I loved my birding in Hawaii with Mandy. I highly recommend her guided birding tours. Mandy found us the local specialties across the three islands we visited without rushing or stressing over logistics. I appreciate her local knowledge and her ability to put the birds and environment in context. It is encouraging to see the efforts being invested to preserve and improve sensitive Hawaii habitats. Seeing the results, in terms of wild spaces and the birds that thrive there, was a great counterweight to understanding how and why some species will not continue to survive in the wild. I was on the April 10-19, 2023 “Hawaii’s Best Birding Tour: Endemics to Palagics” with a fun group of birders. Thank you, Mandy, for making it a great experience.
High‑Elevation Birding: From ʻElepaio to Palila
Join us on a quest for Hawaiʻi ʻElepaio (Mauna Kea morph) and Hawaiʻi ʻAmakihi, with hopes of finding Hawaiian Hawk and one of the last critically endangered Palila. If time allows after birding the sub-alpine dry forests of māmane, ‘iliahi, and naio at elevations of 7,000′ -9,000’ above sea level, we will search for Short-eared Owl (endemic subspecies), Eurasian Skylark, Erckel’s Spurfowl, Black and Gray francolins, Ring-necked and Kalij pheasants and more.
Why Choose This Tour?
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Trip Details
Trip Details
Price
Group tour: $210 per person plus tax
Private tour: $1,175 plus HI tax for up to 9 people
Directions
Pu’u La’au is on the western slope of Mauna Kea, about an hour’s drive (~40 miles) east of Kailua-Kona, and an hour’s drive (~45 miles) west of Hilo.
Kilohana Hunter Check-in Station
GPS Coordinates: 19.8072766, -155.6308145
From Kona International Airport. Take Route 19 south for 1.2 miles, turn east on Kaiminani Drive, and go 3.6 miles to the T-junction with the Mamalahoa Highway (also part of the Hawaii Belt Road and Route 190).
Turn north on the Belt Road, go 19.4 miles to lower end of Daniel K. Inouye Highway, turn right and take this road for 9.6 miles to its junction with Saddle Road.
Turn north onto Saddle Road, go 1.1 miles, then turn right onto the gravel road (R-1) at the Kilohana Hunter Check-In Station.
From Hilo International Airport. Turn left (south) onto Kanoelehua Avenue (which is also the local segment of the Hawaii Belt Road), go one mile, turn right (west) onto Puainako Street (Route 2000). Remain on Puainako through its brief dogleg intersection with Komohana Street at the University of Hawaii – Hilo Campus, then continue west on Puainako which departs Hilo and becomes Saddle Road. Approximately 43 miles from the university, you will arrive at Kilohana Hunter Check-In Station.
Availability
Weekly (week days only), throughout the year
Duration
4 hours
Group size
Minimum 4, maximum 8
Included
- Water
- Snacks
- Transportation to and from Kilohana Hunter Check-in Station
- Online checklists
- The use of a walking stick if needed
- The use of our Kowa Spotting Scope if needed for game birds, or raptors; as our forest birds are usually moving quickly through the canopy
Not included
- Guide gratuity
- The use of binoculars (Available for rental at an additional cost)
What to bring
- Lightweight long pants
- Lightweight sweater/ fleece
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Sun protection
- Quick dry layered clothing
- Raincoat and pants if you have them
- Closed-toed, comfortable shoes with good grip and support
- A refillable water bottle
Participation requirements
- This tour involves a 1 -2 mile walk on an uneven rocky tail and short walks in grassy areas along the coast.
- The trail difficulty is not challenging but conditions may be cool, wet and slippery. We will start out birding between 7,000′ and 9,000′ above sea level on Mauna Kea with temperatures between 40 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
About your guide
Target Species List
Important Info
Read Why People Love Us
I have birded regularly with Mandy, and she is top-notch. Excellent birder, very personable, and thorough in her preparation. Everything is fully compliant with all permits, insurance and trip details. The pelagic trips from Kona, when combined with some forest birding for the endemic passerines, will build your list and show you the real magic of these islands. Mandy is the Best!
I spent two fantastic days on the Big Island birding with Mandy Talpas. It was an excellent experience all around! Mandy is very knowledgable about the birds, has a great ear, and knows where to find those elusive endemics. Not only that, but she is so personable, energetic, and fun to be with that you’ll be sorry when the day ends. We spent a day in the Hakalau Forest and a second day on a pelagic off the Kona coast, and both days were extremely productive, well-organized and a lot of fun. I HIGHLY recommend Mandy for any serious birding adventure.
