To celebrate our anniversary, we set off for the Big Island of Hawaii. This blog serves as a guide to the numerous birding hotspots we discovered, ranging from native forest birds to coastal seabirds. But since even the most dedicated birder needs a break, we’ve also included some of our favorite non-birding locations and activities that made our trip unforgettable.
Magic Sands Beach Area
For our initial four-day stay, we rented a fantastic VRBO apartment, ideally situated a mere three-minute walk from Magic Sands Beach. This cozy spot, attached to a private home, proved to be a birding goldmine from the get-go! We were thrilled to add three life birds to our list without even leaving the yard: Gray Francolin, Zebra Dove, and the adorable Java Sparrow. The following morning, the beach yielded two more lifers, the Common Waxbill and the Yellow-billed Cardinal. Other great beach birds were Saffron Finch and Wandering Tattler.
Seeking out new landscapes and new birds, we took a drive to Hokulia Shoreline Park. Tucked away beyond the Hokulia Resort and Golf Course, this spot requires a brief stop at the guard gate to obtain a park pass. The hike to the beach winds past ancient rock walls and other man-made structures from eons ago. The dramatic lava shoreline (see cover photo) offered spectacular views and, more importantly for us, at least eight Pacific Golden-Plovers on the beach.
Hilo
Our journey to Hilo began with a stop at Kaulana Manu, previously known as Kīpuka 21. This short .6-mile trail leads you through a pocket of old forest, miraculously untouched by the surrounding lava flows. This is a renowned birding hotspot for some of Hawaii Island’s native forest birds. We were thrilled to see the Warbling White-eye, Red-billed Leiothrix, Omao, Apapane, Hawaii Amakihi, and the highly sought-after I’iwi.
Our first stop in Hilo was Onekahakaha Beach Park, which features a large, shallow, white-sand-bottomed pool protected by a lava rock seawall. This is a popular beach for picnics and snorkeling. Ruddy Turnstone was a new bird for the trip. Just a short distance away at Lokowaka Pond, we observed the Hawaiian Coot and Western Cattle-Egret rookery.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
No trip to the Big Island would be complete without a visit to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Our first stop was Kipuka Puaulu, also known as the Bird Park, located near the base of Mauna Loa. This 1.2-mile loop trail includes native trees, plants, and birds. Our target bird was the Kalij Pheasant, which we located near the end of the loop.
The Kīlauea Volcano is one of the world’s most active volcanoes and has been erupting almost weekly since December 2024. The views were absolutely breathtaking. A pair of Hawaiian Geese hanging around the parking lot added another life bird to our growing list.
Waikoloa Beach Area
For the remainder of our trip, we based ourselves in the Waikoloa Beach Area. Our scheduled birding tour was canceled due to trail conditions, but this was no setback as we’d already independently sighted most key species. An unplanned stop on the Hawaiʻi Belt Road yielded a Yellow-fronted Canary.
A chance encounter with fellow birder Tom led to a successful day trip. We first explored Waikoloa Skatepark, a known spot for Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse. The park’s baseball field and scrubby areas were productive, adding Eurasian Skylark and African Silverbill to our life list.
Seeking seabirds, we then headed to Keokea Beach Park on the north end of the Big Island. The park is a prime spot for pelagic sightings, and we observed some great ones: Black Noddy, White-tailed Tropicbird, Hawaiian Petrel, and Wedge-tailed Shearwater. A soaring Hawaiian Hawk was a bonus on our way out.
Our final birding destination was the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant. Despite “No Trespassing” signs, birders are allowed to walk outside the fence via a special agreement. We recorded 21 species, with notable sightings including 40 Black-necked Stilts, Hawaiian Coot, Black-crowned Night Heron, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, and Scaly-breasted Munia.
Other Adventures Not to Miss
Beyond the incredible birding, Hawaii Island offers a wealth of unforgettable experiences. Here are some of our top recommendations for rounding out your trip:
Rainbow Falls in Hilo’s Wailuku River State Park is a must-see. Just a short 15-minute walk from the parking area, this 80-foot waterfall is famous for the vibrant rainbows that often appear in its mist on sunny mornings. It’s a quick, beautiful stop that’s well worth your time.
Head to Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, just south of Kona International Airport, for a blend of nature and Hawaiian history. The beach here is a favorite resting and feeding spot for honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles)—we saw several during our shoreline walk! You can also explore the many trails that lead to ancient Hawaiian structures and fishponds, easily filling anywhere from a couple of hours to a full day.
Coffee lovers will enjoy a visit to Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation. Perched at 3,200 feet on the Kona side, this plantation offers free tours every 30 minutes, complete with coffee tastings. We learned so much about the Kona coffee belt and the entire coffee-making process. For an extra $10 per family, we also explored their tropical forest trail, which features an up-close look at a lava tube and incredible views from the picnic area.
Our absolute favorite experience, and a perfect way to celebrate our anniversary, was the Mauna Kea summit tour. This dormant volcano stands at 13,803 feet above sea level. Our journey began with a stop at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station, allowing us time to acclimate to the high altitude. Above the clouds, the summit is home to 13 observation domes with 9 working telescopes. Watching the sunset from this vantage point was truly unforgettable. On the way back down, our guides took us to a designated dark sky viewing area, where they used laser pointers and high-powered telescopes to reveal celestial sights like the Lagoon Nebula. This tour was, without a doubt, the best we’ve ever taken!
Plan for a Great Trip
To make the most of your Hawaiian adventure, a little preparation can go a long way. Taking time to research bird species, prime viewing locations, and nearby attractions beforehand, you can turn a great trip into an unforgettable experience.
Trip Birds: 46 Year Birds: 30 All-time Life Birds: 24
Next Up: Mexico and Honduras – January 2025
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