Kipuka Puaulu (Bird Park) Trail, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

A perfect trail for anybody with limited physical ability. With a really bad back I still had no problems walking the entire 1.2 mile trail, and there were many spots along the trail where you can stop and sit quietly while watching for birds. The weather in late May was perfect: partly sunny with a cool breeze and the occasional misting from passing clouds. The trail is shaded more often than not, and the slope going up is very gradual as it is going down on the other side. We heard lots of birds, including cardinals, but most kept out of sight in the canopy. The exceptions were the numerous kalij pheasant that are very friendly and will approach without fear. We also saw an 'apapane and numerous small birds that were too far away to identify. Plenty of interesting and beautiful flora if you are not into birds. We encountered only a few other hikers during our visit and the parking at the trailhead was empty.

This is a great, easy trail that is a 1.2 mile loop. There are a lot of plants and snimals here. I could hear many birds and even saw several kalij pheasants. There is a bench along the trailer to rest or sit and listen to the birds. There is a lava tube with a sign saying not to enter. I recommend buying the $2 pamplet at the entrance. It is very imformative and makes a great keepsake of the walk.

Short trail just a few miles off the highway, but it feels like you're way off the beaten path. 9 informational markers share plant names and Hawaiian history. If you're quiet, you'll also see and hear plenty of birds.

Beautiful trail that's very different from the other trails of Volcanoes National Park. Lovely sounds of the birds. We saw about 10 Kalij pheasants.

A well maintained walk in the tropical forest with lots of signage to identify trees and plants. I really liked it! It can be a bit strenuous on the first half of the loop because of going uphill, but it's not bad for most people. Note that the trail is uneven terrain, so I don't recommend it for wheelchairs or other wheeled devices such as strollers.