The Hawai'i Nature Center's original field site is located on O'ahu in Makiki Valley, just minutes from urban Honolulu, recently called the most densely populated urban center in the United States. Utilizing the Makiki Valley field site, and additional remote field sites such as Pu'u Ualaka'a State Park and the Honouliuli National Wildlife Refuge, the Hawai'i Nature Center on O'ahu has grown from providing programs for 2,000 school children in 1981 to nearly 25,000 today. These programs now include a different conceptual focus and unique ecosystems for each grade level. Our goal is to continue to grow by adding new programs, increasing field sites and securing additional funding sources.
In 1992 our first neighbor island facility opened on Maui in 'Iao Valley. This facility, as well as a wetland field site at Kealia Pond, now serves more than sixty percent of Maui County's elementary school students each year. In addition, the recently renovated 'Iao Valley facility was acquired in perpetuity for environmental education, and now boasts an Interactive Nature Museum with more than 30 hands-on exhibits emphasizing the natural history of the Hawaiian Islands. You can enjoy a virtual tour of our museum by clicking on "Visiting Hawaii?" in the top menu bar and then clicking on Interactive Nature Museum.
Maps