Viamigo

A supreme study in contrast, the Rainforest and Dryforest Adventure takes you to two very different environments. At Puu Laau, we roam the sub-alpine dryland forest on the west side of Mauna Kea, home of the endangered palila and the bryani sub-species of elepaio. Our other locale is the Puu Oo Trail, in a cloudforest habitat on the northeastern slope of Mauna Loa. There we look for the endangered akiapolaau, omao (Hawaiian thrush), iiwi, apapane, and other endemics. On the drive to our two primary locales, we head north along the coastline before starting the climb to the old Mamalahoa Highway, keeping an eye out for open-country birds. From there we'll connect to the Saddle Road and begin car-birding, primarily for game birds as well as for the Pueo, or short-eared owl. Depending on the weather, we'll stop for a bit of breakfast along the Saddle Road, often at Mauna Kea State Park at Pohakuloa.