Aloha and welcome to Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge! Part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, Keālia is a sanctuary for many species that are native and endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.
Keālia Pond NWRʻs Newsletter and First Saturday Flyer

Learn about Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge latest news, stories, updates and opportunities via Keālia Pond NWRʻs Newsletter.  

To view the 2024 Summer/Fall Newsletter link here

You can view the 2024 Winter/Spring Newsletter here.

Visit Us

The seasonal conditions that occur at Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge make it a notable place for people to observe Hawai‘i's endangered wetland birds, along with a diversity of feathered visitors from as far away as Alaska and Canada, and occasionally from Asia.

***To limit disturbance to nesting endangered waterbirds, the 2nd kiosk is temporarily closed to the public. Please remain on the boardwalk and avoid making loud noises. Mahalo!

Location and Contact Information

      FACTSHEET - MIDGES EMERGENCY AT KEĀLIA POND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

      The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has been receiving complaints about the seasonal emergence of midges at Keālia Pond since the refuge was established in 1992. 

      While the midges are present every winter and spring, their population tends to reach nuisance level when winter rains fill the pond after drying out the previous summer. Unfortunately, prevailing winds and bright lights attract the midges toward our neighbors at Sugar Beach. 

      The Service is looking for ways to better manage water levels to limit habitat for midges during the dry season.

      To see the full Factsheet link here.

      About Us

      Keālia Pond NWR is a hidden wetland treasure transitioning the urban development and agriculture fields.  Here, endangered Hawaiian waterbirds are protected and go about their daily activities, and are joined by migratory birds in winter.  Quiet solitude for those that wander and explore the wetlands.  

      The protected wetland is home to the endangered ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt) and ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian coot), providing nesting, feeding and resting habitat. In the winter months there are over 30 species of waterfowl, shorebirds, and migratory ducks at the refuge. 

      What We Do

      The National Wildlife Refuge System is a series of lands and waters owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the refuge system. It drives everything we do from the purpose a refuge is established, to the recreational activities offered there, to the resource management tools we use. Selecting the right tools helps us ensure the survival of local plants and animals and helps fulfill the purpose of the refuge. 

      Our Library

      Keālia Pond NWRʻs Newsletter

      Discover the most recent refuge happenings in this Newsletter