Birding spots

Best Birding Spots in Hawaii

By species reported, the top birding spots in Hawaii are Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge (Kalaeokahipa Gulch), and State Department of Land State Resource Management Area. Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge has the longest list (88 species), and its best season is fall.

Species counts are birds reported at least three times in that season at that spot, 2016–2025. Busy spots list more species simply because more people look, so compare the checklist counts. Spot names come from public map data and hotspot listings.

Spot	County	Species	Checklists	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge	Honolulu County	88	2,121	68	62	45	72
James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge (Kalaeokahipa Gulch)	Honolulu County	85	369	67	55	41	61
State Department of Land State Resource Management Area	Hawaii County	81	2,129	66	59	48	68
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park	Hawaii County	81	1,861	71	59	35	62
Waiokapua Bay	Kauai County	73	1,614	58	51	42	54
Keālia Pond (Kaleʻia)	Maui County	73	1,032	59	51	35	51
James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge (Kiʻi)	Honolulu County	73	349	62	29	23	54
Hanapepe Salt Ponds Historic Preserve	Kauai County	72	1,244	49	44	41	53
Keālia Pond	Maui County	71	1,191	66	57	33	50
Waiokapua Bay (Waieli)	Kauai County	63	229	48	42	38	44
Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary	Maui County	62	1,315	50	44	28	45
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge	Kauai County	61	2,548	42	47	46	46
James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge	Honolulu County	60	717	48	36	27	52
Palalau	Maui County	55	1,113	44	40	26	30
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park (southeast)	Hawaii County	55	549	36	37	27	35
Kahuku Golf Course	Honolulu County	54	783	49	42	33	41
Nuʻupia Pond	Honolulu County	54	569	46	42	36	41
Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge (Waiawa Spring)	Honolulu County	54	170	45	34	21	46
Keāhole Point	Hawaii County	51	1,290	31	39	34	36
Wailoa River State Recreation Area	Hawaii County	51	1,209	47	42	32	45
Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge	Kauai County	51	1,090	44	39	33	40
Kēōkea Beach	Hawaii County	51	1,029	27	32	33	46
Kaʻena Point	Honolulu County	51	734	41	39	35	38
Kalaeokamanu	Honolulu County	51	501	43	42	41	43
Pouhala Marsh Water Bird Sanctuary	Honolulu County	50	413	42	36	30	44
Ninini Point	Kauai County	50	218	32	40	29	28
Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge (Hanalei Valley)	Kauai County	48	288	36	26	25	32
Lokowaka Pond	Hawaii County	47	799	45	39	24	38
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (Kīlauea Point)	Kauai County	47	770	31	32	27	33
Paaoao Bay	Hawaii County	47	262	36	34	32	36

By county