Hawaii Bird Tours

02/26/2025

Hakalau ʻOhana– we have a problem!

No doubt you heard the news that 22% of the Refuge’s staff (5 probationary employees) were let go on Friday under the directive of the new regime in DC. This huge cut in staff will have immediate impacts on the Refuge in terms of ongoing vital projects that help secure the future of our endangered endemic birds and plants. The greenhouse which is full of seedlings will lie fallow; all outplanting will diminish and ultimately cease. The huge progress in reforesting former pasturelands will slow to a halt. Pigs will run rampant throughout the Refuge. Gorse will invade the forests. The future is grim.

The FOHF are working to develop a plan to help the Refuge as quickly as we can with needed resources and volunteers. Stay tuned for more news on this front!

In the meantime, here are some things you can do to help IMMEDIATELY;
• Call/email/write to our Hawaii congressional representatives –
o Senator Brian Schatz, 202-224-3934
o Senator Mazie Hirono, 202-224-6361
o Representative Ed Case, 202-225-2726
o Representative Jill Tokuda, 202-225-4906
• Become a member of FOHF - https://friendsofhakalauforest.org/membership/
• Donate to our General Fund - https://friendsofhakalauforest.org/donate/
• Purchase Amazon WishList items - http://bit.ly/4gLnu6p
• Subscribe to our regular newsletters - https://friendsofhakalauforest.org/newsletters/

Remember, you are ALL part of the Hakalau ʻOhana, helping to fulfill our mission to support the remarkable endemic birds and their habitat at Hakalau Forest. Let’s collaborate and work together to find solutions.

02/26/2025

12/02/2024

How cute are these juvenile Common Waxbills? With the adults only weighing in around 8g these juvies with their still dark bill (bright red as adults) can't be more than a few grams and a few cm in height. 🥹

Native of sub-saharan Africa and first recorded on O'ahu in the late 1970's these busy little birds are now a common sight on most of the Hawaiian islands.

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11/07/2024

Raptor-tastic! This gorgeous and relaxed young 'Io (Hawai'i's only native hawk species) posed nicely from its perch only feet from the road on the way from Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge where we had another fabulous day with Hawai'i's unique endemic birds! Pictured from within the refuge: The iconic I'iwi❤️and the sweet little 'Akepa🧡


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09/20/2024

Another awesome day with new friends and amazing birds in paradise! Thank you Stacy and Roger! 🤙🏝🐤🌈☀️🎉

09/15/2024

🌿 Did you know many employers offer matching gifts? You can double your support for Hakalau Forest’s conservation efforts through employer matching. Check with your company today and make twice the impact for our Endowment! ✨

Learn more about the Endowment on our website: https://friendsofhakalauforest.org/endowment/

09/15/2024

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/interactive/2024/guam-kingfisher-sihek-assisted-migration/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzI2MzcyODAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzI3NzU1MTk5LCJpYXQiOjE3MjYzNzI4MDAsImp0aSI6ImIyNzE1MjhhLTYwOTctNGU1YS05ZTRkLWY0MTMwYmNmOTUzYSIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGltYXRlLWVudmlyb25tZW50L2ludGVyYWN0aXZlLzIwMjQvZ3VhbS1raW5nZmlzaGVyLXNpaGVrLWFzc2lzdGVkLW1pZ3JhdGlvbi8ifQ._QakvBbJL9j0kUfryBwVDnDNYF5fi7P1GNldBf3wr_Q&itid=gfta

As habitats disappear, biologists are trying to find new homes for birds like the Guam kingfisher and other animals beyond their native habitats.

08/09/2024

Thank you for giving Hawaii Bird Tours the opportunity to make a bright and beautiful young lady's wish come true - to see our precious endangered endemic Honeycreepers of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge on the Big Island of Hawaii - who wouldn't wish for that!? 😍 Alison, Jen and Greg, hope you had a wonderful day in the forest! 🧡

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'i

07/03/2024

Mahalo to Pacific Rim Conservation for all you do for our birds!

Have you ever seen or heard an O'ahu 'elepaio while out hiking? If so, we would love to know! Our staff monitors several populations of this endemic, endangered species, but we are always happy to receive information about your sightings to supplement our work.

We would like to give a special shoutout to Mandy Talpas of Hawaii Bird Tours for regularly sharing her sighting information with us! Learn more about Mandy's guided birding adventures here: https://hawaiibirdtours.com/

06/24/2024

This beautiful and elusive forest bird is the Greater Necklaced Laughing Thrush, introduced to Hawaii from Southeast Asia around 1918 and is found only on the island of Kauai. They are a tricky bird to see as they move around densely forested areas in small family groups, but they'll not stay in one area for long!
📸 (Mandy Talpas)



'i

06/10/2024

The Black francolin, native to India was introduced to the Hawaiian islands for hunting in the 1950s and 60s along with many other game birds. As with any introduced and invasive birds the worry is that they could be spreading non native seeds but recent studies have shown that the seeds can not remain viable after being processed through the Francolin's gut. Listen out for their distinctive raspy, metallic call in dry lowland grasslands on all the main islands.
📸 (Mandy Talpas)