[9] The Hawaiian hoary bat faces threats including habitat loss, collisions with man-made structures such as wind turbines and barbed wire, pesticide impacts on primary food sources, predation and competition with invasive species, roost disturbance, and tree cover reduction.

The Hawaiian hoary bat is distinguished by a silver tint along its brown back fur.

More pronounced silver bands are found along the neck as the fur transitions to a yellowish brown along the face, with the ears retaining a black edging around their perimeter.

However, a 2015 study reported significant phylogenetic divergence between dating to the mid-Pleistocene, about 1.4 million years ago, marking them as distinct species.

[5] However, a 2020 genetic study of a much wider sample of Hawaiian Lasiurus supported the divergence between Hawaiian and mainland hoary bats, but found no evidence that both species were sympatric on Hawaii, and attributed the previous studies' findings to incomplete lineage sorting.

The bat's main food source consists of moths (Lepidoptera) and beetles (Coleoptera), and includes crickets, mosquitoes, termites, and many other insects.

A high proportion of bats feed in pastures, where beetles are abundant due to the cattle dung.

Surveys indicate that the bat is opportunistic and can forage over many habitat types, including native and non-native vegetation and the open ocean.

[12][needs update] The Hawaiian hoary bat is a nocturnal hunter, usually hunting before sunset and returning to its nest before sunrise.

In open environments (i.e. pastures or above the canopy) where larger prey is more abundant, they fly faster, sacrificing maneuverability.

When hunting in closed environments (i.e. dese forests) where smaller prey is more abundant, they fly slower for more maneuverability.

Changes in the habitat distribution are linked to the energy abundance within an environment, influenced by temperature, rainfall, and food availability.

These bats usually find roosting in a multitude of plants consisting of Metrosideros polymorpha (most common Hawaiian tree), coconut palms (Cocos nucifera), kukui (Aleurites moluccana), kiawe (Prosopis pallida), avocado trees (Persea americana), shower trees (Cassia javanica), pukiawe (Styphelia tameiameiae), fern clumps, Eucalyptus, and Sugi pine (Cryptomeria japonica).

[11] Their habitat distribution is observed by detecting the frequency of echolocation using acoustic detectors, as well as through bat netting and insect collection (to track foraging).

The bats occupy human populated areas, forests, agricultural fields, pastures, and near mountain summits (almost 4,000 meters or 13,000 feet).

In 2005 it was estimated that population size ranged from a few hundred to a few thousand specimens, based on inadequate data.

Fish and Wildlife Service, females often bear twins, as seen in American hoary bat species.

Fossil evidence supports the bats' early presence on the islands of Hawaiʻi, Molokaʻi, Maui, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi.

The exact number of Hawaiian hoary bats was unknown, and the addition of the species to the list may have been precautionary.

In 2011, a summary and evaluation of the 5-year review determined that, due to lack of data on population size and trends, the species could not be either down-listed nor delisted.

The largest contributor to bat mortality is collisions with man-made objects such as barbed wire fences, communication towers, and wind turbines.

Increased use of pesticides decreases the insect populations that are a major part of the bats’ food supply.

Citric acid used on invasive Eleutherodactylus frog species was reported to be unlikely to have a negative effect on the bats.

[17] In January 2020, the Hawaiian hoary bat Guidance for Renewable Wind Energy Proponents was updated.