Hualālai is one of the five mountains of volcanic origin that comprise Hawaiʻi Island, along with Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Kohala, and Kīlāuea. From the top of Puʻu Waʻawaʻa you can see all of them except for Kīlāuea. On the far side of Hualālai is Honuaʻula Forest Reserve. The Puʻu Waʻawaʻa Forest Bird Sanctuary is also in this direction.

Mauna Loa is one of the five volcanic peaks visible from the summit of Puʻu Waʻawaʻa. Kīlāuea volcano is on the far side of Mauna Loa from this view. The eastern side of Mauna Loa is home to Puʻu Makaʻala Natural Area Reserve, and the western flank of the mountain is home to the new Waiea Natural Area Reserve, established in 2022.

Mauna Kea is one of five volcanic mountains visible from the summit of Puʻu Waʻawaʻa. The mountain is the tallest in the world, when measured from the sea floor, and is so tall that its peak is sometimes covered in snow in the winter. The Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve is near the peak. On the west and north sides of the mountain are forest restoration sites managed by the Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project, a collaborative project of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the University of Hawaiʻi Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit.

Kohala is one of the five mountains of volcanic origin that comprise Hawaiʻi Island, along with Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualālai, and Kīlāuea. From the top of Puʻu Waʻawaʻa you can see all of them except for Kīlāuea. The mountains of Kohala include the Kohala Forest Reserve as well as the Puʻu O Umi Natural Area Reserve. Two rare montane bogs are found at Pu‘u O ‘Umi, along with montane wet grasslands, shrublands and forests.

From here you can see Haleakalā, the tall volcano forming the eastern side of Maui island. The name Haleakalā translates to English as "house of the sun." It was formed from the same hot spot in the earth's crust as the volcanoes on Hawaiʻi Island, but has moved to the northwest of the hot spot over time as tectonic plates shift. From this direction, you are facing Nakula Natural Area Reserve, Kipahulu Forest Reserve, and Kahikinui Forest Reserve on the southern slopes of Haleakalā.

Learn about the history and current management of the Nāpuʻu area from Kaleohone Roback. The Nāpuʻu area includes both Puʻu Anahulu (a Game Management Area) and Puʻu Waʻawaʻa, which includes both a Forest Reserve and a Forest Bird Sanctuary.

Learn about current and historic trails from Jackson Bauer, Nā Ala Hele specialist for DLNR Forestry and Wildlife on Hawaiʻi Island.

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