Release

As the ʻAlalā return to their native habitat it is critical that land managers, scientists, and community members work together as “ʻAlalā Ambassadors” ensuring that the birds have the space, environment, and support they need to thrive.

Release LocationsP1020502

  • From 1993-1998 juvenile ʻAlalā were released within the remnant habitat of the last wild ʻAlalā. These efforts were considered unsuccessful due to the habitat lacking complex forest understory.
  • The release efforts from 2016-2019 occurred in the Puʻu Makaʻala Natural Area Reserve on Hawaiʻi Island. Puʻu Makaʻala Natural Area Reserve has been managed for many years to promote native forests, is fenced and free of ungulates (cows, pigs, sheep, etc.), has a dense understory, and lots of ʻAlalā food plants. The release efforts from 2016-2019 showed marked improvement from conditions in the 1990s with multiple breeding pairs and nests formed. Increasing mortalities, including depredation by ʻIo, led to the recapture of remaining birds.
  • The Kaʻū Forest Reserve is a potential area for future releases on Hawaiʻi Island. It is hoped that releases could be planned for the Kaʻū Forest Reserve with additional management promoting native forest habitat.
  • The next release effort will occur on Maui within the Kipahulu Forest Reserve. This area is managed by the State of Hawaiʻi Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

Project Goals

  • Establish a wild self-sustaining population of ʻAlalā.
  • The wild ʻAlalā will fulfill their ecological roles in the native forest ecosystem.
  • The population will need little help from humans to survive.

 

A successful reintroduction will require:

Captive released Juvenile Alala in the wild at McCandless Ranch

  • Habitat management to restore and protect native forests
  • Nonn-native predator control
  • Management of captive ʻAlalā
  • Release of birds
  • Post-release monitoring
  • Public support, outreach, and education

 

 

 

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.

 

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