The Hawaiian Islands need no introduction, for good reason! Most avid sportsmen plan trips to Alaska, the west, or the midwest for their hunting and fishing trips. But if you’re leaving out Hawaii, you’re missing out…and it doesn’t require cold weather gear.
Hawaii, it turns out, is a sportsman’s paradise. The fishing is obviously incredible, with tons of opportunities for unique species, but it is less well known that the tropical islands are filled with various exotic species of large game.
Let’s plan an epic outdoor adventure in Hawaii of your own!
Hawaiian Outdoor Adventures
It’s easy to discover amazing outdoor adventures including surfing, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, swimming with dolphins and whale watching.
On your next trip to Hawaii, why not add some adventure to your vacation?
Across the four main Hawaiian islands of Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai, there’s no shortage of activities for outdoor lovers. You can go snorkelling and see wild turtles, hike up volcanoes, or relax on a black sand beach.
Top 10 Best Adventures to be had in Hawaii:
- Kayak the Napali Coast of Kaua’i
- Bike own Haleakala in Maui
- Hike to Manoa Falls in O’ahu
- ATV Waipi’o Valley on the Big Island
- Snorkal at Molokina Crater on Maui
- Dive at Shark’s Cove and Tables on O’ahu
- Surf
- Snorkel Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island
- Dive and Cathederals and Sergeant Major Reef on Lana’i
- Hiking to Ka’ena Point on O’ahu
Need help getting started? We have you covered.
Fishing in Hawaii
Fishing has been central to Hawaii’s culture throughout history, with a countless number of fish species to catch.
The game fish in Hawaii are very large and abundant which gives everyone, from the most experienced to beginners, a chance to reel in a huge catch as long as you’re fishing with a quality captain.
You can catch rainbow trout in the Koke’e Stream on the island of Kauai. Fishing for blue marlin from a charter boat off the shores of Kona isn’t the only game in town…there are several freshwater and saltwater species to choose from when you go fishing in Hawaii.
What you need to go fishing in Hawaii:
Even though a marine recreational fishing license is not required, there is a license required for freshwater fishing if you intend to keep any fish. There are also some regulations for keeping fish from the ocean and areas where shoreline fishing is prohibited.
- Find comprehensive information on Hawaii’s fishing regulations from Hawaii’s Division of Aquatic Resources.
- Here is the list of rules and restrictions for regulated freshwater species in Hawaii (largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, rainbow trout, tucunare / peacock bass, oscar, bluegill sunfish, o’opu and hinana, hihiwai, hapawai, and Opae kala’ole).
Bird Hunting in Hawaii
The Hawaiian Islands offer some of the most unique bird hunting in North America.
If chasing gobblers at elevations of 6,000 to 10,000 feet in the morning and hanging out on white sandy beaches in the afternoon is your idea of a good month of March, then Hawaii is for you.
When Captain Cook first set foot on the Hawaiian Islands in the 1700’s, there were no upland game birds. Ring-necked pheasants were released on the islands as early as 1875, and have since spread to all six islands. Today, the ringneck is Hawaii’s most widespread game bird and inhabits dry cactus and mesquite habitats near sea level to forested grasslands at 7,000 feet.
Other successful introductions include chukar, found on Hawaii, Maui and Lanai; California quail, whose largest populations are on Molokai and Hawaii; Gambel’s quail on Lanai; mourning doves on Hawaii and wild turkeys on Lanai, Molokai and Hawaii. Other more exotic species include gray francolin from Asia, black and Erkel’s francolin from Africa, green pheasants from Japan, Kalij pheasants from Tibet, Japanese quail, African sandgrouse and two species of Asian doves.
An upland bird hunt in Hawaii is truly a family-friendly vacation.
You can hunt birds in the morning and be back at one of the beach resorts for afternoon cocktails and dinner with your significant other. Your family can enjoy the sub-tropical climate, beaches and other activities the Islands have to offer while you are enjoying some of the best bird hunting in North America.
What you need to know about upland bird hunting in Hawaii:
- All six islands allow bird hunting from the first Saturday in November through Martin Luther King Day in January.
- Hunting in Hawaii is permitted only on Saturdays, Sundays and state holidays. An exception to the weekend/holiday-only rule occurs on the Big Island where hunting is permitted on Wednesdays as well, and on all hunting preserves where shooting is permitted seven days per week during a September to March season.
- See our Wild Turkey Hunts in Hawaii
Big Game Hunting in Hawaii
Where else you can have your tropical island vacation and hunt too?
A family vacation with a few days scheduled in to do some hunting is a great way to keep the spouse and kids smiling and still sneak out for a little hunting time.
Hunting in Hawaii for all the exotic species the Islands have to offer makes for an amazing vacation. Axis deer, wild boars, various species of goats, and feral and mouflon sheep flourish due to the fact that there are no natural predators, which makes hunting in Hawaii an environmental necessity. You’ll often hear hunters say that the “aina provides,” which translates to “the land provides”.
There are eight different big game exotic hunting species available to hunt.
Axis deer; black buck; Spanish goat; Hawaiian ibex; Black Hawaiian sheep; mouflon sheep; Vancouver bulls, and wild boars all call the islands home. If you are in the paradise that is Hawaii and want a very unique hunting experience you have to get in touch with us!
What you’ll need for hunting in Hawaii:
- Enjoy year round hunting seasons on the Big Island, Molokai and Ni’ihau.
- You’ll need a Hawaii Hunting License.
- No tags required.
- See our Big Game Hunts in Hawaii
- See our Hawaiian Wild Boar Hunts
