What Animals Live In Hawaii?

Hawaii’s tropical climate and isolation in the Pacific Ocean have created conditions for a unique array of wildlife not found anywhere else on Earth. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: native Hawaiian animals include the Hawaiian monk seal, green sea turtle, Laysan albatross, nene goose, and Hawaiian hoary bat.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the varied animals that inhabit the Hawaiian archipelago, including marine life, birds, mammals, and reptiles. We will learn about endangered native Hawaiian species as well as introduced animals that now call the islands home.

Native Marine Animals

Hawaiian Monk Seals

The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the most endangered marine mammals on Earth. Fewer than 1,400 individuals remain in the wild. These seals live exclusively in the Hawaiian Archipelago, hauling out to rest, molt, mate, and give birth on beaches across the northwest Hawaiian Islands and the main Hawaiian Islands.

Adult seals can grow over 7 feet long and weigh up to 600 pounds!

Hawaiian monk seals spend two-thirds of their time foraging at sea. Their diet consists primarily of fish, octopuses, eels, and lobsters. They are capable of diving to depths of about 1,000 feet in search of prey.

When resting on land, the seals expose their black fur to the sun to maintain a constant body temperature.

Mother seals give birth to a single pup each year. The pup nurses for about six weeks before being weaned. Many Hawaiian monk seals face threats from entanglement in marine debris, overfishing of prey species, disease outbreaks, and human disturbance on haul-out beaches.

Organizations like NOAA Fisheries and The Marine Mammal Center are working to protect these iconic Hawaiian residents through disentanglement efforts, population monitoring, and community education programs.

Green Sea Turtles

Hawaii provides crucial habitat for the threatened green sea turtle population in the Pacific. Nesting females haul onto beaches across the archipelago to lay eggs in the sand. After hatching, young turtles drift on ocean currents to offshore habitat and spend their early years feeding in pelagic waters.

Eventually, the turtles migrate back to coastal feeding grounds in Hawaii, where they munch on nutrient-rich marine algae and seagrasses. An adult green turtle’s shell can grow over 3 feet long, with a weight exceeding 400 pounds!

These air-breathing reptiles must surface frequently to take breaths while foraging underwater.

Major threats to green turtles in Hawaiian waters include habitat degradation, pollution, marine debris, artificial lighting disorientation, and fisheries interactions. Conservationists aim to reduce these threats and promote sustainable ecotourism focused on respectful turtle watching.

With continued community stewardship and habitat protection, Hawaii’s green sea turtles can thrive for generations to come.

Humpback Whales

Each winter, around 10,000 humpback whales make the epic migration from Alaska to Hawaii’s warm, sheltered waters to mate and calve. These gigantic marine mammals can reach lengths over 50 feet and weigh up to 40 tons!

Humpbacks are easily recognized by their long pectoral fins, which can span up to 15 feet.

In Hawaii, the whales engage in breeding activities like chasing, bubble-blowing displays, and complex songs sung only by males. A single calf is born after an 11-month gestation. Mother whales nurse their young for almost a year, building up the calf’s strength and fat layers for the long journey back to Alaska.

Whale watching tourism allows visitors glimpses into the lives of these remarkable creatures. Strict regulations protect Hawaii’s humpbacks from harassment and vessel strikes. Organizations like the Whale and Dolphin Trust conduct research to further conservation aims.

The fluctuating humpback population indicates recovery progress while underscoring the need for continued environmental protection.

Native Birds

Nene Goose

The Nene Goose (Branta sandvicensis) is Hawaii’s official state bird. This unique goose species is only found in the Hawaiian Islands. Nene are a vulnerable species, with only about 2,500 remaining in the wild.

They suffered severe population declines in the past due to habitat loss, predation, and hunting.

Nene nest in a variety of habitats in Hawaii, including grasslands, shrublands, and lava flows. They make nests on the ground lined with leaves, grass, and feathers. Nene form lifelong pair bonds and work together to defend their nesting territories.

The female usually lays 2-5 cream-colored eggs which hatch after about 30 days of incubation.

There are active efforts by conservation groups and wildlife agencies to boost Nene populations. Captive breeding programs have been crucial, with over 300 birds released to the wild. Sections of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park provide a protected habitat for the species.

Continued habitat protection and control of invasive predators that threaten Nene are vital for the future of Hawaii’s unique state bird.

Laysan Albatross

The Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) is one of the most common seabird species found in Hawaii. It has a wingspan reaching over 6 feet across! Laysan Albatrosses utilize a variety of islands in Hawaii as nesting grounds, including Midway Atoll.

Here they form large breeding colonies numbering over half a million birds.

Laysan Albatrosses have intricate mating rituals, including elaborate dances to find a mate. Once bonded, pairs return to the exact same nesting spot year after year! Nests are simple scrapes lined with vegetation, feathers, or debris.

A single egg is laid, with parents taking turns incubating for over two months. Chicks then spend around 5 months on land before making their first flight out to sea.

Long-lived birds that can survive over 60 years, Laysan Albatrosses face threats from plastic pollution, longline fisheries, invasive species, and sea level rise affecting their low-lying breeding islands.

Ongoing conservation efforts aim to protect vital nesting habitat for the species across Hawaii.

Hawaiian Petrel

The Hawaiian Petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis) is a medium-sized seabird found nesting in dense colonies at higher elevations on Hawaii’s islands. While at sea they feed on fish, squid, and crustaceans.

Their loud nocturnal cries while visiting breeding colonies gives them the local nickname Uau Kani, or “Moaning Bird”.

The seabirds only return to land under the cover of darkness to avoid predators. Nests are dug out burrows along mountainsides. A single white egg is laid, with parents sharing incubation duties for almost two months. Chicks then spend around 4 months in nest burrows before fledging.

Both parents continue providing meals at sea until the young petrels learn to hunt for themselves.

Today Hawaiian Petrel populations number from 20,000-250,000 total birds. Though still high, declines have occurred due to habitat disturbance, light pollution, predation by invasive species, and even collision threats from wind turbines and powerlines.

Protecting remote nesting habitat and controlling non-native predators are crucial for preserving this unique Hawaiian seabird into the future.

Native Mammals

Hawaiian Hoary Bat

The Hawaiian hoary bat is the only indigenous land mammal known to exist in the Hawaiian archipelago (Hawaii DLNR, 2023). These furry flyers likely arrived on the islands over 10,000 years ago, hitching a ride on storms blowing in from Asia or North America.

Today, the Hawaiian name for this bat is ‘ʻōpeʻapeʻa‘, meaning “half-leaf”.

The Hawaiian hoary bat is a reddish-brown or golden color, helping them camouflage against trees and foliage while roosting during the day. At night, they soar through the skies feasting on night-flying insects like moths, beetles, mosquitos, and termites.

Using echolocation, the bats can detect prey up to 60 feet away!

Sadly, the Hawaiian hoary bat is now endangered, with less than 1,000 left in existence. Threats include habitat loss, pesticides, invasive species, and even getting tangled in barbed wire while flying.

Conservation efforts are underway to give bats safer places to roost and reproduce in hopes of rebounding the shrinking population.

Hawaiian Monk Seal

The Hawaiian monk seal is Hawaii’s only native seal and one of the most endangered marine mammals on Earth. These seals were named after their folded skin that resembles a monk’s robe. In Hawaiian legends, monk seals or ‘īlio holo i ka uaua‘ were believed to be guardians watching over humans on shore.

Today, around only 1,400 Hawaiian monk seals are left in the wild, living near the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, plus a few hundred near the main islands. Major threats include changes in prey availability due to environmental shifts, entanglement in marine debris, and disturbance at vulnerable beach habitats that are critical breeding grounds.

Multiple agencies and organizations like NOAA Fisheries now work to monitor and protect the species. But they face an uphill battle given ongoing habitat loss and climate change effects in delicate island ecosystems.

Perhaps these Hawaiian legends will inspire more environmental stewardship, before the guardian seals disappear from local shores.

Introduced Mammals

Pigs

Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) have become ubiquitous across the Hawaiian Islands since being introduced by early Polynesian settlers. Over 200 years ago, European explorers and settlers also brought Eurasian wild boar to Hawaii.

These fast-breeding mammals have caused extensive damage to Hawaii’s native wet forests and watersheds by digging up earth searching for roots and invertebrates. Their disruptive digging behavior spreads invasive plant seeds and causes soil erosion into delicate freshwater ecosystems.

According to a 2021 report by the University of Hawaiʻi, there are an estimated 300,000 to one million feral pigs on Hawaiʻi island alone. State wildlife authorities manage pig populations through public hunting, trapping, and fencing programs in order to reduce their environmental impact.

Goats

Feral goats (Capra hircus) are another deleterious introduced mammal residing on all the main Hawaiian islands except Kahoʻolawe and Niʻihau. Originating from Europe, Southwest Asia, and Africa, Polynesian settlers brought goats to Hawaii over 1,000 years ago as a food source.

Today, conservationists consider wild goats an invasive species and significant threat to Hawaii’s endemic dryland plant species and watershed ecosystems. Unchecked goat overgrazing causes disastrous soil erosion, inhibits forest regeneration, and destroys rare native vegetation.

According to Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), there are estimated to be over 22,500 wild goats just on Hawaiʻi island. DLNR initiates managed hunts and live capture removal efforts to protect vulnerable dryland ecosystems from destructive overforaging.

Mouflon Sheep

Considered the world’s most diversely endemic island chain, the introduction of non-native species to Hawaii has caused untold ecological destruction. A prime example is the feral mouflon sheep (Ovis gmelini musimon), a European domestic landrace bred for its thick wool.

Around 50 mouflon sheep were gifted from Canadian ranchers to wealthy landowners on Lānaʻi island in 1954 for sport hunting. With no natural predators, mouflon thrived and spread to other islands. Researchers estimate there are now up to 2,000 individuals on Mauna Kea alone, severely impacting many endangered native plants.

Efforts to curb expanding mouflon herds include hunting, live capture removal, and landscape scale exclusion fencing projects led by DLNR, national parks staff, and conservation groups. Despite these efforts, mouflon sheep remain an ongoing threat to Hawaii’s exceptional biodiversity heritage.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Hawaii is home to a variety of native and introduced reptiles and amphibians that have adapted to its tropical climate and diverse habitats. Some of the most notable reptiles found in the islands include:

Geckos

There are over 60 species of geckos in Hawaii, with some of the most common being the gold dust day gecko and the Indo-Pacific house gecko. Geckos are mostly nocturnal and can be found on walls or trees throughout the islands.

Skinks

Skinks like the blue-tailed skink and snake-eyed skink often hide under rocks and debris. They are small, smooth-scaled lizards that have become common across Hawaii. Some species, like the azure-tailed skink, are native to certain islands.

Chameleons

Although not native, Jackson’s chameleons have colonized parts of Hawaii, most notably Maui and Oahu. Their distinctive horns and color-changing abilities make them popular introductions. They can now be spotted climbing through trees and shrubs while hunting for insects.

Sea Turtles

Four species of sea turtles inhabit the waters surrounding Hawaii – the green, hawksbill, olive ridley, and leatherback turtles. They nest on beaches across the islands, especially on more remote and less populated shores. Sea turtles face threats from habitat loss and entanglement in fishing gear.

As for amphibians, there are no native Hawaiian frogs or salamanders. But various toad and frog species have been introduced over the last two centuries, often with disastrous impacts on native species.

Two infamous examples are the cane toad and coqui frog, which can now be found across most of the islands.

Protecting Hawaii’s rare native reptiles and removing harmful introduced species remains an ongoing conservation priority. It ensures the islands maintain a more balanced local ecosystem amidst ever-increasing pressures.

Conclusion

As we have seen, Hawaii is home to an array of unique and endangered native animal species found nowhere else on Earth. Conservation efforts seek to protect vulnerable endemic wildlife by removing destructive introduced species and safeguarding critical habitat.

The remote Hawaiian Islands host humpback whales each winter, huge colonies of seabirds like Laysan albatrosses, and marine life including the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal. Continued environmental stewardship will ensure future generations can enjoy Hawaii’s one-of-a-kind native animals.

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