), alae ula (Hawaiian Moorhean, Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis
Common Moorhen
The Common Moorhen is a bird in the Rallidae family with an almost worldwide distribution. The North and South American Committees of the AOU and the IOC have voted on or before July 2011 to split the American forms into a new species Common Gallinule, however, no other committee has voted to...
), and koloa maoli (Hawaiian Duck
Hawaiian Duck
The Hawaiian Duck is a species of bird in the family Anatidae. It is endemic to the large islands of Hawaii. Some authorities treat it as an island subspecies of the Mallard, based on their capacity to produce fertile hybrids, but it appears well distinct and capability of hybridization is...
, Anas wyvilliana) can be found here.
To protect and minimize disturbance to the sensitive endangered species that live there, the refuge is closed to all public access. However, shoreline access is provided just to the east at Niumalu Beach Park
Niumalu Beach Park
Niumalu Beach Park is a county beach park in the district of Niumalu on the south-east coast of the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands.It is located on Nāwiliwili Bay at , about south of Līhue. The Hulēʻia National Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to the west, and Nāwiliwili Beach Park and harbor...
.