Haleakalā National Park on the island of Maui reaches from the volcanic summit of Haleakalā down to the waterfalls, streams and coastline of the Kīpahulu District. Hawaiʻi is one of the most isolated places on Earth, and the only animals that reached it on their own were those that could fly, float or be carried here by wind or by birds. Their descendants evolved into species found nowhere else in the world. The Hawaiian hoary bat, or ʻōpeʻapeʻa, is the only native land mammal in Hawaiʻi. Every other land mammal in the park, from feral pigs and goats to rats, cats and the small Indian mongoose, arrived with people, and many of them prey on native birds or damage the plants those birds depend on. In the Kīpahulu District, streams are home to endemic gobies known as ʻoʻopu, which evolved from saltwater ancestors, and hikers on the Pīpīwai Trail can watch for freshwater shrimp and the rock-climbing goby. Green sea turtles and the occasional Hawaiian monk seal visit the park’s coastline.
Birds are the park’s best-known wildlife. The nēnē, or Hawaiian goose, is Hawaiʻi’s state bird. It had disappeared from Maui, and Haleakalā was chosen as the island’s reintroduction site, where about 500 captive-raised birds were released beginning in 1962. Today nēnē graze near the backcountry cabins, at Kalahaku Overlook and along park roads, so drive carefully. Native honeycreepers such as the red ʻapapane and ʻiʻiwi, the yellow-green Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi, the critically endangered kiwikiu (Maui parrotbill) and the ʻākohekohe feed in the forests around Hosmer Grove and Palikū Cabin. Pueo, Hawaiian short-eared owls, hunt over open shrublands during the day. The summit area holds the largest known nesting colony of the endangered ʻuaʻu, or Hawaiian petrel, a seabird that feeds mostly on squid far out at sea and returns to its burrows only after dark. Apart from the green sea turtle, every reptile and amphibian on the species lists below was brought to Hawaiʻi by people. Keep reading to see featured photos of Haleakalā’s wildlife and to learn more about wildlife photography.
Featured Haleakalā National Park Wildlife Photographs
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Wildlife Photography Tips
Wildlife photography in the US National Parks offers a unique and enriching experience, as these protected areas are havens for diverse species and pristine natural landscapes. Capturing wildlife in such settings requires preparation and respect for both the environment and its inhabitants. Photographers should familiarize themselves with the specific animals and ecosystems of the park they are visiting, as each park hosts different species and behaviors. Early mornings and late afternoons, known as the golden hours, provide the best light and increased wildlife activity. Different seasons also offer different wildlife viewing opportunities. Patience and stillness are key, as the best moments often come to those who wait quietly.
If wildlife does present itself, always make sure to maintain a safe distance. Using a telephoto lens allows for close-up shots without intruding on the animals’ space. If you already own or want to own a professional grade mirrored camera like the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame Digital SLR, we recommend using a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens zoom lens for wildlife photography. If you have or are interested in a newer mirrorless model like the Canon EOS R5 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera, we recommend using a Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Black for long distance shots.
Not quite ready to invest in traditional professional-grade camera equipment but want to enhance the quality of your cell phone photographs? Consider using a Moment Tele 58mm Mobile Lens II for improved reach, and use a Moment camera case with a lens mount to attach it to your phone. Since cell phones generally cannot provide the same reach as a dedicated telephoto camera lens, never compensate by moving dangerously close to wildlife. As with any visit to a national park, it’s important to follow park regulations, practice “Leave No Trace” principles, and prioritize safety while photographing wildlife.
Want to take your wildlife photos further? Featured photographer Vella Torvik shares her field-tested advice on gear, camera settings, light, composition and safely approaching wildlife in our Wildlife Photography 101: Insider Tips From the Field masterclass.
Haleakalā Wildlife Education and Resources
Want to learn more about Haleakalā National Park and the wildlife that inhabits it? Check out these guides & books:
- Peterson Field Guide To Mammals Of North America: Fourth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Peterson Field Guide To Birds Of Western North America, Fifth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song
- Animal Tracks: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Familiar North American Species (Wildlife and Nature Identification)
Please note, by making purchases through our affiliate links, you are supporting our mission to celebrate and showcase our National Parks and the photographers who frequent them. As an Amazon Associate, National Park Photographer earns from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. We appreciate your support.
Haleakalā National Park Species List
The wildlife at Haleakalā National Park is beautiful and diverse. There are a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish to view. Check out all the incredible species this park has to offer! Click on the links below to see the different animal species that inhabit Haleakalā National Park:
Haleakalā National Park Mammals
13 species
- Axis Deer(Axis axis)
- Black Rat(Rattus rattus)
- Domestic Cat(Felis catus)
- Domestic Dog(Canis familiaris)
- Feral Cattle(Bos taurus)
- Feral Goat(Capra hircus)
- Feral Pig(Sus scrofa)
- Hawaiian Hoary Bat(Lasiurus cinereus semotus)
- Hawaiian Monk Seal(Neomonachus schauinslandi)
- House Mouse(Mus musculus)
- Norway Rat(Rattus norvegicus)
- Polynesian Rat(Rattus exulans)
- Small Indian Mongoose(Herpestes javanicus)
No mammals match.
Haleakalā National Park Birds
38 species
- African Silverbill(Euodice cantans)
- ʻĀkeʻāke(Oceanodroma castro)
- ʻĀkohekohe(Palmeria dolei)
- ʻAʻo(Puffinus newelli)
- ʻApapane(Himatione sanguinea)
- ʻAukuʻu(Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli)
- Barn Owl(Tyto alba)
- Black Noddy(Anous minutus melanogenys)
- Chukar Partridge(Alectoris chukar)
- Common Myna(Acridotheres tristis)
- Eurasian Skylark(Alauda arvensis)
- Golden Pheasant(Chrysolophus pictus)
- Hawaiʻi ʻAmakihi(Chlorodrepanis virens wilsoni)
- House Finch(Haemorhous mexicanus)
- House Sparrow(Passer domesticus)
- Hwamei(Garrulax canorus)
- ʻIʻiwi(Drepanis coccinea)
- ʻIwa(Fregata minor palmerstoni)
- Japanese Bush-warbler(Horornis diphone)
- Kiwikiu(Pseudonestor xanthophrys)
- Maui ʻAlauahio(Paroreomyza montana newtoni)
- Nēnē Photo post(Branta sandvicensis)
- Northern Cardinal(Cardinalis cardinalis)
- Northern Mockingbird(Mimus polyglottos)
- Nutmeg Mannikin(Lonchura punctulata)
- Pacific Golden Plover(Pluvialis fulva)
- Pueo(Asio flammeus sandwichensis)
- Red-billed Leiothrix(Leiothrix lutea)
- Ring-necked Pheasant(Phasianus colchicus)
- Rock Dove(Columba livia)
- Ruddy Turnstone(Arenaria interpres)
- Spotted Dove(Streptopelia chinensis)
- ʻUaʻu(Pterodroma sandwichensis)
- Wandering Tattler(Tringa incana)
- Warbling White-eye(Zosterops japonicus)
- Western Cattle Egret(Ardea ibis)
- White-tailed Tropicbird(Phaethon lepturus)
- Zebra Dove(Geopelia striata)
No birds match.
Haleakalā National Park Reptiles
9 species
- Brahminy Blind Snake(Ramphotyphlops braminus)
- Bridled House Gecko(Hemidactylus frenatus)
- Garden Skink(Lampropholis delicata)
- Green Sea Turtle(Chelonia mydas)
- Indo-Pacific Gecko(Hemidactylus garnotii)
- Indo-Pacific Tree Gecko(Hemiphyllodactylus typus)
- Mourning Gecko(Lepidodactylus lugubris)
- Oceanic Snake-eyed Skink(Cryptoblepharus poecilopleurus)
- Stump-toed Gecko(Gehyra mutilata)
No reptiles match.
Haleakalā National Park Amphibians
3 species
- Bullfrog(Rana catesbeiana)
- Cane Toad(Bufo marinus)
- Wrinkled Frog(Rana rugosa)
No amphibians match.
Haleakalā National Park Fish
6 species
- Flagtail(Kuhlia sandvicensis)
- ʻOʻopu ʻAlamoʻo(Lentipes concolor)
- ʻOʻopu Nakea(Awaous stamineus)
- ʻOʻopu Naniha(Stenogobius hawaiiensis)
- Sandwich Island Sleeper(Eleotris sandwicensis)
- Stimpson’s Goby(Sicyopterus stimpsoni)
No fish match.
Note: The wildlife species included in the lists above have been confirmed with the National Park Service to be present in Haleakalā National Park. Other species may exist in the park that are currently under review or not yet known.
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