Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
One of the best places for amateur bird-watchers to catch a glimpse of Hawai'i's native
species is at
Hosmer's Grove
on the moderate, half-mile loop trail. Even if you don't see
any of the native species of honeycreepers—birds whose bills have been specially adapted
to extract nectar out of native plant species—the treetops of Hosmer's Grove chirp with
a birdsong different than anywhere else on the planet. While casual hikers have a good
chance of spotting an
'i'wi
or
'apapane,
the best way of spotting a rare species is to take a
guided walk into the
Waikamoi Preserve
with a national park ranger. Every Monday and
Thursday at 8:45am rangers lead three-mile guided walks into the preserve monitored by
The Nature Conservancy which focus on the area's native flora and fauna. For more in-
formation call park staff at 808/572-4400. Reservations are essential. Although operating
on a less frequent basis, hikes into the preserve are also occasionally arranged by the
Maui
Forest Bird Recovery Project
(808/573-0280).
Higher on the slopes of the park, bird-watchers should keep an eye out for two en-
dangered species, the
'u'au
(Hawaiian petrel), which burrows in areas near the summit vis-
itor center, and the
nene
(Hawaiian goose), which can be spotted along roadways as well
as the valley floor. At one time facing imminent extinction (it's estimated only 30 birds
remained in 1951), the
nene
has made a moderately healthy comeback in recent years. Re-
searchers now estimate the state's population at more than 2,000 birds in the wild. The
nene
is also the official state bird. One of the best places for spotting the rare goose is in
the wet grasslands and pastures surrounding Paliku Cabin on the eastern edge of the crater
floor.
Anyone driving up the slopes of Polipoli might look out and simply see a lot of grass,
but to the trained eye of a paraglider, this misty green hillside offers perfect conditions for
throwing yourself off a ledge and getting a bird's-eye view of Maui.
Proflyght Hawaii
Paragliding
(1598 Waipoli Rd., 808/874-5433,
www.paraglidemaui.com
, 7am-7pm daily)
is the oldest—and only—full-fledged paragliding school in all of Hawai'i. Due to the is-
land's optimal conditions, tandem instructors are able to help people soar above the pas-
turelands 330 days out of the year, and the launching and landing sites are perfectly suited
to learning the sport of paragliding. Nearly all of the flights take place in the still morning
hours before the clouds fill in. Tandem flights cost $95 for a 1,000-foot descent, or $185
