If you're still wondering whether to come to the first annual Hawaii Island Festival of Birds on September 24–25, 2016, here's a few updates:
- Very limited space available on the Sunday bus and boat tours. As of this writing, only 1 spot on the photography tour, 5 on the boat, and 5 on the vans.
- Still space available at the Gala Dinner, for individual tickets or whole-table purchase.
- As of this writing, 5 spots left on the morning bird hike on Saturday and in the photo workshop with Jack Jeffrey.
- Still space available for general admission and we've added a couple of features — mainland artist Catherine Hamilton will bring a special exhibition of Hawaiian birds along with a question-and-answer opportunity from 1–3 PM on Saturday AND we'll be screening "Struggle for Existence," an award-winning documentary followed by a question-and-answer opportunity with filmmaker Laurie Sumiye.
It's going to be a great two days — hope to see you there.
About the Hawaii Island Birding Festival
The first-ever Hawaii Island Festival of Birds marked the opening of the Hawaii Island Coast to Coast Birding Trail — a pioneering birding route linking diverse habitats from one side of the Big Island to the other. The festival brought together birding enthusiasts, conservation experts, and artists in celebration of Hawaii's extraordinary bird life.
Festival TicketsAbout the 2016 Hawaii Island Festival of Birds
The inaugural Hawaii Island Festival of Birds was a landmark event in Hawaii's birding and conservation community. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Big Island's diverse landscapes, the two-day festival offered participants an unprecedented opportunity to explore the newly opened Hawaii Island Coast to Coast Birding Trail under the guidance of expert birders and naturalists.
The festival program was carefully designed to appeal to birders of all experience levels, from dedicated listers seeking to add Hawaiian endemics to their life lists, to families experiencing Hawaii's natural wonders for the first time. Photography, art, film, and conservation education were woven throughout the program, reflecting the multi-faceted mission of the Hawaii Island Birding Festival.
The response from the birding community was extraordinary, with participants traveling from the US mainland, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Europe to be part of this historic inaugural event. The success of the 2016 festival established Hawaii Island as a genuine world-class birding destination and set the stage for an annual celebration of Hawaii's remarkable avian heritage.
What to Expect at the Festival
Guided morning bird hikes took participants to prime native forest habitats where Hawaiian Honeycreepers and other endemic species were regularly observed. Jack Jeffrey's photography workshop provided hands-on instruction for capturing images of Hawaii's spectacular birds in their natural environment.
The Sunday program featured specialized tours by bus and boat, offering access to birding locations across the Big Island that most visitors never reach. Seabirds, shore birds, wetland species, and native forest birds were all represented in the Sunday tour offerings. The Gala Dinner brought together festival participants, conservation leaders, and local community members in celebration of the trail's official opening.
Art exhibitions and documentary screenings rounded out the cultural program, highlighting the work of artists and filmmakers dedicated to raising awareness of Hawaii's unique and threatened bird life. Catherine Hamilton's paintings of Hawaiian birds offered a stunning visual complement to the direct field experiences of the guided tours.