Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

Seasons of Wildlife

Kīlauea Point is 200 ft above sea level and although there is no beach access, spinner dolphins, humpback whales, Hawaiian monk seals, and green turtles can all be spotted in the waters below. Each year, thousands of endemic, native, migratory, and invasive birds use the Refuge for nesting, foraging, or resting. Native Hawaiian coastal plants including naupaka kahakai (Scaevola taccada) and ‘akoko (Euphorbia haeleeleana) have been restored on the Refuge and constant effort is made to manage the overwhelming pressure of invasive plants.

Weather in the Hawaiian Islands is very consistent, with only minor changes in temperature throughout the year. There are really only two seasons in Hawaiʻi; Hoʻoilo (Winter) and Kauwela (Summer). Although the two seasons vary a bit in precipitation, the temperature variance is small. This is because there is only a slight variation in length of night and day from one part of Hawaiʻi to another and because all its islands lie within a narrow latitude band. There is also a nearly constant flow of fresh ocean air across the islands, which regulates the temperature. The small seasonal changes provide the perfect habitat for wildlife to near and rear their young year 'round.