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Overview
Access to Ka'ohe Game Management Area is found at the "Kilohana Hunter Check Station" located near the 44 mile mark on Saddle Road. The 35 mile long 4WD Mauna Kea road R-1 meets Saddle Road here, and loops 3/4 of the way around Mauna Kea to Halepohaku (Mauna Kea Visitor Center) at between 7000-10000 foot elevation. (Search the internet for additonal information on the road) Only 4WD automobiles are allowed on the road, to prevent damage to the road surface.
This is the dry leeward side of Mauna Kea, and Kilohana is a good backup option when the eastern Saddle is too wet. However, even on dry days clouds often develop in the afternoon 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 grass and shrublands and mamane-naio dry forest. The native flora is interesting, if you know what to look for. Historically Ka'ohe GMA was a horse pasture, and unfortunately much of the GMA was intentionally deforested to create game bird grassland habitat in previous decades. Further deforestation by hybrid sheep is ongoing, though the sheep are scarce near the main road R-1.
There are several rugged side roads branching off the main road, which cross Kaohe GMA and head high up the slopes of Mauna Kea. FB-3 winds through shrubland below the forest, and has many interesting native plants. R-15 climbs to the top of the large cinder cone called Ahumoa. R-13 just below the Pu'u La'au ranger cabin runs along the upper fenceline of Ka'ohe GMA. At the cabin just inside Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, a winding trail branches East and upslope, connecting to a network of trails that go steeply up Mauna Kea's southwestern slopes to 11,500 feet elevation.
This is a Game Managment Area and popular hunting area. Dress in bright colors and generally stay on the roads. R-1 is designated as a recreational road, so speeding recreational vehicles on the road are also a potential hazard
Birds
Notable Species
The primary birdwatching attraction at Ka'ohe GMA and the Pu'u La'au area is the only wild population of the endangered native Palila. The Palila depends on mamane forest, and the Palila neared extinction as the mamane forest was destroyed by ranching and feral livestock through the 19th and 20th centuries. From the overlook at Pu'u La'au compare the stark contrast between the forested state lands behind you with the grassy ranch lands full of dead mamane skeletons below - most of the grasslands seen around Mauna Kea were once native forests that have been deforested for grazing pasture. Don't count on seeing a Palila, but your chances will be greatly increased if you learn how to identify them by ear first. Palila will not be seen from a car, so walk the roads and listen carefully. Palila can be found anywhere from midway up R-1 in Ka'ohe GMA to the treeline above, and the become a bit more abundant in the forest below the cabin and along the roads (R-12, R-13, etc) branching away from R-1 around the cabin.
Ka'ohe GMA is also a very good location to see (native Hawaiian Pueo Owl) owls gliding over the canopy or soaring above, and less frequently you may see native hawks. 'Amakihi are usually abundant, and the pale-headed Mauna Kea race of the Hawaii Elepaio can be seen here. The red native honeycreepers - 'apapane and 'i'iwi are fairly rare seasonal visitors to the higher elevations. The remnant population of lonely male 'Akiapola'au died out many years ago.
There are numerous non-native bird species in Ka'ohe GMA - most of them are concentrated in the lower half of GMA. House Finch, African Silverbill, Nutmeg Mannikin and Yellow-fronted Canary are found in grassy areas, particularly in the lower end. There are Chinese Hwamei (Melodious Laughing Thrush) at the elevation near 'Ahumoa cone, and Japanese Bush Warbler just below the junction of R-1 with R-15. Skylarks are common. Warbling White-eye are abundant throughout. Game birds found here are Wild Turkey, Black Francolin, Erckel's Francolin, Ring-necked Pheasant, California Quail and Gambel's Quail. Chukars may be found in the forest reserve above Pu'u La'au Cabin.
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, and 2WD vehicles are forbidden to protect the fragile road surface. 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 the 1910's by Territorial forester R. Hosmer, who advocated planting most of Mauna Kea's upper elevations with alien pine tree plantations, 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 sheep corral 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 grids of hundreds of planted mamane trees up at treeline, 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 R-1, which loops about 37 miles around the mountain to Halepohaku. This is a 4WD road. Pigs and hybrid 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. Ka'ohe GMA and the mountainsides above it are worth several expeditions.
Access and Facilities
The entrance to Ka'ohe GMA is at the Kilohana hunter check-in station near mile marker 43-44 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, and another parking area at a clump of conifers inside the GMA just a couple hundred meters up R-1. Do not drive 2WD vehicles beyond the conifers.
Contact Details
To do
External Links
Guide to Birding the Hawaian Islands
Content and images originally posted by bkrownd
