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!
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 ʻohana, supporting the visitor education program and Nature Store sales, to help fulfill the mission of Kauaʻi’s National Wildlife Refuges.
“Koloa Maoli: A road to recovery and returning home.”
Presented by:
Carly Kano and Bryn Webber, USFWS
Join us for a special talk on the Koloa Maoli, or Hawaiian duck (Anas wyvilliana). Once widespread across all islands, Koloa Maoli are now only found on the islands of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau. This talk will begin with a brief overview of the Koloa Maoli, including how its ancestors arrived in Hawai‘I, and evolved into a unique species deeply intertwined with the islands’ ecosystems. The presentation will then explore threats that have led to the species’ decline and focus on current conservation efforts, highlighting an upcoming translocation project aimed at reestablishing Koloa Maoli populations on islands where they have been extirpated. These efforts seek to restore Hawai‘i’s wetland ecosystems and ensure the survival of the Koloa Maoli for generations to come. The talk will conclude with ways the public can support this critical work!
Free Lecture: Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 5:00-6:30pm
Princeville Community Center and on Zoom.
Hawaiian waterbirds are facing an extinction crisis.
It has recently been estimated that state-wide waterbird counts are falling at alarming rates. We need to act now to ensure that our refuges have the resources they need to support these critically endangered populations. Our partners at Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture recently published an info sheet detailing this crisis.
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.
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.
Follow our journey on Instagram
