The Nu’upia Ponds WMA located at the southeastern end of the base, consists of eight interconnected ponds, wetlands, and shrubland covering 517 acres. The Ponds, bracketed by Kane’ohe Bay and Kailua Bay, are home to approximately 10% of the endangered Hawaiian Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) population of Hawaii. Three other endangered waterbirds – Hawaiian Coot, Hawaiian Gallinule (moorhen), and Koloa Duck utilize the fresh water areas within the Nu’upia Ponds WMA. Many other waterbirds transit through the Ponds yearly.
Restrictions: Access to the Nu’upia Ponds WMA is strictly controlled because the ponds are managed for the Hawaiian Black-necked Stilt, an endangered bird protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The act imposes severe civil and criminal penalties for committing a “take” against an endangered species. This Act protects both the bird and it’s habitat.
• Take (as defined in 50 CFR 10.12) means to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect or attempt to engage in any such act. It also includes damage to the endangered species habitat.
• There is NO harvesting permitted in the WMA. This includes, but is not limited to fishing, hunting, crabbing, netting, or collecting of any natural resources or cultural artifacts.
• There are NO pets of any type allowed in the WMA.
• Do Not Feed the Wildlife