Discover 4 Animals That Lurk Atop Hawaii’s Tallest Mountain

Hawaii is a very mountainous and beautiful state. It’s home to 1,137 named mountains. The Island of Hawai’i, which is the largest and youngest island in the state, is formed by five massive volcanic mountains. Out of all these mountains, which is the tallest? What animals live on the mountain? Follow along to discover four animals that lurk atop Hawaii’s tallest mountain and plants that call it home.

What is Hawaii’s Tallest Mountain?

Hawaii’s tallest mountain is Mauna Kea, also one of the largest mountains in the world. Technically, when accounting for the base of the mountain (which is underwater), Mauna Kea is the largest mountain in the world, beating Mount Everest! Mauna Kea’s dry prominence is 30,610 feet. However, its elevation only reaches 13,803 above sea level.

About Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea is an impressive and active volcano on the island of Hawaiʻi. The name means ‘White Mountain’, likely from its snowy caps. Mauna Kea is an impressive and active volcano on the island of Hawaiʻi. Although considered active, eruptions are uncommon. The last eruption was around 4,500 to 6,000 years ago, meaning this volcano is dormant. It’s a popular hiking spot on the island and is generally safe. The summit is one of the best places to view stars. However, hike the path to the summit with caution. The trail is steep and there is a risk of developing altitude sickness.

In the area around Mauna Kea sits Kalopa State Recreation Area, Wailuku River State Park, and Akaka Falls State Park. There is also a popular hunting spot. These hunters focus on killing introduced animals so they don’t threaten the island’s environment.

It’s important to note that Mauna Kea is considered a very sacred spot by Native Hawaiians, especially Ancient Hawaiians. Some people who hike this mountain choose to only reach nearly the top but avoid the top out of respect.

Mauna Kea Animals

Wildlife on Mauna Kea is diverse and unique. A few endangered species also live on the island. Follow along to discover some animals and plants you may encounter at Mauna Kea.

Pueo (Hawaiian Short-eared Owl)

The pueo, also known as the Hawaiian short-eared owl, is the first animal on our list. It’s a short-eared owl subspecies endemic to Hawaii. While endemic to Hawaii, it might not be native. This lovely animal isn’t just beautiful but also has a lot of sacred meaning. In Hawaiian culture and religion, ancestor spirits frequently take on the form of a pueo. Although experts aren’t sure how many pueo are left in the wild, numbers are declining. On the island of Oʻahu, the pueo is listed as endangered. The pueo also symbolizes good luck.

Hawaiian Hoary Bat

There are few native Hawaiian mammals, but one of them is the Hawaiian hoary bat, which lives in Mauna Kea. The Hawaiian hoary bat is endemic to Hawaii. It’s a nocturnal brown or black bat with silver coloration. This bat has been Hawaii’s state land mammal since 2015. Sadly, the Hawaiian hoary bat is listed as Imperiled by the NatureServe conservation status system. They are small bats, easily weighing less than 0.7 ounces. Despite their low weight, Hawaiian hoary bats have long wingspans up to 13.5 inches. Since they are nocturnal, Hawaiian hoary bats hunt at night. They consume insects, like beetles and moths.

‘Apapane

Another animal you may find while hiking to the top of Mauna Kea is the ‘Apapane, a small and vibrant bird endemic to Hawaii. They grow up to about 5.1 inches long and weigh as little as 0.4 ounces. The ‘Apapane is a Hawaiian honeycreeper known for its scarlet and bright red plumage. Thankfully, the ‘Apapane is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. There are over 1.5 million ‘Apapane birds throughout Hawaii. They are very important pollinators and are often spotted in trees foraging for nectar. ‘Apapane spend a lot of time in higher elevations, away from mosquitos.

Hawaiian Petrel

The next animal on our list is the Hawaiian petrel. This beautiful white and grey bird resides on Mauna Kea. They are large birds that weigh about 15 ounces and measure 16 inches long. They have even larger wingspans up to 36 inches. Hawaiian petrels are Endangered. Previously, they lived on all Hawaiian islands, except Niʻihau. Now, only a few small populations exist, including on the Haleakalā crater and Mauna Kea. They are threatened by deforestation and invasive/non-native species. For example, feral cats frequently attack Hawaiian petrels in burrows. These lovely large birds mainly consume squid, and some fish and crustaceans.

Plants Found on Mauna Kea

Many plants grow abundantly on the mountain. It’s filled with luscious green grass, shrubs, and trees adorned with sweet flowers. Follow along to learn more about a few plants you may find on your next hike at Mauna Kea.

Alpine Hairgrass

The first plant on our list is Alpine hairgrass (Deschampsia nubigena). It’s also sometimes written as Deschampsia australis. The plant is a tall grass that can reach about 3 feet tall. It’s a perennial that produced dry, one-seed fruits throughout the year. It’s found in wet forests, bogs, alpine grasslands, and subalpine shrublands in Hawaii. This native plant grows in clumps. Not only does it grow wild, but some people also plant this grass in containers and yards as an accent plant. The leaves of this plant are stiff, stand tall, and are usually folded.

Māmane

Another plant that grows on Mauna Kea is the māmane (Sophora chrysophylla). It’s a beautiful flowering plant endemic to Hawaii. Māmane is a plant in the Fabaceae family, also known as the legume, pea, or bean family. It takes on many forms and can develop as a shrub or a tall and luscious tree. This plant can easily reach 49 feet tall. The tree’s branches are long and golden brown, but most people know of this plant for its bright yellow flowers. The flowers grow in large clusters in winter and spring. As the flowers bloom, Māmane wood is hard. You can find these beautiful trees as high as 9,514 feet. This plant is very important for many bird and moth species. For instance, the palila almost only eats young Māmane seeds.

Pili Uka

The next plant on our list is the pili uka, a tall perennial grass. It’s also sometimes called the mountain pili. This tall grass is a member of the Poaceae family. It can reach about three feet tall. Flowers bloom from spring and through fall. This native plant is abundant on Mauna Kea. Like the other grass on this list, it grows in clusters.

Nohoanu

The last plant on our list of plants on Hawaii’s tallest mountain is the nohoanu (Geranium multiflorum). It’s a beautiful, but rare, flowering shrub, sometimes also called the manyflower geranium or the many-flowered cranesbill. Although rare, it’s found throughout Mauna Kea and in the high areas of East Maui. For years, it was listed as Federally Endangered. Now it’s labeled as Imperiled by the NatureServe conservation status system. This fantastic plant is about 1 to 2 meters tall and best known for its large and dazzling flowers. The nohoanu has large purple, white, and pink flowers with purple centers. Sadly, fewer and fewer nohoanu are growing in Hawaii, likely because of invasive plant and animal species like the feral hog.

Summary of The 4 Animals That Lurk Atop Hawaii’s Tallest Mountain

Here are 4 animals that lurk atop Hawaii’s tallest mountain: