Huleia National Wildlife Refuge, Protected wetland habitat in Kauai County, United States
Huleia National Wildlife Refuge spans about 241 acres of bottomlands and wooded slopes along the Huleia River. The area protects native waterbird habitats and preserves wetland environments that might otherwise have been lost.
The refuge was established in 1973, transforming former wetland farmlands previously used for taro and rice cultivation into a protected sanctuary. This shift from agricultural to conservation use marked a turning point for the landscape.
The refuge borders the Menehune Fish Pond, a significant historical structure representing Hawaiian engineering methods and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The refuge is closed to general visits to protect endangered species, but you can observe the area from the Menehune Fish Pond overlook nearby. This vantage point gives clear views of the landscape and water areas.
Four endangered Hawaiian waterbird species live here: the Hawaiian stilt, Hawaiian coot, Hawaiian gallinule, and Hawaiian duck. These birds have few other safe places left on the islands.
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