Nestled between Manele and Hulopoe Bay, Sweetheart Rock, known in Hawaiian as Pu`
u Pehe, is a scenic landmark with a tragic love story you can read about
here
.
Folklore aside, Sweetheart Rock is the nesting grounds of the `Ua`u Kani or Wedge-tailed Shearwater. They nest in fragile burrows in the ground nearby and lay only one egg per year, which both the male and female care for.
By rescuing homeless cats and caring for them at our Sanctuary, we keep them out of the path of the `Ua`u Kani and other native seabirds, which play an important role in our island's ecosystem. Protected birds and cats can co-exist through intervention, collaboration, and management.