by d.monyak

Hawaii Volcano Tours: How To See Rare Species That Exist Nowhere Else On Earth

Did you know that Hawaii is considered the endangered species capital of the U.S.? Did you also know that you can see many of these struggling breeds by taking Hawaii volcano tours?

Yep, it's true. Taking Hawaii volcano tours affords you the opportunity to see and learn about species which may not be around for your children or grandchildren to enjoy.

Here is a brief overview of the types of species you can expect to see during the course of a Hawaii volcano tour:

Hawaii Volcano Tours to see Endemic Plants

Of the 1,100 species of flowering plants native to Hawaii, 92 are extinct and another 270 are on the brink of extinction. Much of this loss is due to non-native species predation and human interference. Expect to see species such as the beautiful Ohi'a lehua, whose flowers provide nectar for several species of endemic birds and insects, and the Ahinahina, or Silversword, which is an alpine plant which lives for about 50 years, blooms only once and then dies. The Silversword exists only on Haleakala, Maui and Mauna Kea, Hawai'i, and can be viewed by taking Hawaii volcano tours leading to either place.

Hawaii Volcano Tours to see Endemic Bird Species

The beautiful birds of Hawaii are a treat no one on Hawaii volcano tours should miss. In fact, if you've got the time, there are even citizen science projects where you can go out and help the park rangers count the birds and monitor their population growth, or lack thereof.

Species you'll be looking for include: the Palila, which is found only from 6,500 to 9,600 feet of elevation in mamane-naio forests on the slopes of Mauna Kea; the Nene or Hawaiian Goose, which was once widespread in upland country but now only exists in Maui and the Big Island; and the Ua'u, or Hawaiian Dark-Rumped Petrel – a fascinating bird which burrows in rock on top of Haleakala's 10,023 foot summit, but feeds on squid gathered as far away as Alaska and Japan!

Hawaii Volcano Tours in Proximity to Rare Insect Species

Of the 10,000 native species of Hawaiian insects, up to 50% are biologically endangered. Insects are some of the primary pollinators for Hawaii's native flora, provide food for native birds and are the primary processors and creators of soil, making their successful survival an important concern.

Species you may encounter on Hawaii volcano tours include: The Hawaiian yellow-faced bee, an important pollinator which does not live in large colonies, but instead builds individual nests to feed nectar and pollen to its young; the Drosophila heteroneura fly, which is one of 800 species of endemic Hawaiian Drosophila and has unique adaptations found nowhere else; and the Haleakala Flightless Moth, which ditched its ability to fly over the millennia in favor of superior clinging strength in order to successfully live on the windswept slopes of the volcano.

It would take a lifetime to explore all of the endemic Hawaiian species, but by experiencing them through Hawaii volcano tours, you'll at least get a good feel for the extraordinary diversity on display.

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