O’ahu – Hawaii, USA

About

Often called “The Gathering Place”, O’ahu is the third largest Hawaiian island and the most populated. It spans 44 miles long, 30 miles across, with a shoreline 227 miles long.  75% of the population of Hawai’i resides on the island, with most living in or near Honolulu (the capital) and its surrounding area. O’ahu has a beautiful mixture of city life and surfer towns with lots of regions to explore in between. The 5 regions include Honolulu (in the south), Central O’ahu, the Windward Coast, Leeward Coast, and North Shore.

Within these 5 regions, you’ll find historical sites, hidden gems, and beautiful locales to explore. In the south region you’ll find the Lolani Palace; Pearl Harbor and the Dole Pineapple Plantation in the central region, Kualoa Regional Park on the Windward Coast, hiking and beautiful beaches on the Leeward Coast, and Ka’ena Point State Park on the North Shore.

You’ll find an abundance of birds and birding hotspots along the windward coast of O’ahu. At the Kualoa Regional Park and Ahupua’a O’ Kahana State Park you can spot exotic, introduced species including Red Junglefowl, Common Myna, Cattle Egret, the Red-crested Cardinal, as well as wintering migrants including Pacific Golden Plover and the Wandering Tattler. You can also find some native honeycreeper species including the Apapane and the O’ahu ‘Amakihi.

The North Shore region of O’ahu is one of many areas where you will find nesting Laysan Albatross. You can spot this near-threatened species nesting at the Ka’ena Point Natural Area Reserve. In 2011, a 2,133-foot long predator-proof fence was installed that encompasses 59 acres of safe space for the Laysan Albatross and Wedge-tailed Shearwater to nest. Since its installation, the number of individuals of these species has risen significantly. Breeding and nesting for the Laysan Albatross begins in November, with July and August being the best months to see the hatchlings.

Owen traveled to the island of O’ahu in March 2022.