Kau Forest Reserve

Ka‘ū Preserve is part of the largest and most intact expanse of native forest in the state. Made up of four separate parcels of forested land, the preserve features mountainous ridgelines with narrow plateaus broken by alternating steep valleys. Closed-canopy koa and ‘ōhi‘a forest shelters a lush understory of nativeuluhe and hāpu‘u tree ferns. Rare plants like the nuku ‘i‘iwi still survive here, along with rare and endangered forest birds like the Hawaiian hawk ('io) 'apapane, 'i'iwi, 'elepaio, 'amakihi and‘ākepa.