Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve
| Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
| Location | Kauai, Hawaii, USA |
| Nearest city | Waimea, Hawaii |
| Coordinates | 22°06′30″N 159°33′30″W / 22.10833°N 159.55833°W |
| Area | 9,000 acres (36 km2) |
| Established | 1981 |
| Governing body | Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife |
The Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve, popularly known as Alakaʻi Swamp, is a montane wet forest on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi. Although the preserve is home to alpine bogs, it is not a true swamp. It is located on a plateau near Mount Waiʻaleʻale, one of the wettest spots on Earth. Due to its unique combination of high elevation and climate, the Alakaʻi Swamp harbors a large number of endangered endemic species that are only found in this area and whose population has been dramatically declining over the last decades. It is designated as a IUCN protected area.