About Us
James Campbell NWR is located in Kahuku, Ko‘olauloa on the island of O‘ahu. One of the few scattered remnants of natural wetlands that still exist on O‘ahu, the Refuge was established in 1976 for the purpose of providing habitat for endangered Hawaiian waterbirds. Further expansion was authorized in 2005 for the purposes of providing additional habitat for endangered waterbirds, migratory shorebirds, waterfowl, seabirds, endangered and native plant species, endangered ‘īlioholo-i-ka-uaua (Hawaiian monk seal), and threatened honu (Hawaiian green sea turtle); providing increased wildlife-dependent public uses; and assisting with flood damage reduction in the local area.
Our Mission
The mission of the Refuge System, as a whole, is “to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.”
As the largest protected wetland in Hawai‘i, James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge has a vision of providing a haven for native Hawaiian waterbirds and migratory birds from around the world. The coastal dunes offer sanctuary for nesting seabirds, green sea turtles, and Hawaiian monk seals. Native water birds share the natural spring-fed ponds of the Ki'i and Punamano units nesting on the mudflats and in sedges below. Visitors and volunteers discover, understand, and appreciate the rare fragile environments, cultural resources, and open spaces. The wetland absorbs floodwaters as natural flood prevention for the community of Kahuku which promotes a healthy ecosystem. Partners, neighbors, and community work together to protect and enhance these unique resources.
Our History
The Refuge System is the world’s largest network of public lands and waters set aside specifically for conserving wildlife and protecting ecosystems. From its inception in 1903, the Refuge System has grown to encompass over 550 national wildlife refuges in all 50 States, and waterfowl production areas in 10 States, covering more than 150 million acres of public lands and waters. More than 40 million visitors annually fish, hunt, observe and photograph wildlife, or participate in environmental education and interpretive activities on national wildlife refuges.
The earliest document proposing land for protection and management in the James Campbell NWR area is Hawai‘i’s Endangered Waterbirds (U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife 1971*). The Refuge was established in 1976 with approximately 150 acres under a lease with the Estate of James Campbell. By 2005, Public Law 109-225 authorized expansion of the James Campbell NWR by 1,100 acres and identified management focus areas for the Refuge expansion lands.
Other Facilities in this Complex
James Campbell NWR is managed as part of the O‘ahu NWR Complex. A National Wildlife Refuge Complex is an administrative grouping of two or more refuges, wildlife management areas or other refuge conservation areas that are primarily managed from a central office location. Refuges are grouped into a complex structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
Learn more about structure because they occur in a similar ecological region, such as a watershed or specific habitat type, and have a related purpose and management needs. Typically, a project leader or complex manager oversees the general management of all refuges within the complex and refuge managers are responsible for operations at specific refuges. Supporting staff, composed of administrative, law enforcement, refuge manager, biological, fire, visitor services, and maintenance professionals, are centrally located and support all refuges within the complex.
Other refuges in the complex include Pearl Harbor NWR and O‘ahu Forest NWR.