Hawaii Animals

Hawaii has only two native mammals: the Hawaiian monk seal and the Hawaiian hoary bat. The hoary bat is most often found on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Lanai and is recognizable by its brown and white fur. Endangered since 1970, the prognosis for the bat’s recovery from endangered status is good as it is able to adapt to alien vegetation. The fate for monk seals, however, looks less promising. Unlike most seals, Hawaiian monk seals are solitary animals. They are a very old species; experts believe that they have not evolved in 15 million years. They are primarily found in the remote regions of the Northwestern Hawaiian islands. Like many species native to Hawaii, they developed in the absence of predators and have few defense mechanisms. Today, with a dwindling population of around 1200, they are considered the most endangered marine mammal in the US. Because the survival of these gentle creatures remains precarious, it is crucial that visitors not disturb them. Please stay a safe distance away.

Humpback whales were among the first species to discover the joy of wintering in Hawaii. Each autumn they travel 3000 mi. from their arctic feeding grounds to the tropical waters, where they mate and give birth. Somewhere between 2000 and 5000 whales make the trip each year, a significant portion of the total North Pacific population. These baleen whales are known for their spectacular acrobatics and complex underwater mating songs. They are now an endangered species, as there are only between 15,000 and 20,000 worldwide (15-20% of the original population). Maui is the best island from which to see the whales, particularly between November and February.

Green sea turtles have nesting grounds along the Hawaiian islands and can often be seen by snorkelers directly offshore. These animals are also endangered, threatened by hunting, pollution, and human development—observe from a distance. Hawaiian waters are also home to 13 species of toothed dolphins. Spinner and bottlenosed dolphins are most common and can be observed playing the in waves of Hawaii’s shores. Locals often refer to these animals as “porpoises,” using “dolphin” to refer to the dolphin fish, mahi mahi.

There are an estimated 700 different species of fish in Hawaiian waters, many of which exist nowhere else. Impress your friends by naming Hawaii’s unofficial state fish, the humuhumunukunukuapuaa (pronounced HOO-moo-HOO-moo-NEW-coo-NEW-coo-AH-poo-AH-ah), which is also known as the reef triggerfish. This tiny tropical fish is 8-9 in. long and has a trigger-shaped, blue-and-yellow dorsal fin and, according to the ancient Hawaiians, a snout like a pig. There are also about 40 different species of shark inhabiting Hawaiian waters. The most commonly seen near shore are tiger sharks (considered the most dangerous), whitetip reef sharks, and hammerheads (see Wilderness Safety).

Hawaii’s state bird, the highly endangered nene, or Hawaiian goose, is the rarest goose in the world—fewer than 900 exist in the wild. As they tend to nest low to the ground, their low numbers are in part attributed to predation by mongooses, as well as destruction of nests by pigs and cats. Capable of living up to 4000 ft. above sea level, most nene dwell on the slopes of volcanoes on the Big Island, though they can also be found on Maui and Kauai. Thought to be closely related to the Canadian goose, the nene developed long toes and reduced webbing on their feet for climbing on lava flows. The mongoose was introduced to Hawaii in the late 19th century in an attempt to exterminate the rats that were overrunning plantations. Unfortunately, this solution was ineffective, since rats are nocturnal and mongooses are diurnal. For more information on the plants and animals of Hawaii, see Additional Resources.