Our Mission
Hawaii Birding Trails exists to celebrate the extraordinary bird life of Hawaii Island, to connect visitors and residents with the natural heritage of the Big Island through world-class birding experiences, and to support the conservation of Hawaii's unique and endangered native bird species.
We believe that birding tourism, when thoughtfully developed and responsibly managed, can be one of the most powerful conservation tools available in Hawaii. By creating economic value from living birds and intact native habitats, we build the case — in dollars and in votes — for protecting what makes Hawaii Island truly irreplaceable.
Our approach combines exceptional visitor experiences with authentic conservation impact, ensuring that every participant in our programs contributes meaningfully to the protection of Hawaii's natural heritage for future generations.
About the Hawaii Island Coast to Coast Birding Trail
The Hawaii Island Coast to Coast Birding Trail (HICCBT) is a pioneering birding route that traverses the Big Island from one coastline to the other, linking an extraordinary diversity of habitats, wildlife refuges, parks, and conservation areas. The trail links a National Park, two State Parks, several Forest Reserves, two County Parks, a National Wildlife Refuge, and numerous public trails — creating a continuous corridor for birding, nature tourism, and conservation education.
The HICCBT rises from sea level to approximately 7,000 feet and back, passing through coastal wetlands, dry forest, mesic forest, native rainforest, sub-alpine shrubland, and volcanic landscapes. The ecological diversity of the trail translates directly into extraordinary bird diversity: from Hawaiian Stilts in coastal ponds to 'I'iwi honeycreepers in native 'ohi'a forest to Pueo owls hunting open grasslands.
Envisioned as the pilot project for a larger Hawaii Island Nature Trail Network, the HICCBT is demonstrating how designated birding routes can simultaneously serve conservation, tourism, and community development goals. The trail's success is inspiring discussion of how the model could be extended to other parts of Hawaii Island and potentially to other Hawaiian islands.
The Hawaii Island Birding Festival
The annual Hawaii Island Birding Festival is the signature event of Hawaii Birding Trails — a two-day celebration of the Big Island's remarkable bird life that serves as the gateway experience for the HICCBT. The inaugural festival was held on September 24–25, 2016, marking the official opening of the trail with guided hikes, boat tours, photography workshops, art exhibitions, film screenings, and a conservation gala dinner.
The festival is designed to welcome birders of all experience levels, from world-class listers adding Hawaiian endemics to their life lists to families experiencing Hawaii's natural world for the first time. Expert guides, curated access to prime birding locations, and a warm, educational atmosphere make the festival an unforgettable experience for all who attend.
Each year the festival grows in scope and attendance, building a community of passionate advocates for Hawaii's natural heritage and generating support for the conservation programs that protect the island's extraordinary bird life.
Conservation Commitment
Hawaii has one of the highest rates of bird extinction in the world — more than 70 endemic species have been lost since human arrival, and dozens of surviving species remain critically endangered. The threats they face — habitat loss, invasive predators, avian disease — require sustained, well-funded conservation responses.
Hawaii Birding Trails channels a portion of festival revenues to conservation programs addressing these threats, in partnership with federal, state, and nonprofit conservation organizations. Our partners include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and conservation nonprofits working on the ground with predator control, habitat restoration, disease research, and endangered species recovery.
Beyond financial support, the festival builds a community of informed conservation advocates — visitors who leave with a deep understanding of Hawaii's conservation challenges and a commitment to supporting the policy and funding decisions that determine whether Hawaii's remaining endemic birds survive or follow their extinct relatives into history.
Our Partners
The Hawaii Island Birding Festival and the HICCBT are made possible by the generous support of sponsors, partner agencies, and the many individuals who volunteer their time and expertise. Key institutional partners include Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and local conservation and business organizations across the Big Island.
Festival sponsors from the birding equipment, travel, and hospitality industries provide essential financial support and prize donations that enhance the festival experience for participants. We are grateful to all who have invested in the vision of making Hawaii Island a world-recognized birding destination with a thriving, conservation-driven tourism economy.
To learn about partnership and sponsorship opportunities, or to discuss how your organization can contribute to the Hawaii Island Birding Festival and the HICCBT, please contact us.