14 Photos Of Wildlife In Hawaii That’ll Drop Your Jaw

Where can you go to see wild animals in Hawaii?

While you will see a variety of marine life when you make a splash in the Pacific Ocean — from spinner dolphins and sea turtles to a variety of tropical fish — there are two places on Hawaii Island that stand out in a crowd when it comes to large animals roaming free. In Waipio Valley, the southernmost and largest of the seven valleys of Kohala Mountain, you will find a breathtaking black sand beach, one of Hawaii’s tallest waterfalls, and wild horses, and on the slopes of Mauna Kea, wild cows roam free. Say what? Many people don't know that Hawaii Island is home to vast ranchlands including the largest contiguous ranch in the United States as well as the thousands of wild cows that were introduced at the end of the 18th century and roam the forested areas of the island.

Is Hawaii home to any endangered species?

Despite comprising less than 0.2 percent of American soil, nearly one-quarter of the nation's endangered species of animals are found in Hawaii — including the Hawaiian green sea turtle and the Hawaiian monk seal. The American Bird Conservancy declared Hawaii as being the most threatened bird habitat in the United States, with more than ten bird species going extinct in Hawaii during the last 30 years alone. Hawaii is often considered the endangered species capital of the world, but work is being done to change that.