Keālia Kanuimanu Ponds Point 2

About Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge

Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge is an important foraging and nesting area for the endangered Hawaiian Stilt and Hawaiian Coot. It is a vital wetland home that hosts hundreds of migratory shorebirds and waterfowl during the winter months. As the largest lowland wetland on Maui, and one of the few natural wetlands remaining in the Hawaiian Islands, KPNWR was established in 1992 as part of the world's premier system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife, and plants. There are striking seasonal variations in the water levels of the pond, changing throughout each rainy and dry season. The refuge staff manages the wetland habitat critical to native wetland birds by monitoring water levels carefully to mimic the natural cycle of the wetland and meet the needs of the waterbirds. Your photos will help inform the refuge's seasonal water story and wetland management decisions to support Hawaii's native wetland birds.