A non-profit Friends Group supporting the three national wildlife refuges located on Kauaʻi.

Together, Friends can do so much…

Friends of Kauaʻi Wildlife Refuges (FKWR) serves as a nonprofit “Friends Group,” supporting the environmental and wildlife conservation, historic preservation and community education programs of the Kauaʻi National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex, which are administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and includes Kīlauea Point NWR, Hanalei NWR and Hulēʻia NWR.

Our organization helps to fill in the gaps in the programs administered by the Refuge team by providing funding and Friends Group staffing to support a variety of refuge priorities. Friends of Kauaʻi Wildlife Refuges also manages the Friends Nature Store and Visitor Center at Kīlauea Point NWR, supports environmental education programs, administers an annual scholarship, conducts community outreach and much more!

Our Programs
 

 Current Events, News and Activities

We are Hiring

Visitor Center and Nature Store Associate

Join our team at the Kīlauea Point NWR Visitor Center and Nature Store – one of the most majestic spots on Kauaʻi! This part-time position is a key role within our ‘ohana, supporting the visitor education program and Nature Store sales, in support the ongoing mission of Kaua‘i’s National Wildlife Refuges at Kīlauea Point, Hanalei and Hulēʻia.

Learn More

“The Importance of Wetlands, Current Threats & How We Help”


Presented by Helen Raine & members of the Detector Dog Team

The Princeville Moʻolelo series will continue on Tuesday, November 19th with another great collaborative free lecture! This month, we are honored to host an in-depth discussion of the importance of our wetlands and how the Refuge Complex collaborates with volunteers and partners in the community to help protect critically endangered waterbird populations.

Free Lecture: Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 5pm
Princeville Community Center and on Zoom

Learn More

Ka Pae ʻĀina O Hawaiʻi Nei

“Ka Pae ʻĀina O Hawaiʻi Nei” is a culturally centered educational program and a community created mosaic mural that is being developed through a collaboration with the Garden Island Arts Council.

The place-based inspired mural is being developed through a series of community workshops, in which volunteers will help to create an 80-foot-long by 4-foot-high mosaic mural.

The mural will depict the topography of the entire Hawaiian Archipelago, helping us tell the geographic and cultural story of these islands and atolls, how the High Hawaiian Islands fit within this long history, and how these protected lands and waters serve as a refuge for a wide variety of native Hawaiian wildlife species.

The finished mural will be installed on the retaining wall that begins outside the Visitor Center at Kīlauea Point NWR.

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Laysan albatross nesting around the base of a tree at Kīlauea Point NWR.

Celebrating our mōlī

Kīlauea Point NWR is honored to host two mōlī (Laysan albatross) nesting colonies. Together, with a team of dedicated volunteers, we provide a safe place for these majestic seabirds to nest, rest and thrive. This year, we are pleased to share that a record 105 mōlī chicks fledged from within the two colonies at Kīlauea Point NWR!

Click HERE to enjoy an inspirational video of a mōli chick fledging, captured by Hob Osterlund.

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Hanalei NWR Viewpoint Now Open!

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with the State of Hawai‘i Department of Transportation Highways Division (HDOT), is pleased to welcome the community and visitors to the new Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Viewpoint site, which opened to the public on April 30, 2024.

The new viewpoint site is the primary location for the public to visit the Hanalei NWR, where the public can safely view the many sensitive endangered species and habitats in the valley from a distance. The site is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

The viewpoint is a 5.4-acre parcel located along Kūhiō Highway in Princeville that includes two lookouts featuring views of the greater Hanalei Valley and Bay, Hanalei NWR, and Halele‘a Forest Reserve. The site also includes parking for 25 cars, short-term parking for a maximum of three small buses, interpretive displays, vault toilets, and native plantings that will provide residents and visitors with opportunities to learn about the natural and cultural history of the Hanalei Valley and Hanalei NWR.

Learn More About Hanalei NWR

New Predator-Resistant Fence for Kīlauea Point NWR is complete.

The Kīlauea Point NWR team has announced that construction of the fence is complete! This new 2.1 mile long fence will protect 168 acres and thousands of native birds nesting here from mammalian predators.

Click HERE to read a related article about the project on the USFWS website.

Learn More

Follow our journey on Instagram

Please join us! Our Princeville Moʻolelo series will continue on Tuesday, November 19th with another great collaborative free lecture! This month, we are honored to host an in-depth discussion of the importance of our wetlands and how the Refuge Comp
Please join us! Our Princeville Moʻolelo series will continue on Tuesday, November 19th with another great collaborative free lecture! This month, we are honored to host an in-depth discussion of the importance of our wetlands and how the Refuge Complex collaborates with volunteers and partners in the community to help protect critically endangered waterbird populations. Helen Raine of Pacific Birds Joint Habitat Venture will share information about the importance of wetlands to our wildlife, as well as the health and safety of our island communities. She will be joined by volunteers from the Conservation Dogs of Hawaii Detector Dog Program, as they share how scent-trained dogs and their volunteer partners work together to help keep our wildlife safe. Join us to learn more and to find out how you can get involved and help! Free Lecture Series: Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 5pm in the Princeville Community Center. The presentation will also be available via Zoom. For more information, visit www.kauairefuges.org/princeville-moolelo.
The ‘ua’u kani (wedge-tailed shearwater) chicks are getting all grown up! Before our eyes, we’ve watched them evolve from an egg, to a fluff-ball, to an awkward adolescent. And now, most have reached that sleek elegant phase, with a
The ‘ua’u kani (wedge-tailed shearwater) chicks are getting all grown up! Before our eyes, we’ve watched them evolve from an egg, to a fluff-ball, to an awkward adolescent. And now, most have reached that sleek elegant phase, with adult flight feathers that will help them conquer both seas and skies. The first to hatch have already fledged from around the Visitor Center at Kīlauea Point NWR and, every day, we check burrows to see if our “friends” are still here - or if they have left us for their amazing life at sea for the next 2 to 3 years. Blessings and a hui hou dear friends! AND, please remain vigilant and look out for downed shearwaters and petrels through the end of December. For more information about how to help, visit: https://www.kauairefuges.org/blog/shearwater-fallout-season #wedgetailedshearwaters
The new dynamic duo- the Petrel Plush and Finding Home. A little bit about the Petrel here on the refuge: “In 2015, Hawaiian Petrel translocations began, and Newell’s Shearwater translocations started a year later in 2016. To date, 70 Haw
The new dynamic duo- the Petrel Plush and Finding Home. A little bit about the Petrel here on the refuge: “In 2015, Hawaiian Petrel translocations began, and Newell’s Shearwater translocations started a year later in 2016. To date, 70 Hawaiian Petrels, and 44 Newell’s Shearwaters have been moved via helicopter into the fenced area and were successfully reared until fledging and 112/114 (98%) of those chicks successfully fledged.”
Our Princeville Moʻolelo series will continue on Tuesday, November 19th with another great collaborative free lecture! This month, we are honored to host an in-depth discussion of the importance of our wetlands and how the Refuge Complex collaborates
Our Princeville Moʻolelo series will continue on Tuesday, November 19th with another great collaborative free lecture! This month, we are honored to host an in-depth discussion of the importance of our wetlands and how the Refuge Complex collaborates with volunteers and partners in the community to help protect critically endangered waterbird populations. Helen Raine of Pacific Birds Joint Habitat Venture will share information about the importance of wetlands to our wildlife, as well as the health and safety of our island communities. She will be joined by volunteers from the Conservation Dogs of Hawaiʻi Detector Dog Program, as they share how scent-trained dogs and their volunteer partners work together to help keep our wildlife safe. Join us to learn more and to find out how you can get involved and help! Free Lecture Series: Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 5pm in the Princeville Community Center. The presentation will also be available via Zoom. For more information, visit www.kauairefuges.org/princeville-moolelo.
Kīlauea Point NWR supports many species and any given day can provide a variety of views. This week, we had views of our first mōlī (Laysan albatross) of the season at the Refuge! We’ll be flooding our social media accounts with images of these magnificent birds as the 2025 hatching season progresses. Until then, enjoy views of this crafty nēnē (Hawaiian goose) snacking in a naupaka bush and an ʻuaʻu kani (wedge-tailed shearwater) chick in its burrow, feeling the pull of the wind.
Visitor Center and Nature Store Associate: Join our team at the Kīlauea Point NWR Visitor Center and Nature Store – one of the most majestic spots on Kauaʻi! This part-time position is a key role within our ‘ohana, supporting the visitor
Visitor Center and Nature Store Associate: Join our team at the Kīlauea Point NWR Visitor Center and Nature Store – one of the most majestic spots on Kauaʻi! This part-time position is a key role within our ‘ohana, supporting the visitor education program and Nature Store sales, in support the ongoing mission of Kaua‘i’s National Wildlife Refuges at Kīlauea Point, Hanalei and Hulēʻia. Learn more and apply at www.kauairefuges.org/join-our-team. We look forward to meeting you!
New Edition of this important book.
New Edition of this important book.
This beautiful ‘ua’u kani (wedge-tailed shearwater chick) is all decked out in a feather “lei”, as it completes this last chapter of growth before fedging and heading out to sea. This time of year, it is our honor to witness t
This beautiful ‘ua’u kani (wedge-tailed shearwater chick) is all decked out in a feather “lei”, as it completes this last chapter of growth before fedging and heading out to sea. This time of year, it is our honor to witness that glorious transformation again and again from downy chick to streamlined adult. To learn more about the “fall out” season for shearwaters and petrels, including how you can help, please visit us at: https://www.kauairefuges.org/blog/shearwater-fallout-season #shearwaterfalloutseason
You’re invited! Please gather up your ʻohana and join us at the Community Climate Fair at Kukui Grove on Saturday, November 2nd. We’ll be offering our fun keiki wildlife habitat game and talking story with the community at our booth. Lin
You’re invited! Please gather up your ʻohana and join us at the Community Climate Fair at Kukui Grove on Saturday, November 2nd. We’ll be offering our fun keiki wildlife habitat game and talking story with the community at our booth. Lineup of Activities: Saturday, November 2nd – Kukui Grove Shopping Center in Lihue Kauaʻi Forest Bird Project art exhibit in the art gallery from Nov. 1st thru Nov. 8th. 9am to Noon: Arbor Day event in the parking lot. 11am to 2pm: Community Climate Fair in the concourse of the shopping center featuring various organizations.
'U'au (Hawaiian petrel) - New Art from the illustrious Caren Loebel-Fried. Celebrating the release of her new book, Finding Home, a Petrelʻs Journey!
'U'au (Hawaiian petrel) - New Art from the illustrious Caren Loebel-Fried. Celebrating the release of her new book, Finding Home, a Petrelʻs Journey!
Please join us! Our Princeville Moʻolelo series will continue on Tuesday, November 19th with another great collaborative free lecture! This month, we are honored to host an in-depth discussion of the importance of our wetlands and how the Refuge Comp The ‘ua’u kani (wedge-tailed shearwater) chicks are getting all grown up! Before our eyes, we’ve watched them evolve from an egg, to a fluff-ball, to an awkward adolescent. And now, most have reached that sleek elegant phase, with a The new dynamic duo- the Petrel Plush and Finding Home. A little bit about the Petrel here on the refuge: “In 2015, Hawaiian Petrel translocations began, and Newell’s Shearwater translocations started a year later in 2016. To date, 70 Haw Our Princeville Moʻolelo series will continue on Tuesday, November 19th with another great collaborative free lecture! This month, we are honored to host an in-depth discussion of the importance of our wetlands and how the Refuge Complex collaborates
Kīlauea Point NWR supports many species and any given day can provide a variety of views. This week, we had views of our first mōlī (Laysan albatross) of the season at the Refuge! We’ll be flooding our social media accounts with images of these
Visitor Center and Nature Store Associate: Join our team at the Kīlauea Point NWR Visitor Center and Nature Store – one of the most majestic spots on Kauaʻi! This part-time position is a key role within our ‘ohana, supporting the visitor New Edition of this important book. This beautiful ‘ua’u kani (wedge-tailed shearwater chick) is all decked out in a feather “lei”, as it completes this last chapter of growth before fedging and heading out to sea. This time of year, it is our honor to witness t You’re invited! Please gather up your ʻohana and join us at the Community Climate Fair at Kukui Grove on Saturday, November 2nd. We’ll be offering our fun keiki wildlife habitat game and talking story with the community at our booth. Lin 'U'au (Hawaiian petrel) - New Art from the illustrious Caren Loebel-Fried. Celebrating the release of her new book, Finding Home, a Petrelʻs Journey!