This 704-acre wetland refuge was established in 1992 to protect the endangered aeo (Hawaiian stilt) and alae keokeo (Hawaiian coot).
Today, it’s also home to 18 other species of waterbirds year-round and at least a dozen migratory species during the winter.
Mounted along the 2,200-foot boardwalk extending into the coastal flats are 17 interpretive panels that explain the wetland’s importance as a habitat for the birds.
At the refuge’s visitor center three miles north, interactive displays invite people to open drawers, lift covers off bowls and look through microscopes to learn about watersheds, wetland restoration, invasive plants and animals, and more.