Welcome to Paradise: THE EMPTY INTERIOR

According to the textbook, the Empty Interior supports a diversified, growing and sometimes controversial wildlife population. That being said, I will focus on the wildlife of Kauai as it consist of several species, some living in abundance, and some are extinct.

Kilauea Point. November 2011

Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge first came into being in 1985 with the acquisition of the historic lighthouse. Here, ocean cliffs and open grassy slopes of an extinct volcano provide breeding grounds for native Hawaiian seabirds and nene, the endangered Hawaiian goose.

At this location you can see the red-footed boobies, Laysan albatrosses, wedge-tailed shearwaters, and other seabirds in their natural habitat which has not been available to the main Hawaiian Islands previously.

The Marine Sanctuary waters that surround the refuge are home to the Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles and, during the winter, humpback whales.

Kauai is the home of a wide variety of endemic, indigenous, migratory, and introduced birds. Nearly all native forest and song birds can only be found above 3,000 feet elevation within predominately native forest habitats above the mosquito range where they are safe from insect borne diseases. These include: The Apapane, Iiwi, Amakihi, Anianiau, Elepaio, Akepa, Kauai Creeper, and the six critically endangered, Oo aa, Ou, Akialoa, Nukupuu, Kamao, and Puaiohi. The Pihea-Alakai Swamp Trail, Kokee Park trails and Awaawapuhi Trail are good places to view these birds. The endangered forest birds are close to extinction and not likely to be seen.

Four endemic or indigenous waterbirds are classed as endangered on Kauai: The Hawaiian Duck (Koloa), Hawaiian Moorhen, Hawaiian Coot, and Black-necked Stilt. These can be seen at the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, and several other wetland habitats around Kauai.

Hawaii's State bird, the endangered Nene (Hawaiian Goose), is now becoming well established on Kauai. It is seen regularly at the Westin Lagoons near Lihue, near Poipu, and at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, which is also the best place to view seabirds such as Red-footed Boobies, Great Frigate birds, Red-tailed Tropic birds, and Laysan Albatross. Excellent bird guides with color photos are available at most bookstores for a reasonable price.

Kauai has only two native mammals: The Hawaiian Monk Seal, and the Hawaiian Bat. Both are classed as endangered. It is unlawful to harass, or to approach closer than 100 feet to monk seals. Feral pigs are found in most wildland parts of the Island, and are not dangerous unless cornered. Feral goats are found on the cliffs of Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast, being descendants of those brought in by the first European Explorers. Black-tailed deer were introduced in 1961 for hunting and are found primarily on western Kauai. Feral dogs, cats, rats and mice are the only other mammals you may encounter in the wild. Mongooses are not found on Kauai as they are on most of the other main islands. Kauai has no poisonous snakes, and only one small introduced non-poisonous snake, that is often mistaken for an earthworm. Toads, bullfrogs, and the small wrinkled frogs are common in wetland streams and ponds.