MAUKA & MAKAI
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Where can you make eye contact with a great frigatebird? Or watch Laysan albatrosses taxi down their own runway for takeoff?
On the north coast of Kaua'i, where Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is alive with permanent and migrating seabirds.
This giant rookery is where the nene, wedgetail shearwaters, red- and white-tailed tropicbirds and red-footed boobies are among thousands of birds sharing cliff space and offshore sea- stack Moku'ae'ae in the raucous day-to-day activities at the point.
Nearby Albatross Hill is a nesting habitat for Laysan albatrosses during winter months.
At certain times of the year, Hawaiian monk seals and green sea turtles can be seen along the shore. Dolphins visit during spring and summer months, and from November to March, the waters are a temporary home for humpback whales as part of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
A short walk leads to Kilauea Point Lighthouse and Visitor Center, where information on bird life, plant life and a history of the lighthouse is available.
Tip: The refuge conducts tours from Kilauea Point east to Crater Hill that leave the visitor center at 10 a.m. Monday-Thursday. Reservations: (808) 828-0168.
The refuge and lighthouse are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. $3, adults; children under 16 admitted free.
Directions: Take route 56 north from Lihu'e. Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is about a 30-minute drive.
Look for directions to the refuge on the roadside.
TOP 10
Best airports
The best airports, from a passenger survey with 1.4 million-plus entries, at the Web site www.airlinequality.com:
- Hong Kong
- Singapore
- Sydney
- Amsterdam
- Copenhagen
- Chicago O'Hare
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Helsinki, Finland
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Hawai'i travel lures
In a June 3 report on "Summer Vacations in a Post-Sept. 11 World," Time magazine noted that "Hawai'i has suffered a downturn in business in recent years and has been working hard to curry favor with travelers who want an overseas trip but don't want to risk Europe. It's safe, it's exotic without being foreign, and most important, it wants you. We smell some bargains."
Honolulu International Airport has been recognized by the International Air Transport Association for the service it provided to airlines and for quickly waiving landing fees in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.
