A colorful I’iwi is emblematic of the native Hawaiian honeycreepers being acclaimed during the Honeycreepers Celebration Day activities (photo by Phil Chaon).

As we join the nation and the world in mourning the horrific firestorm on the island of Maui, we wanted to commend the Hawaii State Legislature, who issued an official resolution to recognize August 8 as the Honeycreepers Celebration Day. It’s the culmination of the efforts of more than 2,000 students and their teachers who championed passing this resolution during the recent legislative session, who were inspired by the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) together with local birders, artists, and conservationists. This new Hawaiian festivity was created to foster statewide awareness and support for ongoing Hawaiian honeycreeper conservation efforts.

“We are so proud of them and welcome everyone to join us in celebrating this achievement and the efforts that help protect Hawaiian honeycreepers,” said Luka Zavas, Outreach Manager for ABC’s Hawaii program.

Starting in October 2022, the American Bird Conservancy, the Maui and Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Projects, the Kmehameha Schools Kaiaulu, and the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species introduced a school curriculum curriculum to inspire the next generation to protect its unique native birds through civic engagement. This new honeycreeper curriculum took students on an avian journey through the geological, evolutionary, and ecological history of Hawaii. The curriculum presented cultural significance and a significant conservation message, explaining the importance and challenges of saving the remaining honeycreeper species. This inspired the children of Hawaii, from kindergarten to high school, to use their voices to advocate for a day to shine a light upon the relationships they have with the surviving native honeycreepers.

During 4 separate hearings, students passionately spoke of the urgency to protect the remaining honeycreeper species and shared the names of the birds, both those still with us and those that have gone extinct. Students also expressed their support through traditional writing, as well as creative mediums like artwork, comic strips, and poems in extensive written testimony spanning hundreds of pages. Some students even delivered their testimonies in both English and Hawaiian languages that highlighted their deep connection to the birds.

“Honeycreepers are an integral part of the Hawaiian ecosystems and culture, and this celebration is a way of honoring and sharing that,” stated Chris Farmer, ABC’s Hawaii Program Director. “Mahalo to the students and teachers for championing this celebration to bring awareness of these beautiful birds, the people who help them, and conservation solutions to ensure they survive for these students’ children to experience.”

Through the recognition of Honeycreepers Celebration Day, ABC and its partners hope to re-ignite local relationships with native bird species for many generations to come. Today, only 17 native honeycreepers remain on the Hawaiian Islands, with 12 of those endangered. Most birds that people encounter in Hawaii today are non-native species such as House Finches, Northern Cardinals, and Red-crested Cardinals, leaving native birds out of sight and out of mind. Native birds inhabit native forests at higher elevation, so many of the at-risk endemic honeycreepers are far away from urban lowlands and beaches where residents and visitors tend to congregate; many people never get to experience the honeycreepers in Hawaii. Honeycreepers Celebration Day should instill a new or renewed interest in honeycreepers and other native birds for residents and visitors alike.

Honeycreepers Celebration Day will be celebrated across Hawaii’s islands with special family-friendly events happening throughout the month, and it will be celebrated August 8th during years to come. For more information, visit birdsnotmosquitoes.org/celebrate808

To review the full article published by the American Bird Conservancy, see Hawai‘i Marks August 8th with Inaugural Honeycreepers Celebration Day - American Bird Conservancy (abcbirds.org)