Overview of the Hawaii Island Festival of Birds

The incredible abundance and diversity of wildlife in Hawaii extends to our feathered residents as well. The Big Island is a wonderful place for bird watching and bird lovers gather here each year to explore and learn. The Annual Hawaii Island Festival of Birds is held each October. The festival is typically held at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Wandering Tattler photo by Jack Jeffrey courtesy of Hawaii Island Festival of Birds

Hawaii Island Festival of Birds 2019 Event Theme & Activities (Canceled)

Unfortunately the 2019 festival has been canceled for this year. Please refer to the festival website for all information for booking or rebooking. They will be offering 3 special, alternative bird-related tours during the original festival dates. The event theme was scheduled to be, “Wanderers and Migrants–Hawaii’s Unique Avian Visitors,” highlighting the migratory and accidental avian visitors that arrive in Hawaii each year.

Nēnē – an endangered Hawaiian goose

Festival activities include education on Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Monument, the Birds, Brews & Binos street fair, a reception, a film festival, guided birding excursions on land and sea and the event gala.

The aukuu or Black-Crowned Night-Heron

Hawaii Island Festival of Birds 2019 Speakers (Canceled)

The key speakers currently scheduled for the 2019 Festival of Birds event include renowned experts on wanderers and migrants:

Robin Baird, PhD. Hawaiian cetacean and seabird researcher with Cascadia Research

Peter Pyle, Research Scientist, Hawaiian bird authority with the Institute for Bird populations

Lindsay Young, PhD. Executive Director, Pacific Rim Conservation

Java Sparrow

Hawaii Island Festival of Birds Beneficiaries & Sponsors

Beneficiaries of this educational event are Hawaii Wildlife Center and The Hawaii Island Coast to Coast Birding Trail. The event sponsors include Hawaii Tourism Authority, County of Hawaii, Hawaii Forest & Trail, Destination Marketing, Hawaii Wildlife Center and Alaska Airlines.

For more information on how to attend this exciting event or to make your reservation online, please visit the official Festival Website.