Hawaii’s wildlife is truly remarkable, from the Hawaiian green sea turtles, spinner dolphins, and tropical fish that are found in the waters surrounding our breathtaking islands to the native birds flying above us, including one of the only two mammals native to Hawaii – the hoary bat. But there are some animals not native to Hawaii you might be surprised to encounter! From escaped zoo animals to animals introduced to the islands’ centuries ago, these 11 animals in Hawaii seem a little… out of place.

1. Hornbills
Allan Watt/Flickr
Back in 2019, after a tree fell on an enclosure at the Honolulu Zoo, two Southern ground hornbills escaped. One was recaptured quickly, but the second hornbill is still on the loose. These rare and massive birds are considered to be vulnerable to extinction.
2. Brown Tree Snakes
Pavel Kirillov/Flickr
Hawaii prides itself on being snake-free, but that doesn't mean the occasional snake doesn't make its way to the island anyway. In fact, Hawaii has purposely imported four species of invasive snakes in an attempt to prevent the species from establishing themselves in the islands. The four snakes are used to train dogs to hunt for any future snakes that enter the state via plane, ship, or cargo carrier.
3. Wild Cows
duluoz cats/Flickr
Introduced at the end of the 18th century, thousands of wild cows roam forested areas of Hawaii Island. A feral breed of domestic cattle, you might not want to run into these cows during a drive on the Big Island, especially if you're driving on the Saddle Road or the Mauna Kea Access Road, which both warn of the dangers of "invisible cows," which are hard to see as a result of dense fog. They don't ever moo-ve over, either. Watch out.
4. Chickens
CucombreLibre/Flickr
While locals are used to seeing wild chickens across the islands, most tourists don’t expect to be surrounded by wild chickens. The island of Kauai is home to the majority of these animals, which were thought to have escaped enclosures during Hurrican Iwa and Iniki in 1982 and 1992, respectively. Even on Oahu, every family member or friend who has visited from the mainland makes some sort of remark about the wild chickens. Every. Time.
5. Cane Toads
Teague O'Mara/Flickr
These non-native amphibians may not pose a serious threat to other land amphibians in Hawaii, but that doesn't mean we want them here. Cane toads are not only the largest toads in the world, but they are also poisonous and pose a great threat to our favorite furry friends — especially those dogs and cats that like to play with any creatures they may find outside.

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6. Feral Goats
Guy Courtemanche/Flickr
Don't get us wrong, we love goats, but the feral goats introduced to Hawaii by Captain Cook and Captain Vancouver are destructive. Hawaii’s delicate ecosystem was no match for the insatiable hunger of these animals, and they are indeed out of place.
7. Wild Pigs
Robin J Phillips/Flickr
Introduced to the islands as many as 800 years ago, feral pigs are one of the world’s most widespread and damaging invasive species. Both feral pigs and boars are a problem for Hawaii’s native ecosystems and have been seen in both wild regions and urban areas. We sure wouldn’t want to encounter one of these creatures on a hike.
8. Apple Snails
Judy Gallagher/Flickr
These freshwater snails can grow to be the size of an apple, and not only cause damage to taro plants but eat plants that provide food or habitat to native fish and birds, and can carry and transmit rat lungworm. Though the economic damage of these snails is not quantified, it is significant.
9. Peacocks
Kenneth Lu/Flickr
Peacocks are perhaps the most unusual bird species to call Hawaii home, and while Princess Kaiulani loved these peculiar birds, the birds have been known to kill rare, native plant species. Plus, they're mean. If you've ever been charged by a peacock, trust us, you'll understand.
10. Mongooses
Jan H./Flickr
Mongooses were intentionally introduced to the islands to control the rat population on sugar cane farms, but have run amuck and are now found everywhere. Unfortunately, the mongoose has wreaked havoc on native bird populations on Oahu, Maui, and Molokai for more than a century. A true shame, considering how many native bird species have gone extinct throughout the years.
11. Wallabies
Lennart Tange/Flickr
Though native to Australia, the brush-tailed rock wallaby has established itself right here on Oahu in a small, but nonetheless established colony, in the heart of Kalihi Valley after two of them escaped from a private zoo more than 100 years ago. These creatures are not a threat to Hawaii, but they are certainly out of place.

Which of these animals were you most surprised to see on this list? How many have you encountered throughout the islands? Sound off in the comments below, then click here to check out an amazing wildlife sanctuary home to some amazing farm animals.

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More to Explore

Animals in Hawaii

Tori Jane | July 21, 2022

What species of wild animals in Hawaii are there?  

Hawaii might be a (stunning) set of secluded islands, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of critters who happily call it home. You can find all kinds of wild animals in Hawaii, some of whom are native (see the next question), and some of whom are not. One could even go one step further and classify many as invasive, which we’ll cover in a moment. Commonly spotted wild animals in Hawaii include the Hawaiian goose (yes, they’re just as mean as your regular geese), the Northern Elephant Seal (so cute), whales, dolphins, and more.  

What animals are native to Hawaii?  

Per the Bishop Museum, there have been more than 21,000 species spotted in and around Hawaii; of those, 8,759 species are native to the islands. Among the animals native to Hawaii are adorable little friends like the Hawaiian hoary bat (one of only two mammals to be endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, the other being the Hawaiian monk seal). The Hawaiian monk seal is extremely endangered; Hawaii is the only place it exists, and its numbers are dwindling. Another endangered native Hawaiian species is the majestic hawksbill sea turtle. You’ll also find hundreds of species of colorful birds dwelling on the islands.  

Are there many invasive species in Hawaii?  

Unfortunately, yes. With humans come invasive species brought with them, and Hawaii is no exception. One of the more intriguing invasive species in Hawaii is the wallaby – yes, wallabies are from Australia. There’s a small colony of them living on Oahu in Kalihi Valley thanks to the fact there used to be a colony in a zoo – until some of them escaped. Other invasive, non-native species in Hawaii include feral pigs, which can be very aggressive... and very tasty. Other feral critters on the islands include feral cats, dogs, horses, sheep, and even cows!  

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