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 Hawaii Island Festival of Birds is typically held each October. The festival has previously been held at the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa (previously the Sheraton) in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

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

Hawaii Island Festival of Birds 2020 event was held digitally, they took a break and did not have a festival in 2021, and have not yet announced info for 2022.

The most recent festival was a digital event held in Oct 2020. Please refer to the festival website for all information about upcoming events.

In 2020 they offered special, online bird-related content during the digital festival as well as give aways. The event theme was, “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 were originally scheduled to 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. Watch the festival website to see future event plans.

The aukuu or Black-Crowned Night-Heron

Hawaii Island Festival of Birds Speakers

The key speakers originally scheduled for the 2020 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 future events, please visit the official Festival Website.