Kawainui Marsh
Encompassing 830 acres of land, Kawainui Marsh is the largest remaining wetland in Hawaiʻi today. Once an important place for fishing, kalo farming, and cultural practice, Kawainui Marsh is now being restored to create suitable waterbird habitat for endangered aeʻo (Hawaiian stilt), ʻalae ʻula (Hawaiian gallinule), and ʻalae keʻokeʻo (Hawaiian coot).
Kawainui Marsh
Wetland
Managed by: Division of Forestry and Wildlife
Hours & Site Information: Visit Website
Important Info:
The marsh can be viewed from multiple areas. A walking trail into the eastern border of the marsh extends from Kaha Park, at the end of Kaha Street in Kailua. Views of the marsh are also available from the Ulupō Heiau State Historic Site, and the Nā Pōhaku o Huawahine trail on Kapaʻa Quarry Road. Access is restricted to the perimeter marked trails and roads, or other marked trails or roads. No motorized vehicles.
Birds
| American Birding Association Common Name | Hawaiian Name | Scientific Name | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaiian duck | koloa | Anas wyvilliana | |
| northern shoveler | koloa moha | Spatula clypeata | |
| red junglefowl (domestic) | moa | Gallus gallus | |
| brown booby | ʻā | Sula leucogaster | |
| cattle egret | Bubulcus ibis | ||
| Hawaiian gallinule | ‘Alae ‘ula | Gallinula galeata sandvicensis | |
| Pacific golden-plover | kōlea | Pluvialis fulva | |
| sanderling | hunakai | Calidris alba | |
| rock pigeon | Columba livia | ||
| spotted dove | Spilopelia chinensis | ||
| zebra dove | Geopelia striata | ||
| rose-ringed parakeet | Psittacula krameri | ||
| red-vented bulbul | Pycnonotus cafer | ||
| red-whiskered bulbul | Pycnonotus jocosus | ||
| Japanese bush-warbler | Horornis diphone | ||
| red-billed leiothrix | Leiothrix lutea | ||
| common myna | Acridotheres tristis | ||
| red-crested cardinal | Paroaria coronata | ||
| saffron finch | Sicalis flaveola | ||
| northern cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | ||
| house finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | ||
| yellow-fronted canary | Crithagra mozambica | ||
| house sparrow | Passer domesticus | ||
| common waxbill | Estrilda astrild | ||
| African silverbill | Euodice cantans | ||
| Java sparrow | Lonchura oryzivora | ||
| scaly-breasted munia | Lonchura punctulata | ||
| chestnut munia | Lonchura atricapilla |