Kuliouou Valley Trail

Target Birds: Oahu Elepaio, introduced forest birds

Oahu Elepaio
Oahu Elepaio
Red-billed Leiothrix
Red-billed Leiothrix

Kuliouou Valley Trail runs along a creek into Kuliouou Forest Reserve. The trail is fairly easy going for the first mile and then becomes slightly more difficult due to slippery rocks, roots, and short steep sections of trail. The area is great for numerous introduced forest species and also is very reliable for Oahu Elepaio

 Directions:

From route 72, Kalanianaole Hwy, turn north onto Kuliouou Road. After .35 miles you must turn left to stay on Kuliouou and then turn right again at the next road to continue once again on Kuliouou Road. After .6 miles take a right onto Kalaau Pl. Park along the street near the cul-de-sac and walk to the asphalt road at the end of the cul-de-sac. Take a left at the first fork on the asphalt road and then after ? take the right fork onto the dirt trail. After a few hundred meters, there will be a sign for the Kuliouou Valley Trail and the Kuliouou Ridge Trail. Take the left fork to continue on the valley trail. It is roughly 1 mile until the trail hits the stream (N 21 14’ 45” W 157 43’ 32”), but then doesn’t cross and still parallels the stream on the east side. From this area on is where I’ve had the most success with finding Oahu Elepaio.

Asphalt Road at end of cul-de-sac
Asphalt Road at end of cul-de-sac
Keep left
Keep left
Keep right
Keep right
Valley Trail to the left, Ridge trail to the right. Keep Left!
Valley Trail to the left, Ridge trail to the right. Keep Left!
Opening where trail reaches the creek, but continues on the east side (right side of pic)
Opening where trail reaches the creek, but continues on the east side (right side of pic)

Birds:

Kuliouou Trail is great for forest birds including Red-whiskered Bulbul, Red-billed Leiothrix, and White-rumped Shama. Although Oahu Elepaio can be fairly vocal and obvious during the spring and summer, during the winter the birds can be difficult to find.

Oahu Elepaio at nest
Oahu Elepaio at nest
Zebra Dove
Zebra Dove

One comment

  1. Thank you for this information about the Oahu Elepaio.

    Can you tell me if you every hike on the Leeward side of Oahu and if you have every had success finding this bird in the mountains. If so, please comment. Mahalo Nui, April Kalama

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