Endangered Species Day was established by the US Congress in 2006 and is a day to raise awareness about threatened and endangered species, promote conservation efforts, and celebrate the progress made in protecting wildlife and their habitats. Hawaiʻi has over 500 taxa of threatened and endangered species, including plants, insects, snails, and birds. We have more federally-listed endangered species than any other state in the U.S., by far, despite being one of the smallest states by land area.

You can celebrate Endangered Species Day by learning about Hawaiʻi’s endangered species and the ways that DLNR Forestry & Wildlife works to protect these species from extinction. You can also get involved by searching for volunteer opportunities on our Events Calendar.

• Learn about Hawaiʻi’s native birds, many of which are threatened and endangered. You can learn about efforts to save our rarest birds by our partner projects, including Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project, Kauaʻi Endangered Seabird Recovery Project, Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project, and the ʻAlalā Project.

• Learn about kāhuli (native land snails) from the Snail Extinction Prevention Program

• Learn about at-risk insects and efforts to protect them by the Hawaiʻi Invertebrate Program

• Learn about our rarest plants and efforts to prevent extinction by our Rare Plant Program

• Meet our only native land mammal, the endangered ʻōpeʻapeʻa (Hawaiian hoary bat)

Photo: ʻAkikiki, one of the world’s rarest birds. PC: Justin Hite.