Sula sula | red-footed booby | ʻā
Indigenous
Other Names: akeake
The ʻā, or red-footed booby, is the most abundant booby in the Hawaiian Islands. The nest in colonies and almost exclusively in shrubs and trees. Young birds do not have the characteristic pinkish-red feet they are named for. They gain their red feet as they become adults. They are mostly white with black wing edges and a pale blue bill.
The map below shows birding trails where you might see this bird. Learn more by visiting our species profile page for ʻā.
Hotspots for red-footed booby
- Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge | Details for Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge
- Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge | Details for Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
- Salt Pond Beach Park | Details for Salt Pond Beach Park
- Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary | Details for Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary
- Pihea Trail | Details for Pihea Trail
- Nuʻupia Ponds | Details for Nuʻupia Ponds
- Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail | Details for Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail
- Lāʻie Point State Wayside Park | Details for Lāʻie Point State Wayside Park
- Lānaʻi Lookout | Details for Lānaʻi Lookout
- James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge | Details for James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge
- SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park | Details for SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park
- Open Ocean | Details for Open Ocean
- Keāhole Point | Details for Keāhole Point
Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge
Wetland
![Hanalei NWR_photo credit FWS](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Hanalei-NWR_photo-credit-FWS-300x180.webp)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
Coastal
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Kilauea-Point-NWR_D-Peebles-300x180.webp)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Ranger Station Ranger Station](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/ranger-station.png)
Salt Pond Beach Park
Coastal
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Salt-Pond-Beach-Park-300x180.jpg)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Picnic area Picnic area](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/picnic.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary
Wetland
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Kawaiele-State-Waterbird-Sanctuary_DLNR-300x180.png)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
Pihea Trail
Wet forest
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Pihea-Trail-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
Nuʻupia Ponds
Wetland
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail
Coastal
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Makapuu-Point-Lighthouse-Trail-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
Lāʻie Point State Wayside Park
Coastal
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Laie-Point-State-Wayside-Park-300x180.jpg)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Lānaʻi Lookout
Coastal
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge
Wetland
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park
Coastal
![Waianapanapa State Park](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Waianapanapa-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Picnic area Picnic area](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/picnic.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Open Ocean
Open Ocean
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Open-Ocean-300x180.jpg)
Keāhole Point
Coastal
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Keahole-Point-300x180.jpg)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)