Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project

What Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project does

Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project (KFBRP) is a nonprofit conservation organization founded in 2003 and operating as a project of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, in association with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). Headquartered in Hanapepe/Kaumakani on Kauai with 16 core staff, KFBRP's mission is to promote knowledge, appreciation, and conservation of Kauai's native forest birds, focusing on one threatened species (iiwi) and three federally endangered honeycreepers (puaiohi, akikiki, and akekee). All fieldwork is conducted in the Alaka'i Wilderness and Koke'e State Park, the only remaining habitats where these species survive.

KFBRP's core technical work spans three program areas: conservation breeding (in partnership with San Diego Zoo Global, maintaining captive populations of akikiki and akekee on Maui and Hawaii islands), mosquito control (combining 30+ years of aerial Bti application with newer Incompatible Insect Technique using Wolbachia bacteria through the Birds Not Mosquitoes coalition), and population monitoring using LiDAR habitat mapping, automated recording units, automated radio telemetry networks, and camera trapping for invasive rodent control. The organization achieved 77% nesting success for akikiki and 71% for akekee (versus a 46% mean for Hawaiian forest birds), and released 222 captive-bred puaiohi by 2012, though post-release survival was insufficient to sustain the puaiohi breeding program.

KFBRP's business model is donation- and grant-funded: primary revenue flows from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grants, with secondary support from Hawaii DOFAW, academic partners, and tax-deductible individual donations processed through Garden Island Resource Conservation and Development (GIRCD). The organization supplements this with merchandise sales (notecards, t-shirts, mugs) available by donation, and invests heavily in community engagement through volunteer programs, classroom curricula, Forest Fridays video series, and social media outreach. In July 2026, KFBRP pivoted to emergency egg collection and translocation of amakihi and anianiau to Maui and Hawaii Island following documented alarming population declines, signaling an operational expansion beyond Kauai for the first time in its history.

Name

Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project

Legal name

Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project

Website

https://kauaiforestbirds.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project is a nonprofit conservation organization that researches and recovers Kauai's endangered native forest birds (akikiki, akekee, puaiohi, iiwi) through conservation breeding, mosquito control, and habitat management in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Hawaii DOFAW.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Wildlife Health & Conservation Disease Management (HLAMAJAM)

Keywords

• Endangered species recovery
• Forest bird conservation
• Wildlife habitat management
• Mosquito control research
• Avian conservation breeding

Headquarters

HQ city

Kaumakani

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations through PayPal and through their non-profit sponsor, Garden Island Resource Conservation and Development (GIRCD). All donations support forest bird conservation efforts.
2. Grants and Funding: Primary funding from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with additional support from numerous partners including government agencies, organizations, and individuals.
3. Tokens of Appreciation: Sale of merchandise including notecards, t-shirts, mugs, and other items featuring native forest birds, available by donation to supporters.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

KFBRP is a nonprofit conservation project that conducts field research, population monitoring, and species recovery programs for Kauai's endangered native forest birds (puaiohi, akikiki, akekee, and iiwi) in the Alaka'i Wilderness and Koke'e State Park. Its work centers on innovative mosquito control to prevent avian malaria (aerial Bti application and Wolbachia-based Incompatible Insect Technique), conservation breeding collaborations with San Diego Zoo Global, habitat and predator management, and accompanying public education, volunteer engagement, and donation-supported outreach.

Product overview

Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project is a conservation nonprofit organization (not a technology company) focused on protecting and recovering Kauai's native forest birds. Their offerings consist of conservation and research programs rather than commercial technology products. Educational materials include the Symphony of the Hawaiian Birds curriculum, the 'Who Am I?' interactive iBook, coloring books, birding maps, JeopBirdie quiz game, matching games, and a Virtual Reality experience. They also produce the Forest Fridays monthly video series and sell Tokens of Appreciation merchandise. Their core work involves research, conservation breeding programs for endangered birds ('akikiki, 'akeke'e, puaiohi), and mosquito control efforts using Bti and Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) with Wolbachia bacteria.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conservation Research and Population Monitoring Programs Field research and monitoring of endangered Hawaiian forest bird populations, including habitat mapping (LiDAR), automated recording units, automated telemetry networks, and camera-trapping-based predator research across the Alaka'i Plateau and Koke'e State Park. Designed for use by conservation agencies, researchers, and funders supporting species recovery.
• Conservation Breeding Program Collaboration Conservation breeding program support for critically endangered Hawaiian forest birds (akikiki, akekee, puaiohi, anianiau) in collaboration with San Diego Zoo Global and Keauhou Bird Conservation Center, including egg collection, incubation support, and population management for release into wild habitat. Targeted at conservation breeding institutions and recovery partners.
• Mosquito Control Program (Bti and Incompatible Insect Technique with Wolbachia) Integrated mosquito control services combining aerial Bti larval control across the Alaka'i Wilderness with Wolbachia-based Incompatible Insect Technique to suppress disease-carrying mosquitoes and protect native honeycreepers from avian malaria. Implemented for conservation agencies, partner coalitions such as Birds Not Mosquitoes, and the public good.
• Invasive Rodent Control Research (Goodnature A24 Self-Resetting Traps with Camera Trapping) Field research and optimization of self-resetting trap-based rodent control using camera trapping to evaluate trap-animal interactions and improve efficacy for the protection of forest bird nests. Designed for conservation practitioners and partner land managers.
• Forest Bird Curriculum (Symphony of the Hawaiian Birds) A downloadable 16-lesson classroom curriculum that teaches elementary and secondary students about Hawaii's native forest birds and conservation through science, music, and art, developed in partnership with the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, and Bishop Museum. Intended for K-12 educators and students.
• Who Am I? Interactive Book An interactive iBook that teaches children about Kauai's forest birds through rhyming poems and a guessing game, available via the Apple iBooks store and Amazon. Targeted at children and families.
• Kauai Forest Bird Coloring Book A downloadable coloring book aimed at elementary and pre-school aged children that depicts the native forest birds of Kauai and their unique characteristics. Targeted at young children, parents, and educators.
• Birding Map A downloadable map showing locations where visitors can view native birds on Kauai, including trails in the Koke'e region. Useful for visitors, birdwatchers, and ecotourists planning native bird viewing.
• JeopBirdie Quiz Game An interactive quiz game about Kauai Forest Birds designed in a Jeopardy-style format for use in classrooms and community events. Intended for educators and community presenters.
• Matching Game A downloadable matching game that teaches about food sources and habitat niches of Kauai's Forest Birds. Targeted at children and educators.
• Virtual Reality Experience (A Guardian's VR Experience) A YouTube-hosted virtual reality experience featuring Kauai forest birds and the extinct 'o'o, designed for immersive education and outreach. Targeted at the general public, educators, and conservation event audiences.
• Tokens of Appreciation Merchandise Donation-based merchandise including notecards, t-shirts, mugs, and other items featuring native forest birds, distributed through the KFBRP website. Designed to support the organization's funding and outreach.
• Forest Fridays Video Series A monthly video presentation and live Zoom conversation series featuring scientists, cultural practitioners, and conservation leaders covering current topics on Hawaiian forests and conservation. Intended for the general public, educators, and volunteers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 44 akikiki and 10 akekee in SDZG breeding facilities as of May 2019
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner providing regulatory oversight, funding, and operational support. DOFAW manages the Alaka'i Wilderness Preserve and Koke'e State Park where research is conducted.
• University of Hawai'i – Pacific Cooperative Studies UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization of KFBRP, providing academic affiliation, research infrastructure, and institutional support through the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
• San Diego Zoo GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation breeding partner for akikiki and akekee species. SDZG staff collect eggs from wild nests, incubate them, and maintain breeding populations on Maui and Hawaii islands. As of May 2019, they housed 44 akikiki and 10 akekee in breeding facilities.
• American Bird ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in automated recording unit deployment and rodent control research using Goodnature A24 self-resetting traps.
• Birds Not MosquitoescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner working on mosquito control solutions to prevent extinction of native honeycreepers. KFBRP collaborates on Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) using Wolbachia bacteria.
• USGS Pacific Island Ecosystems Research CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner contributing to population studies, telemetry networks, and conservation biology research for Hawaiian forest birds.
• Northern Arizona UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner with researcher Jeff Foster contributing to forest bird genetics and conservation studies.
• Colorado State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner with researcher Liba Pejchar contributing to conservation research and LiDAR habitat mapping.
• Koke'e Resource Conservation Program (KRCP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal conservation partner collaborating on invasive species management and annual Hawaiian Blessing ceremony events.
• Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in invasive species prevention and co-host of Forest Fridays video series for community education.
• Garden Island Resource Conservation and Development (GIRCD)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNon-profit sponsor that processes and accepts tax-deductible donations on behalf of KFBRP.
• Pacific Rim ConservationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization partner with researcher Eric Vanderwerf contributing to forest bird studies.
• Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps (KUPU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth conservation corps providing Kupu 'Āina Corps members and Conservation Research Assistants to support KFBRP field operations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Bird Conservancy: National habitat conservation organization that partners directly with KFBRP on automated recording unit deployment and Goodnature A24 rodent control trials in the Alaka'i – one of the largest U.S. bird conservation NGOs operating at a broader scale.
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: Operates the captive breeding facilities (Maui, Hawai'i Island) that house insurance populations of akikiki and akekee collected by KFBRP – a much larger zoological institution that is the indispensable captive-side counterparty in KFBRP's recovery pipeline.
• Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW): State agency that co-manages the Alaka'i Wilderness Preserve and Kōke'e State Park where KFBRP works, provides regulatory oversight, and channels pass-through funding – a broader state-level player with adjacent but more expansive conservation responsibilities.

Emerging players

• Birds Not Mosquitoes: Coalition of agencies and NGOs (including KFBRP) specifically deploying Incompatible Insect Technique and Bti to suppress disease-carrying mosquitoes on Hawaiian landscapes – a direct extension of KFBRP's mosquito control programs into broader landscape-scale suppression.

Others

• The Nature Conservancy – Hawaii: Large land and watershed manager operating across the Hawaiian Islands; co-funds and co-implements habitat restoration adjacent to KFBRP's forest bird focus. A larger adjacent conservation actor rather than a direct competitor.
• Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service-managed refuge on Hawai'i Island dedicated to endangered forest bird habitat and similar in mission to KFBRP's Kauai work – an ecosystem-level peer under the same lead federal agency, geographically separate.

Regional players

• Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC): Local Kaui'i invasive-species control partner of KFBRP, addressing rodent and plant threats to native forest habitat. Operates on the same island and shares staff/board overlap but is focused on the broader invasive species portfolio rather than single-species recovery.
• Hawaii Audubon Society: Statewide bird-focused nonprofit providing advocacy, education, and habitat programs across Hawaii – overlapping with KFBRP on education/outreach and donor constituencies but covering all native Hawaiian bird species rather than focusing exclusively on Kauai forest birds.

Direct peers

• Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project: Operates the closest direct analog to KFBRP – recovery of endangered Maui forest birds (e.g., kiwikiu, akohekohe) using very similar field research, captive breeding, and mosquito control methods in the neighboring Hawaiian island ecosystem.
• Pacific Rim Conservation: Hawaii-based nonprofit that conducts endangered Hawaiian bird translocation, captive management, and habitat research – including active partnerships with KFBRP researchers (e.g., Eric Vanderwerf). Closely overlapping on species, methods, and funders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KauaiForestBird
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbvOh34aU5wyzdwilchkZkA
• Facebookfacebook.com/KauaiForestBirds
• Instagraminstagram.com/kauaiforestbirds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kauai-forest-bird-recovery-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project