BIRDWATCHING TOURS ON THE BIG ISLAND: Hawaii Forest and Trail does two birdwatching trips:

The Rainforest and Dryforest Birding Adventure takes birders into dryland forest on the west side of Mauna Kea and through misty forest on the northeastern slope of Mauna Loa.

Hakalau Forest Wildlife Refuge was the first National Wildlife Refuge established in the United States for forest birds. The tour is offered 18 times annually as the refuge requires an access permit. See also, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: www.fws.gov/pacific/pacificislands/wnwr/bhakalaunwr.html

Price: Adults: $155. Limit 10 people per tour.

On the Net: www.hawaii-forest.com/

Phone: 800-464-1993 or 808-331-8505.

ON YOUR OWN: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for most of the Big Islands's native forest birds, plus black noddies nesting along Chain of Craters Road. Check out the volcanoes too. Call 808-967-7311.

Aimakapa Pond near Kona for water birds such as pied-billed grebes, Hawaiian stilts and Hawaiian coots. Call Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park at 808-329-6881.

Puu Waa Waa along Mamalahoa Highway between Kailua-Kona and Waimea for the Hawaiian hawk, Pueo and Hawaii's state bird, the endangered nene goose.

Puu Laau on Mauna Kea, off the Saddle Road between Waikii and Pohakuloa is the only place to see endangered palila.

GETTING THERE: Most major domestic airlines fly into Honolulu and from there you can take a connecting flight to Kailua-Kona or Hilo on Aloha or Hawaiian Airlines.

WHAT TO WEAR: Sturdy hiking shoes, a windbreaker or poncho for upper elevations.

EQUIPMENT: Binoculars, birdwatching checklist from Hawaii Audubon Society.

REFERENCE BOOKS: A Pocket Guide to Hawaii's Birds by H. Douglass Pratt; Hawaiian Birdlife by Andrew J. Berger; Hawaii's Birds from Hawaii Audubon Society; Seabirds of Hawaii by Craig Harrison; A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific by H. Douglass Pratt.