The Third Annual Hawaii Island Festival of Birds will take place Sept. 14-17, headquartered at Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay.
This year’s theme, “Back from the Brink: Hawaii’s Battle Against Extinction,” will showcase the herculean ongoing efforts to save Hawaii’s rarest bird species.
Among programming during the three-day festival is the Birds, Brews &Binos street fair celebration beginning at 5 p.m. on Sheraton Kona’s oceanside lawn. The event includes food, handcrafted beers, premium wines, live music and silent and live auction items.
An original artwork block print donated by Caren Loebel-Fried will be featured among donations during the live auction Saturday evening. The print will be also available for sale as a poster and on 2018 T-shirts during Saturday’s Bird Fair, from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., also at Sheraton Kona.
The block print by Loebel-Fried depicts the last known wild Hawaiian crows, the Kalahiki Pair. Inspired by a Jack Jeffrey photograph, the rising sun background celebrates the recent release of captive-bred birds into the rainforest of Mauna Loa and shines hope for the ‘alala’s continued survival. Other auction donations include binoculars valued at hundreds of dollars, hotel packages and activities.
The all-day Saturday Bird Fair agenda is action packed focusing on the successful breeding and release program for ‘alala at the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center.
Panel discussions throughout the day include individuals who are among the who’s-who in ornithology.
Children ages 15 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Adult entry is only $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 nearby along with arts, interactive crafts and gear booths.
For information, contact Cindy Pacheco at info@birdfesthawaii.org, or 331-3655.
The festival concludes on Sept. 17 with the opportunity to protect and restore bird habitats with specific projects. Volunteers will assist at the Maunakea Forest Restoration Project, or at Hawaii Wildlife Center during their Community Project Service Day. A detailed schedule of events and reservations are available online at birdfesthawaii.org.
Beneficiaries of the four-day event include the Hawaii Wildlife Center and The Hawaii Island Coast to Coast Birding Trail administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Department of Forestry and Wildlife.
