There is so much else to look forward to this year but prehaps the most exciting is the anticipated accomplishment of our endowment goal. We have reached the $3 million mark, thanks to so many generous donations from all of you, and we aim to reach our goal of $3.5 million by the end of this year. Stay tuned for details about this final push. Remember, when we reach our goal we can begin disbursing finds to addres high priority needs on and around the refuge.

Mahalo nui to all of you!

40th Anniversary Gala Mahalo!

On November 21st 2025, approximately 200 guests gathered at the beautiful Kona Salt Farm at Keahole Point to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge (1985-2025). The night was a resounding success, capturing the spirit of our FOHF mission while delivering an exceptional financial result for the future of the Refuge.

The evening began with Sunset Cocktails & Savory Bites on the Beach, fostering great camaraderie and opportunities for professional and personal reconnections. Guests then moved under the beautifully lit tent for a Fire Roasted Buffet Dinner and wine flowing at the tables. 

The formal program included special presentations that underscored the Refuge's "outstanding conservation success story": 

• A welcome and Oli by Ulalia Woodside Lee was beautifully chanted and translated. 
• History of Hakalau Forest National WIldlife Refuge, a rare 30,000 foot overview presentation by FOHF President Pete Stine with Refuge Manager Springer Kaye followed by a personal hope for the future in Hakalau Forest by Rob Pacheco. 
• A powerful video presentation further highlighting the work accomplished over the 40 years of the Refuge and the threats still facing us now and, in the future, featuring Jack Jeffrey with ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, Patrick Hart, Leila Dudley & Family, Noah Gomes and Eric Preston-Hamren. 
• The evening culminated in a spirited Paddle Raise and Live Auction featuring five unique items like the "Journey into the Heart of Hakalau Forest" experience, original art and a luxurious 2-night stay at the Four Seasons Resort, while the auctioneers engaged the audience in fun and laughter throughout the auction. 

More than 100 guests donated to the Paddle Raise, Live & Silent Auctions and beach games, helping to raise $140,968, a substantial contribution to the Hakalau Forest Refuge Management Endowment. The success of this event was driven by the incredible generosity of our community, event volunteers and the Gala’s 10 Financial Sponsors, 8 In-Kind Sponsors, 11 Film Crew members, 50 donations from acclaimed and local community artists, and our tireless committee members who worked day and night to make it happen. 

UPDATE: Our Endowment has now reached $3 million, thanks in part to the 40th Anniversary Gala – our goal is to reach $3.5 million by the end of this year so that we can begin to disburse funds to help support Hawaii’s endangered species in early 2027.

Refuge Update

Hakalau Forest NWR, Fish and Wildlife Service

The year began with the refuge with our Teacher Experience in January, where local teachers from Hawaiʻi Island visited the refuge to learn about native forest ecosystems, restoration efforts, and how we can collaborate to get more of our local students into the forest. Our aim is to build connections between educators and the conservation work happening at Hakalau Forest.

Volunteer engagement remains a cornerstone of the refuges work. During the first quarter of 2026, volunteers have already contributed 550 hours of service. Volunteers and staff have planted 2,500 native trees across the refuge and planted, weeded, and up-potted plants in the Laulima greenhouse. The greenhouse currently holds about 20,000 native plants in various stages of propagation that will eventually be used in restoration plantings across the refuge.

At the end of February, the refuge held the ʻAha Hoʻolaʻa o ka Hale Nakamalauokekoa, the blessing of the rare plant greenhouse. Approximately 30 people attended the ceremony, including volunteers and partners. The event marked an important step forward for the refuge’s native plant conservation efforts.

"Before" picture of the kitchen "After" picture of the kitchen

Volunteer support has also led to improvements in refuge facilities. Matthew D’Avella and the Groundhogs Volunteer Group recently completed renovations to the kitchen in the volunteer cabin. The project incorporated cabinetry donated by DFI Resources - Hawaii along with custom cabinets built by Matthew himself. Their work has greatly improved the space, and their continued support over the past several months has been invaluable.

The field crew has been hard at work repairing fence lines, maintaining trapping operations, and completing extensive site preparation to ensure adequate space for upcoming restoration plantings. These efforts will allow the refuge to move more plants from the greenhouse into their permanent homes in the forest. In addition to field operations, refgue staff recently completed a three day Wilderness First Aid training, which included CPR recertification, helping ensure the team is well prepared for the remote conditions where much of this work takes place.

Finally, the replacement of our solar system has been completed! The refuge is 100% off grid and the new system was built to support expanding electricity demands over the next 15 years.  

Looking ahead, annual forest bird surveys have begun across Hawaiʻi Island. Surveys for the Hakalau Forest and Kona Forest Units are scheduled for later this month and will help biologists monitor native forest bird populations and guide future conservation work.

Thank you to the many volunteers, partners, and community members who continue to support the mission of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge.

If you would like to support the direct needs of the refuge, please visit the Amazon Wishlist, linked below.

Research Article

Hakalau’s moving castle: How climate change and restoration are shifting an island fortress for forest birds

by Noah J. Hunt, Steven J. Kendall, Trevor M. Bak, Lucas Berio Fortini, Richard J. Camp

Hakalau Forest Unit of the Big Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex (hereafter, Hakalau) protects the largest area with the highest endemic forest bird diversity in Hawaiʻi, including four federally listed species. Hakalau’s higher elevation montane forest provides refuge from avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum), a primary driver of Hawaiian honeycreeper extinctions. However, recent declines in Hakalau’s birds at lower elevations could indicate that conditions have become suitable for disease vector Culex quinquefasciatus.

We evaluated the statuses of Hakalau’s bird populations in the context of recent climatic changes using new survey data from point-transect distance sampling, producing abundance estimates from 1999 to 2024. We stratified our analysis across four elevation ranges (<1500 m, 1500–1700 m, 1700–1900 m, and >1900 m) and assessed trends for each species using state-space models (SSMs). We constrained population trajectories to be biologically realistic by incorporating population dynamic models within the SSMs.

We observed highly species-specific abundance trends below 1500 m, predominantly stable to upward trends within 1500–1700 m, stable trends within 1700–1900 m, and upward trends above 1900 m. Declines in Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi (Chlorodrepanis v. virens) and endangered ʻakiapōlāʻau (Hemignathus wilsoni) abundance coincided with lengthening warm seasonal temperatures indicative of shrinking disease-free habitat below 1700 m. Above 1900 m, however, increases in nearly all species indicate that reforestation has likely restored disease-free habitat since 1999. While most species were stable to increasing overall, surveillance for mosquitoes and disease at lower elevations, documenting changes in habitat, and continuing bird population monitoring can help to gauge their long-term persistence at Hakalau.

Read the full article here!

MERCHANDISE AVAILABLE!

2026 Calendar Sale!

Our 2026 beautiful Jack Jeffrey calendars are now DISCOUNTED – only $15 each

Take advantage of this opportunity to share Jack’s exquisite images with your family and friends!

David Shepard Merchandise Pre-Sale!

David Shepard was inspired to create beautiful pieces of wearable art featuring the birds and forests at Hakalau Forest NWR to help support the ongoing challenges the endemic species face. Pre-sale orders are still available; the shipment will be delivered later this month.

With your pre-sale order, you will also receive a FREE 5” x7” giclee print on archival half mat backing of detail from the design. Featuring ʻakiapōlāʻau in their habitat of koa trees, with lichen koa umi covering their branches, shown below.

The shirts are made of 100% cotton poplin. Fabric is soft, light, naturally breathable, and durable. Real coconut buttons. Print-matched left chest pocket. Button down shirt plus button on back of the collar

The pareau fabric is soft, light, breathable, and durable. Multi-purpose pareau or sarong. Fold in half to use as a beach cover up, wrap like a scarf, shawl, tie behind the neck for a simple stylish dress. The possibilities are endless. Dimensions of fabric 70 inches x 44 inches with some variability. Limited quantity print. Hand drawn fabric print illustrations. Designed in Hawai‘i on imported fabric.

Annual Meeting Presentations

Vision for the Mountain Over the Next 20 Years

Cheyenne Perry, Manager, Mauna Kea Watershed Alliance

To view the other presentations from the annual meeting, click the links below.



• FOHF Updates by Peter Stine, President of the Friends of Hakalau Forest NWR.
• Refuge Update by Springer Kaye, Refuge Manager, Big Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex
• The threat of wildfire to Hakalau Forest NWR Panel Presentation hosted by Bill Stormont, Project Director, Mauna Kea Stewardship Oversight Authority

Annual Meeting Awards

Cindy Pachecho



Cindy Pacheco was recognized for ger incredible effort in support of the 40th Anniversary Gala, commemorating the establishment of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge. The event was a massive success, in large part because of all of her work. We appreciate the tireless

effort she put into this, always with a smile on her face.

Cathy West-Dale



Cathy was recognized for her outstanding and effective work in assisting with the development and growth of our retail store. Our online store has grown significantly in terms of both diversity of merchandise and volume of sales. Your tireless efforts to sort through orders, mail them to customers, and keep track of our inventory make the retail store what it is today. We know the store would not be as successful without your dedicated help.

Beth DeYoung



Beth was recognized for her outstanding and effective work in building ourretail store. Our online store has grown in terms of both diversity of merchandise and volume of sales. We now reach out to hundreds more people and our branding provides enhanced recognition of what we do and why our Friends group exists. We appreciate her outstanding contributions and tireless efforts to make our store a place to go for gifts that tell our story.

Bill Stormont



Bill was recognized for his outstanding and effective work in assisting with the development and growth of our retail store.  His efforts; sorting through merchandise, hauling to events, and participating in our many opportunities to sell our products, have been key contributions and helped make the retail store what it is today.

Debbie Anderson



Debbie was recognized for her skilled and effective work in building and carrying out the social media outreach for our growing activities. Over the last six years she has been the principal figure in getting our messages out to an ever-growing number of supporters of our work. Our outreach activities have had an extraordinary impact on our abilities to raise funds for the many important initiatives we have sponsored. We appreciate her outstanding contributions.

Suzy Lauer



Suzy was recognized for her commitment to quality for the Membership Committee. Her

tireless monthly efforts to maintain the membership database are essential to our success. Because of her hard work and

attention to detail, we have kept up with all the changes of a growing and vibrant membership.

Ulu Ho



Ulu was recognized for her outstanding work in assisting with the development and growth of our retail store. We thank her for your continued help in managing the merchandise, sorting through orders, and participating in our many opportunities to sell our products. Her efforts have been key contributions and helped make the retail store what it is today.

MAHALO NUI LOA

Friends of Hakalau Forest 2025 General Fund Donors

Friends of Hakalau Forest would like to send our sincerest "Mahalo" to all of our donors in 2025. We could not do it without your continued support!

Nēnē family

Photo Credit: Jack Jeffrey

Neal Arisumi, Assoc. of Partners for Public Lands, Ellen Campbell, Crystal Castellanos, Ed Clapp, Sheila Conant & David McCauley, Costco Workplace Giving Campaign, Anne Farrell, Patricia Finfrock, Carrie Fraser, Tom Givnish, Donna Goodale, Katherine Grote, Hawaii Forest & Trails, Cherilyn Hollingworth, Teresa Hong, Nationwide Life Ins. Co., Kagimoto Family Fund, Kristine Karnos, Clyde Kobashigawa, Geoff Lee, Cathy Lowder, Thomas Luebben, Catherine T. Luthe, Julia Marrack, Michelle Martin, Mary Love May/Paul W. Gabrielson Red Pond Paradise Fund, David Melnikov, John (Hal) Michael, Jessica Middleton, Denise & Julie Mitchell, Mary Obrien, Jeffrey A. Payne, Sylvia Perreira, John Prentice, Blake Rice, Patricia Richardson, Donald & Kathleen Romero, Ann Rothe, Oliver Ryder, Laurie Saarinen, James Thiele, Adriane Truluck, Patricia Tummons, Deborah L. Ward, Lauren Williams, Lynette Williams, Elizabeth Winternitz, Warren F Wong

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE

SPRING 2027

Friends of Hakalau Forest NWR's Find Your Wild

The Find Your Wild has been a great success over the past four years and we are looking forward to hosting you in Spring 2027. We will be shifting the schedule of the open house event due to the conflict with nēnē breeding season, so that we can minimize any impacts to these endangered species. More information will be provided soon!

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE AND PLAN ON ATTENDING AND/OR VOLUNTEERING.

Volunteer Trips for Members

Want to volunteer with us?

The following trips are available to all Friends of Hakalau Forest Members Only.

Not a member? Use the link below to join us!

The Friends of Hakalau Forest NWR is a membership organization. Membership dues and donations to the Friends are our only source of funds allowing us to cover our expenses.