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Overview
"Kilohana" (Ka'ohe Game Management Area) is located at the 44 mile mark on Saddle Road, where it meets the western end of the rugged dirt road called "Skyline Drive" or "Kahinahina Trail" that loops 3/4 of the way around Mauna Kea at between 7000-10000 foot elevation. (Search the internet for additonal information on the road)
This is the "dry side" of Mauna Kea, and Kilohana is a good backup option when the eastern side of the saddle is too wet. However even on a "dry" day there are often clouds at or just above ground level. The dusty road climbs rather steeply for 3 miles through Kaohe GMA to the Pu'u La'au overlook and the ranger cabin at the entrance to the Mauna Kea state forest reserve at 7400 feet elevation. The habitat is a mixture of dry grassland and mamane-naio dry forest.
There are several rugged side roads branching off the main road, which cross Kaohe GMA and head up the slopes of Mauna Kea. R-15 climbs to the top of the large cinder cone called Ahumoa. Another just below the Pu'u La'au ranger cabin runs along the inside of the upper fenceline of Kaohe GMA. Just after that, inside Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, a winding trail branches East right in front of the Pu'u La'au ranger cabin (follow it past the outhouse). This trail is particularly nice for hiking and birdwatching, and it connects to a network of trails that go steeply up Mauna Kea's southwestern slopes to 11,500 feet elevation.
Birds
Notable Species
The primary birdwatching attraction at Kilohana is the only wild population of endangered native hawaiian Palila. The Palila depends on mamane trees, and the Palila neared extinction as the mamane forest was destroyed by ranching and feral goats, sheep and cattle through the 19th and 20th centuries. Protection and recovery of the mamane forest, and reintroduction of the Palila have helped to stabilize its numbers. (From the overlook at Pu'u La'au compare the stark contrast between the forested state lands behind you and the grassy ranch lands and dead mamane skeletons below!) Don't count on seeing a Palila, but count yourself lucky if you do! Kilohana is also a very good location to see (native Hawaiian Pueo Owl) owls gliding over the grasses in search of prey. Amakihi and (seasonally) 'apapane are usually abundant in the upper elevations, and there is a Mauna Kea strain of the 'Hawaii Elepaio that may be seen here. There are numerous other non-native bird species. Skylarks are common. Ground birds such as Wild Turkey, quails including California Quail and amongst the francolins Erckel's Francolin are common. Many others.
Rarities
"to do"
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
"to do"
Other Wildlife
To do
Site Information
This is one of the best bird watching areas in all of Hawaii.
The road from the Kilohana entrance to the Pu'u La'au ranger cabin at the upper end of the game reserve is moderately steep, smooth, and well maintained. However, road conditions here change frequently - sometimes it takes a 4WD truck just to get in the entrance, and at other times a 2WD car can possibly make it to Pu'u La'au. This road is also rather busy - you will pass many trucks, motorcycles, quads and even bicycles. Hunters are always present on the weekends, so brightly colored clothing is a good idea.
History and Use
At some locations on these trails you can visit test forestry groves planted in 1910 by Territorial forester R. Hosmer, who advocated planting most of Mauna Kea's upper elevations with alien pine trees, including a plan to plant a grove of lodgepole pines at the summit! In a remote location off the road about 10,500 feet elevation there is a lone tall cedar within a stone wall well above the treeline, which is the only tree to survive in the highest study area. These groves are part of the same study as "Hosmer Grove" on Haleakala. There are also hundreds of planted mamane trees up there, and several silversword outplantings.
Areas of Interest
Continuing past Pu'u La'au there is still more to explore! This is the entrance to Mauna Kea state forest reserve, and the start of Skyline Drive, which loops about 37 miles around the mountain to Halepohaku. This is a 4WD road. Pigs and mouflon sheep are sometimes encountered in this area. Not very far down this road from Pu'u La'au there is a side road marked R-10(?) that runs steeply up the mountainside and branches several times, allowing you to explore the western side of Mauna Kea. There are vast and spectacular views on clear days. The roads reach up to around 11500 feet elevation, and there was once an ancient hawaiian trail following this route along the chain of cinder cones, all the way up to the summit. Kilohana and the mountainsides above it are worth several expeditions.
Access and Facilities
The entrance to Kilohana is at the Kilohana hunter check-in station at 5600 feet elevation - there's a small sign, and the check-in hut is a bit behind the fence. Kilohana Girl Scout Camp is across the road nearby. There is grass parking across Saddle Road from the entrance.
Contact Details
To do
External Links
Guide to Birding the Hawaian Islands
Content and images originally posted by bkrownd
