CELEBRATE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WEEK October 15-18

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 

CELEBRATE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WEEK

AND THE COMPLETION OF KAUA‘I’S FIRST PREDATOR-PROOF FENCE 

October 15-18, 2014 

Treat yourself with a visit to the Kaua‘i National Wildlife Refuge Complex during National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 15-18, 2014. Enjoy the soul-stirring sights and sounds of nature.

The Kaua‘i National Wildlife Refuge Complex which is comprised of Hanalei, Hulē‘ia, and Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuges are a proud part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, a network of public lands set aside to protect wildlife. There are 560 National Wildlife Refuges and 38 wetland management districts nationwide that offer wonderful opportunities to fish, hunt, hike, or observe fascinating creatures in the wild.

We are also celebrating the completion of Kaua‘i’s first predator-proof fence. This type of fence has been used with great success in New Zealand and O‘ahu and is designed to keep out introduced mammalian predators (such as cats, dogs, mongoose, rats and mice). This 6-acre refugium will allow nesting seabird colonies such as the threatened ʻaʻo (Newell’s shearwater) and mōlī (Laysan albatross) and rare plants to flourish again in a protected environment. Project partners include Pacific Rim Conservation, the American Bird Conservancy, the Kaua‘i Endangered Seabird Recovery Project (a Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife/Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit project), the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and several others.

“It’s an honor for Kauai National Wildlife Refuge Complex to work together with partners and the community to protect, restore, and perpetuate the dynamic components of Kaua‘i’s natural and cultural resources” states Project Leader, Shannon Smith.

By preserving and protecting America’s rich wildlife legacy, refuges benefit us in many ways. The plants and animals they sustain help clean our air, filter our water, pollinate our crops and remind us that we are part of the natural world. Without Refuges, local communities would also lose jobs and businesses that depend on Refuge tourism. Consider being a part of all that, right here on Kaua‘i, by volunteering or joining the Kīlauea Point Natural History Association!

Here’s what the Kaua‘i National Wildlife Refuge Complex has planned to help you celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week:

Wednesday, October 15th 

LIGHTHOUSE TOURS – Take a tour of the Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse every half hour beginning at 10:30 a.m. and continuing through 3:00 p.m. Learn about the history of the Lighthouse and the restoration efforts recently completed. Tickets are required and obtained on-site. No early reservations will be taken.

NĪHOKU (CRATER HILL) PREDATOR-PROOF FENCE HIKE – Join a Wildlife Biologist and Refuge Partner for a moderately strenuous hike to view Kaua‘i’s first predator-proof fence on the slopes of Nīhoku. Space is limited and reservations are required. Please call 808-631-5191. 2

Thursday, October 16th 

HANALEI WETLANDS TOUR– Join Refuge Biologist Kim Uyehara from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. for an exciting tour of Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge. Observe Hawai‘i’s endangered water birds in their native habitat and learn about steps being taken to aid in their recovery. Space is limited and reservations are required. Please call 808-631-5191.

Friday, October 17th 

NĪHOKU HIKE– Join a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ranger for a moderately strenuous hike to a remote portion of the refuge where wildlife and breathtaking coastal views abound. This free hike will start at 9:00 a.m. and lasts approximately 3 hours. Space is limited and reservations are required. Please call 808-631-5191.

Saturday, October 18th 

KĪLAUEA POINT FREE DAY– Enjoy the sights and sounds of Kīlauea Point, at no charge. The $5 entrance fee will be waived. Visitors can stroll through the history of the National Wildlife Refuge System while enjoying the sounds of surf and seabirds. Take in coastal views while looking for spinner dolphins, sea turtles, and Hawaiian monk seals. Explore the work being done for wildlife by other conservation groups and take pictures with “Puddles” the Blue Goose, mascot of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Refuge is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

LIGHTHOUSE TOURS – Take a tour of the Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse every half hour beginning at 10:30 a.m. and continuing through 3:00 p.m. Learn about the history of the Lighthouse and the restoration efforts recently completed. Tickets are required and obtained on-site. No early reservations will be taken.

NĪHOKU/MŌKŌLEA POINT HIKE– Join local historian and Refuge Volunteer Gary Smith from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a vigorous three-mile hike to spectacular vantage points on the Refuge, accessible only to guided visitors. This free hike will reveal a rich history of the Refuge and bright past of Kīlauea Town. Space is limited and reservations are required. Please call 808-631-5191.

To learn more about the Refuge, visit: www.fws.gov/kilaueapoint; to learn more about KPNHA, visit www.kilaueapoint.org.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service