National Wildlife Refuge Week is celebrated all this week.
The refuges are a system of over 560 National Wildlife Refuges across the country, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect native species of fish, birds and plants.
On the Big Island, Friends of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge are organizing a “Walk for the Wild” at the refuge from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday.
Members of the public can register for this free event at the following website: https://friendsofhakalauforest.org/walk-for-the-wild/.
The refuge is located off Mana Road on the windward slopes of Maunakea. A high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle is needed to get there.
There will be professionally trained guides along the three-mile walk who will point out native and endangered species.
Hakalau Forest NWR is among the few refuges that are not open to the general public. The “Walk for the Wild” is the public’s opportunity to visit Hakalau Forest and see and hear a variety of native birds.