Donate or Walk with KFBRP at the 2026 Kauaʻi Charity Walk!
KFBRP is excited to be a part of the 2026 Kauaʻi Visitor Industry Charity Walk on
Saturday, May 2 at 7:00 AM at Vidinha Stadium!
This event is a great way to support our efforts to protect Kauaʻi’s endangered forest birds—and enjoy a fun morning walk through Līhu‘e with friends,’ohana and fellow conservation supporters.
Here’s how you can help:
1️⃣ Donate to support our Charity Walk team.
2️⃣ Register to walk with us! The $50 registration includes a t-shirt and breakfast.
3️⃣ If you’re walking, invite friends and ‘ohana to support your efforts through the event’s online tools.
The best part? Every dollar raised will be matched—dollar for dollar—by the event’s proceeds!
It’s a powerful way to make twice the impact for Kauaʻi’s native species.
Mahalo for standing with us and helping to protect the birds that make our island home so special.
DINE FOR A CAUSE – ALL FEBRUARY LONG
We’re excited to share that we have been selected as the nonprofit recipient for proceeds from Table 53 at RumFire Poipu!
By dining at Table 53, you’re directly supporting efforts to protect Kauaʻi’s native forest birds and their habitats. It’s an easy (and delicious!) way to give back.
Call RumFire (808-742-4RUM) to make your reservation and request Table 53, and dine knowing your meal is making a difference.Mahalo for supporting bird conservation on Kauaʻi!
🐦 2025 Wings & Woodlands Art Exhibit
YOU ARE INVITED!
Kaua‘i Society of Artists Gallery | Kukui Grove Center
Exhibit Dates: November 8–14, 2025
Opening Hours: 11/8 – 10am-3pm, 11/9 -11/13 – 12-6pm, 11/14 12-3pm
Opening Reception: Friday, November 7 at 6 PM
Celebrate Hawai‘i’s manu through art! The Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project and Birds, Not Mosquitoes are teaming up with the Kaua‘i Endangered Seabird Recovery Project and Trees for Honolulu’s Future to showcase the beauty and importance of Hawai‘i’s native birds.
🌿 Special Events
Friday, Nov 7 | 6 PM – Opening Reception (FREE!) – SIGN UP HERE
Join us for refreshments, a blessing, and the first look at this year’s inspiring bird art.
Saturday, Nov 8 | 10 AM–3 PM
• 10 AM Kahili Pa‘a Lima Workshop with Kumu Kaeo – $100 – SIGN UP HERE
• Kaua‘i Cultural Artists Guild Vendors on site
Sunday, Nov 9 | 1 PM
• Ni‘ihau Shell Earring Workshop with Hi‘ipoi Kanahele – $100 – SIGN UP HERE
Monday, Nov 10 | 4–6 PM
• Seabird Art Class – Free – SIGN UP HERE
Tuesday, Nov 11 | 4 -6 PM
• Sip & Paint with Kumu Kehaulani – $55–$65 – SIGN UP HERE
Wednesday, Nov 12 | 4–6 PM
• Forest Journaling Workshop with Kim Rogers – Free – SIGN UP HERE
Friday, Nov 14 | Exhibit closes at 3 PM
(Art pickup begins at 3 PM)
🌈 Keiki Art Contest: “WeTrees!”
Keiki in grades K–8 are invited to create art celebrating the importance of trees — vital homes for many of Hawai‘i’s birds. Select Kaua‘i entries will be featured in the Wings & Woodlands Exhibit.
Email artcontest@treesforhonolulu.org
KAUAʻI AVIAN RESCUE AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS MOVING TO SINGLE SITE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 10, 2025
HONOLULU – The cancellation of a decades-long set-aside of land from the state of Hawai‘i to the County of Kaua‘i has paved the way for Kaua‘i’s renowned forest bird and seabird recovery and protection programs to move into a joint facility.
Today, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR), approved Kaua‘i Mayor Derek Kawakami’s request to cancel Governor’s Executive Order (EO) 4045. The first EO, in 1955, was issued to the county as the Hanapēpē Dog Pound site.
The Kauaʻi Humane Society utilized the property for 46 years and subsequently, in 2015, the BLNR approved the use of the premises for Hawaiian stewardship programs.
In the DLNR Land Division submittal to the land board, Mayor Kawakami indicated the site is no long being used for stewardship and while the county has tried to maintain it and fenced it off, squatters have moved in. The county will remove the squatters and their personal effects before the cancellation takes effect.
The property will be utilized for the benefit of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, College of Natural Sciences, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU) on behalf of the Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project (KFBRP), the Kaua‘i Endangered Seabird Recovery Project (KESRP), and the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi (RCUH). The term of the no-cost lease is 25 years.
Dr. Shaya Honarvar, PCSU Director and Principal Investigator for KFBRP and KESRP said, “Our mission is to protect and restore Hawaii’s native species, ecosystems, and cultural resources. The forest bird and seabird recovery projects on Kaua‘i epitomize this mission by combining research and conservation of federally and state protected native birds; some of which would already be extinct without the intervention of the project’s talented and dedicated teams.”
From the BLNR submission, “Due to the recent dramatic declines in forest bird populations on Kaua‘i and new advances in technologies to address their primary threat, mosquito-borne diseases, KFBRP’s budget and staff have recently increased almost two-fold. KFBRP has outgrown the small commercial real estate property it has rented since 2011. Meanwhile, KESRP has been occupying a small container at the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) base yard but needs to find a permanent home.”
Dr. Lisa ‘Cali’ Crampton, KFBRP Project Leader, said, “This allows us to share staff knowledge and skills more easily. A major synergy will be having space for cross- training, not only with our seabird partners, but also with our DLNR colleagues. There are many overlaps between various types of avian research and conservation, so being together provides great learning opportunities.”
The property is very close to where DLNR/DOFAW is developing a westside base yard. DOFAW Kaua‘i Branch Manager Sheri S. Mann said, “We hope to break ground in the next six months. The proximity of these projects, who we already collaborate with frequently, is going to enhance our shared endangered bird protection mission.”
“With the extinction crisis we’re facing, having a shared baseyard will allow us to streamline field operations, share equipment, vehicles, and other resources. Having a united front allows us to expand our outreach to the community. It’s not just about doing the critical conservation work—it’s about showing how important our native species are to the health of our ecosystems and the cultural heritage that makes our island so special,” said Dr. Julia Diegmann, KFBRP planner.
# # #
RESOURCES
(All images/video Courtesy: DLNR)
HD video – Media clips of KFBRP and KESRP (various dates and locations on Kaua‘i):
Photographs – KFBRP and KESRP (various dates and locations on Kaua‘i):
Media contact:
Dan Dennison
Communications Director
Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawai‘i
Phone: 808-587-0396
Email: dlnr.comms@hawaii.gov
KFBRP WINTER Newsletter 2024
Hot off the press: Our 2024 KFBRP Winter Newsletter!
2024 has been a monumental year for KFBRP and our forest birds, filled with challenges, progress, and hope. As we look ahead to 2025, our mission to protect Kauaʻi’s precious native forest birds remains more urgent than ever. Join us in the fight to prevent further extinctions and celebrate the milestones we’ve achieved together.
Click here to read the newsletter online or download a printable version here.
Mahalo to our Mosquito Field Associate Jennifer Jackson for this year’s layout!
Here’s a sneak peek of what’s inside:
2024 in Review
Exciting Plans for 2025
Celebrating Makahiki o nā Manu Nāhele
Safeguarding the ‘Anianiau
A Closer Look at Saving Kauaʻi’s Puaiohi
New Conservation Actions for Kauaʻi’s Rapidly Declining Avifauna
Advancements in Malaria Control for Kauaʻi’s Birds
Protecting Native Birds Through Mosquito Management
Meet Our New Team Members
Shop Our New KFBRP Merchandise
Mahalo and Gratitude for Your Support!
Mahalo nui loa for standing with us in 2024. We couldn’t do this work without your incredible support and dedication. Together, we are making a difference!
PBS Hawai’i broadcast of “When Silence Becomes The Song”
As you may know, ‘Forest Calls’ (and its main media project, the documentary film titled “When Silence Becomes The Song”) wrapped up over a year ago. After a lengthy re-edit (based on the comments the film director received during the various islands’ virtual and in-person screenings) and months of conversation with PBS Hawai’i, we finally have a date for the television premiere broadcast. It is scheduled for this week, Thursday, November 21st at 8:30pm (HST). There will also be a re-broadcast on the following Sunday (November 24th at 1:00pm (HST)).
PBS Hawai’i has already uploaded the film online, so if you want to see the latest/final version of the documentary before/after any of these dates, you can go to:
Furthermore, PBS Hawai’i put the film on the cover of their November program guide. Here’s a link to that guide:
An important component of ‘Forest Calls’ is its website, as it explains how the various media projects came about, who was involved, etc. The website also provides a ton of very useful information about conservation work, biodiversity, and the importance of resisting extinction. The interviews in the ‘Resources’ page are particularly interesting and insightful. The link for the website is:
Mahalo to everyone who has been part of this important endeavor. And please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions and/or comments.
Invitation to Documentary Screening: “Vanishing Voices – Saving Our Hawaiian Forest Birds” with Expert Panel Discussion
YOU ARE INVITED!
American Bird Conservancy is hosting a special screening of the documentary “Vanishing Voices – Saving Our Hawaiian Forest Birds”** at the **Kauaʻi Community College Performing Arts Center (KCC PAC)** on **Monday, September 30th at 6:00 PM.
This captivating film explores the critical efforts to save Hawai‘i’s unique and endangered forest birds, featuring Kaua’i Forest Bird Recovery Project among others. Following the screening, there will be an expert panel for Q&A with:
– Dr. Lisa “Cali” Crampton, Project Leader, Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project
– Justin Hite, DLNR/DOFAW Mosquito Control Project
– Graham Talaber, Naturalist and Photographer
This is an excellent opportunity to learn about these rare species and the innovative strategies being employed to protect them. We hope you can join us for this inspiring event.
Event Brite Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-screening-of-vanishing-voices-saving-our-hawaiian-forest-birds-documentary-tickets-1024532372907?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
We look forward to seeing you there!
“Wings and Woodlands: A Tribute to Native Birds and Forests” 2024
The Kaua’i Forest Bird Recovery Project is partnering with Birds, Not Mosquitoes, and Kamehameha Schools to honor our beautiful and endangered manu through art. We will be hosting an art show at the Kaua’i Society of Artists gallery at Kukui Grove Center from 11/1 -11/8/2024.
Finished artwork can be shipped to KFBRP PO Box 27 (USPS mail) or 3751 Hanapepe Rd (courier packages and hand-delivery) by October 25th. We will accept late entries on Nov 1 between 2-4pm if you hand-deliver them to the KSA Gallery at Kukui Grove Center.
Artists of all ages and experiences are encouraged to create and submit art inspired by native Hawaiian manu and their forest habitat based on the entry guidelines below. We welcome the following art forms: 2D or 3D, paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, and featherwork.
Wall pieces will be hung on the wall with hooks. Please make sure that all pieces have hanging wire securely attached when dropping off the artwork.
Artists have the following options:
- art for display only (no sales)
- donate a portion of the sales price to KFBRP (25%, 50% or 75%)
- donate the art piece to KFBRP
It is the artist’s responsibility to pick-up unsold or display-only artwork at the end of the exhibit, unless donated to KFBRP.
Let your imagination take flight as you capture the vibrant colors, unique features, and essence of these magnificent birds that grace the lush landscapes of Hawai’i.