ʻAlalā are unique treasures of our Hawaiian forests.
ʻAlalā are native to Hawaiʻi and found nowhere else on earth. They are considered extinct in the wild, with the exception of several birds that were recently released as part of our efforts to restore this species to Hawaiʻi’s forests. They are very intelligent and are revered in Hawaiian culture. They are important forest builders who spread seeds of our native forest plants.
You can learn more about ʻalalā basics, their place in Hawaiian culture, the history of ʻalalā populations, and their ancestry and genetics.
With everyone’s help, we can restore the ʻAlalā to its home in the wild.
- ʻAlalā releases occurred from 1993-1998 and 2016-2019 on Hawaiʻi Island, and in 2024 in East Maui.
- There are now over 110 ʻalalā in captivity. Thanks to the amazing success of the captive breeding program, we have a sustainable source of birds for release.
- Conservation agencies across Hawaiʻi have been working tirelessly for many years to protect and restore Hawaiian forests that the ʻAlalā can call home.
- ʻAlalā face many threats to their survival in the wild. Identifying and reducing these threats will help the ʻAlalā thrive.
- E Hoʻolāʻau Hou ka ʻAlalā: May the ʻAlalā thrive once again in their forest home!
No kākou ke kuleana. The responsibility lies with each and every one of us to make sure that the ʻAlalā will be welcomed home to our Hawaiian forests once again. We must build community-wide support from our keiki to kūpuna.
Next Steps
- The East Maui Pilot Release has entered its second year.
- Field monitoring crews from Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project continue observations and care for the cohort of 5 juvenile ʻalalā released on the slopes of Haleakalā in late 2024.
- Planning is ongoing for future releases on Hawaiʻi Island
Contact Us
You can email us directly at [email protected]
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