Hawaii, the only tropical state of the United States, is home to hundreds of animals and birds – many endemic to the archipelago. Hawaii boasts a unique biogeography, which is the result of the archipelago being separate from the mainland. It has allowed wildlife in the region to develop and adapt on its own – for both land and marine flora and fauna.
The region’s wildlife has declined ever since humans began colonizing the islands. Currently, it has the highest number of threatened and endangered animals in the US. Several animals have gone extinct, but efforts are in place to save and revive the remaining wildlife in the state.
There are two national parks – Haleakalā National Park, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, while many other areas are under the protection of the National Park Service.
List of Different Types of Animals Found in Hawaii
All the animals in the list are native to the Hawaiian archipelago unless otherwise mentioned.
Mammals
Endemic
Hawaiian Hoary Bat (Ōpeʻapeʻa)
Hawaiian Monk Seal (ʻĪlioholoikauaua)
Marine Mammals Seasonally Found in the State’s Coastal Waters
Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (not considered native, but can be seen in the state’s coastal waters)
Amphibians
No amphibian species are native to Hawaii, but a few introduced species of frogs and toads exist. Most of these have now become invasive and are a threat to the Hawaiian ecosystem.
Fishes
There are over 40 types of sharks, and numerous different fish species in Hawaii, though they are not all native to the state.
Reef Triggerfish (Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa)
Tiger Shark
Bull Shark
Hammerhead Shark
White-tip Reef Shark
Ocean Surgeonfish (moana)
Yelloweye Surgeonfish (kole)
Hawaiian Grouper (roi)
Saddle Wrasse (weke)
Christmas Wrasse (weke ‘ula)
Yellowtail Wrasse (weke ‘ula ‘ula)
Hawaiian Flagtail (aholehole)
Parrotfish (uhu)
Japanese Amberjack
Blacktail Snapper (toau)
Bluestripe Snapper (nunu)
Giant Trevally (ulua)
Hawaiian Grouper (hapu’u)
Blacktail Grouper (ta’ape)
Bluefin Trevally (‘omilu)
Hawaiian Bigeye (‘aweoweo)
Bigeye Emperor (u’u)
Bonefish (‘o’io)
Rudderfish (hinalea)
Threadfin (moi)
Triggerfish (hana pa’a)
Unicornfish (kala)
Invertebrates
Pulelehua (Kamehameha butterfly)
Hawaiian Yellow-faced Bee
Giant Centipede
Hawaiian Cleaner Shrimp
Tidepool Hermit Crab
Featherduster Worms
Box Crab
Sea Cucumbers
Sea Urchins
Sea Slugs
Cone Snail
Banded Spiny Lobster (Endemic)
Sea Anemones
Octopuses
Sea Stars
Hawaiian Mantis Shrimp
Brittle Stars
Hawaiian Flatworm
Hawaiian Barnacle
Hawaiian Nudibranch
Sea Sponges
Box Jellyfish
Moon Jellyfish
Portuguese Man o’ War
Hawaiian Sea Snail
Animals Introduced to the Hawaiian Ecosystem
There are hundreds of introduced species on the Hawaiian islands, most of which are now considered invasive:
Indian Mongoose
Chital Deer
Feral Wallaby
Feral Cattle
Feral Pigs
Feral Goats
Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby
Feral Wallaby
Jackson Chameleon
Brown Anole
Brahminy Blind Snake
Green Iguana
Wattle-necked Softshell Turtle
Emoia Impar
Green-and-black Poison Dart Frog
Cane Toad
Swordtail
Suckermouth Catfish
Little Fire Ants
Coffee Berry Borer
Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle
Brown Recluse
Brown Violin Spider
State Animals of Hawaii
State Mammal
ʻĪlioholoikauaua (Hawaiian Monk Seal)
State Land Mammal
Ōpeʻapeʻa (Hawaiian Hoary Bat)
State Marine Mammal
Koholā (Humpback Whale)
State Bird
Nēnē (Hawaiian Goose)
State Fish
Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa (Reef Triggerfish)
State Insect
Pulelehua (Kamehameha Butterfly)
FAQ
What are the most dangerous animals in Hawaii?
Hawaii has no predatory land animals, so the most dangerous animals you might encounter in the state’s forests may be feral pigs or insects like giant centipedes, fire ants, and spiders. There are no snakes, either. However, the waters of the state are full of sharks, jellyfish, and other potentially deadly marine animals like the cone snail, yellow-bellied sea snake, and sea urchins.
What are some of the rarest endangered animals in Hawaii?
As mentioned, Hawaii is home to plenty of rare and endangered animals with the Hawaiian hoary bat, Hawaiian monk seal, Nēnē, Hawksbill sea turtle, Hawaiian green sea turtles are listed ans threatened or endangered by the IUCN.
