About Us
Pearl Harbor NWR was established in 1972 as mitigation for construction of the Honolulu International Airport Reef Runway. The Honouliuli and Waiawa Units are managed under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Navy. The Kalaeloa Unit, once part of the former Barber's Point Naval Air Station, was established during military base closure proceedings in 2001 to protect native plants. Through these cooperative efforts with the Federal Aviation Administration, the State of Hawaiʻi, and the U.S. Navy; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made Pearl Harbor NWR a reality.
Our Mission
The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System 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.
Our History
1972—Honouliuli and Waiawa units of Pearl Harbor NWR were established.
2001—Kalaeloa unit of Pearl Harbor NWR was established.
Other Facilities in this Complex
Pearl Harbor 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 James Campbell NWR and O‘ahu Forest NWR.