276 Haili St
Hilo, HI 96720
USA
Matinée presentation:
Our endemic Hawaiian crow, the ‘alalā, once made its home across the length and breadth of Hawai‘i Island, but today, owing to a variety of threats in the wild, these birds are found only in captivity. Happily, successful captive breeding and conservation efforts have helped to rescue this native Hawaiian species from the brink of extinction. But the ‘alalā still faces many challenges on the road to recovery. Reintroduction efforts began last December with the release of five birds into a Hawai‘i Island State Natural Area Reserve, but ultimately were not successful. Biologists worldwide report that progress in such releases usually occurs in fits and starts, and that reintroduction success is usually not seen before multiple releases. Lea Ka‘aha‘aina, education and outreach specialist for DLNR’s The ‘Alalā Project, returns to give us an up-to-the-minute update on the status of their efforts, the planned upcoming release of an additional 12 birds, and how physical conditioning and predator-aversion training are helping to prepare the released ‘alalā for survival in the wild. This beautifully illustrated program is being presented in the afternoon, and again on the evening of May 1, demonstrating how collaborative projects across our State can help preserve and protect the unique biodiversity of the Hawaiian Islands.
Admission to these wonderful programs is free to Museum members, and $3.00 for nonmembers.
Please support the Museum by becoming a member, and enjoy all Saigo Series programs, all year round, at no charge!
Seating is limited; first come, first seated.
On Monday evenings only, additional parking is available next door at Hilo Union School, Kapiolani St. entrance; park, then walk through our green gate in the rock wall.
On Monday evenings, doors open at 6:30PM. E komo mai!
