By Priyanka Roshan | July 24, 2025
More than a tropical paradise, Hawaii shelters rare wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. Its remote islands nurture unique species—from monk seals on lava shores to dazzling reef fish beneath turquoise waves. Discover ten remarkable creatures.
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Endemic and endangered, this elusive marine mammal is often spotted sunbathing on quiet beaches, making it one of the rarest seal species still surviving in the wild today.
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Hawaii’s state bird, the nēnē, evolved from the Canada goose. With its gentle demeanour and volcanic highland habitat, it’s a must-see for keen birdwatchers visiting the islands.
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Each winter, thousands of North Pacific humpback whales migrate to Hawaiian waters to breed, offering spectacular sights of breaching, tail-slapping, and melodic underwater communication.
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Regarded as a symbol of good luck, these gentle reptiles glide gracefully through coral gardens and occasionally rest ashore, particularly on the Big Island’s black sand beaches.
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The islands’ only native land mammal, this tiny, insect-eating bat is seldom seen, flitting silently through forests at dusk in search of prey amid the twilight hush.
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Originally introduced from East Africa, this vibrant, three-horned lizard now thrives in Hawaii’s lush upcountry regions, where it uses its lightning-fast tongue to snare unsuspecting insects.
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Night snorkelling with manta rays off the Kona coast offers an otherworldly experience as these massive yet harmless creatures loop and twirl through shafts of underwater light.
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Sacred in native mythology, the ‘io is a solitary raptor found only on the Big Island. It soars with stately grace across rainforests and volcanic plateaus alike.
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With its vivid hues and long native name, this angular fish is Hawaii’s official state fish, often spotted darting through coral reefs with unmistakable curiosity and agility.
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True to their name, spinner dolphins delight onlookers with aerial acrobatics. Morning boat excursions often offer a chance to observe pods frolicking just offshore in calm bays.
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