Kaʻena Point is home to a large breeding population of ʻuaʻu kani or Wedge-Tailed Shearwaters, and soon their eggs will be hatching in late July - mid August. Their chicks are present in fragile underground burrows until early December when they fledge and take to the sea like their parents.
ʻUaʻu kani nest in areas throughout Oʻahu, so when you come upon them, where ever you are, please watch your step and keep your distance; nests are burrows dug underground into sandy soil that are easily collapsed when stepped on.
To avoid harming or stressing these seabirds, please:
- Stay on marked trails
- Observe from a distance, don't linger at one nest
- Avoid walking in areas where you see burrows
- Immediately clear burrow of dislodged sediment in the event you step on one
Its exciting to have them here on land where we can view them in their natural habitat, but it is important to enjoy them with respect and their safety in mind.
Mahalo!