Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, Kauai, Hawaii

The Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge for endangered Hawaiian (gallinule, coot, duck, black-necked stilt) Waterbirds

In the valley in front of you, wetlands and taro are managed to support the waterbirds. This is one of several National Wildlife Refuges in Hawaii where the decline of wetlands and waterbirds is being reversed.
Two hundred years ago taro ponds cultivated by the Polynesians, and natural wetlands supported large populations of Hawaiian waterbirds. Since then, both natural wetlands and taro ponds have been reduced to less than 5 percent of their original acreage. Sugar cane and other developments now replace most of the waterbird habitats.
The demand for taro, the source of Hawaiian poi has decreased. Competition for lowland areas with adequate fresh water has resulted in less cultivation and higher prices for taro.
Through a cooperative program farmers here at Hanalei raise their taro crops on U. S Fish and Wildlife Service land. Farmers raise taro in ways that benefit wildlife.

Taro ponds in the early growth and fallow stages provide excellent feeding sites rich in waterbird foods. Later growth stages provide cover from predators as well as bad weather and provide some nesting habitat.
Man-made wetland ponds are the primary habitat for waterbird nesting. Well-timed draw-down and flooding exposes nesting islands and mudflats. This water manipulation also promotes desirable food plants and invertebrates. Moats and fences protect the nesting birds from predators.
Waterbirds feed and perform courtship on the open water habitat of the Hanalei River. The river is rich in food sources, including invertebrates (insects and shrimp) and a variety of introduced and native fishes including the O'opu or native goby. Endangered Hawaiian coots occasionally nest in the vegetation along the river bank.