3rd Annual Hawai‘i Island Festival of Birds

The Third Annual Hawai‘i Island Festival of Birds will take place Sept. 14 to 17, headquartered at Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay.

This year’s theme, “Back from the Brink: Hawai‘i’s Battle Against Extinction,” will showcase the
herculean ongoing efforts to save Hawai‘i’s rarest bird species.

The all day Community Bird Fair on Saturday, Sept. 15, runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
at Sheraton Kona. Kids ages 15 and under will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Adult entry is $10 and includes $5 in Birdie Bucks that can be spent on items at vendor booths and in the silent auction.

Local food trucks will be on standby for hungry fair-goers along with arts, interactive crafts and gear booths in support of the local community and economic development. Feature speakers who are on the frontline of saving Hawaii’s avifauna will discuss their past and present work that has been and continues to be critical to saving native species.

Saturday evening is the not-to-be-missed Brews, Birds & Binos street fair. This outdoor celebration, which kicks off at 5 p.m. on Sheraton’s oceanside lawn, will include food, handcrafted beers, premium wines, live music and silent and live action. Event attendees will also have the opportunity to try out an assortment of birding and sport optics products.

The goal of the Hawai‘i Island Festival of Birds is to continue their tradition as a Zero Waste event.

Festival Event Highlights:

• Friday, Sept. 14, 5:30 p.m. Reception and film festival, Sheraton Kona
• Friday through Sunday, Sept.14 to 16, Guided Birding excursions on land and sea
• Saturday, Sept. 15, 8:30 a.m. Bird Fair doors open, Sheraton Kona
• Saturday, Sept. 15, 5 p.m. Birds, Binos, & Brews, Sheraton Kona
• Sunday, Sept. 16, 4:30 p.m. Pau Hana Celebration BBQ, Waiki‘i Ranch

The festival concludes on Monday, Sept. 17, with the opportunity for participants to protect and restore bird habitats with specific projects. Volunteers will assist at the Maunakea Forest Restoration Project, or at Hawai‘i Wildlife Center during their Community Project Service Day.

Beneficiaries of the four-day event include the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center and The Hawai‘i Island Coast to Coast Birding Trail administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Department of Forestry and Wildlife.

Detailed schedule of events and reservations available online. Sponsors of the Hawai‘i Island Festiva of Birds include Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, County of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Forest & Trail, Destination Marketing, Hawai‘i Wildlife Center and Alaska Airlines.

For more information info@birdfesthawaii.org or call (808) 331-3655.