NFWF Announces $1.2 Million in Grants to Conserve Hawai‘i’s Native Birds and Watersheds
New and extended projects will advance conservation across the islands, benefiting forest birds, habitats and local communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 3, 2026) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced nearly $1.2 million in grants to reduce extinction risk for Hawaiian forest birds and restore essential watershed habitats in Hawaiʻi. The grants will leverage $984,600 in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of more than $2.1 million.
The grants were awarded through the Hawai‘i Conservation Program, a partnership between NFWF, Pūlama Lāna‘i, the U.S. Department of War, and the Cinco Hermanos Fund.
“Hawaiian forest birds are among the rarest, most interesting and most unique birds in the world, yet they face ongoing threats from habitat loss, invasive species and disease,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “NFWF is proud to partner with the public and private sectors to support this new slate of projects, which will protect habitats and create pathways for the recovery of these iconic species.”
The grants announced today will focus on protecting critically endangered forest birds, including the ʻalalā (Hawaiian crow), kiwikiu (Maui parrotbill), ‘anianiau (Kauaʻi-endemic honeycreeper) and palila (finch-billed Hawaiian honeycreeper). These projects will strengthen captive breeding populations, expand predator control efforts, and support community-led habitat restoration to improve conditions for native forest bird recovery.
This slate will also support the Kuahiwi a Kai: Lānaʻi Watershed Conservation Program by installing ungulate-proof fencing to manage invasive deer and sheep populations, implementing a community-based program to reduce ungulates within the project area, and developing and testing bioengineered erosion control strategies to decrease sediment runoff to the nearshore reefs. These actions support the Department of War’s readiness mission by protecting the compatible landscapes and species conservation efforts off post to ensure sustained training and operational readiness across Hawaiʻi’s military installations.
The program will create meaningful opportunities for community members to learn about, engage in, and help lead efforts to restore and preserve the island’s natural and cultural resources.
The Hawai‘i Conservation Program aims to strategically protect and enhance essential habitats in Hawai‘i, from mauka to makai (from the mountains to the ocean), to reduce extinction risk and sustain resilient populations of native species. The Hawai‘i Conservation Program’s business plan, established in 2021, outlines NFWF’s goals and strategies to restore, improve and protect habitat and wildlife throughout the main Hawaiian Islands.
A complete list of the 2026 grants made through the Hawai‘i Conservation Program is available here.
About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) works with partners to foster sustainable and impactful conservation solutions so that people and nature thrive together. Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest conservation foundation. Since its founding, NFWF has funded more than 23,900 projects that have generated a total conservation impact of more than $12 billion. Learn more at nfwf.org.
About Pūlama Lāna‘i
Pūlama Lāna‘i is committed to redefining the Hawaiian Island of Lāna‘i as a sustainable community by creating new opportunities driven by agriculture, resource management, conservation and more. Enhancing and perpetuating the island’s diverse species and fragile ecosystem through game management, natural species preservation, watershed management, erosion control, coastal resources and fisheries management, invasive species control and conservation education, Pūlama Lāna‘i brings an integrated and comprehensive approach to protect and manage Lāna‘i’s natural resources to preserve Hawaiian culture and improve the lives of Lāna‘i residents.
About U.S. DOW REPI Program
The U.S. Department of War’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program (REPI), established in 2002 under the FY 2003 National Defense Authorization Act, preserves critical military missions by enabling cost‑sharing partnerships with the Military Services, Federal agencies, state and local governments, and private organizations. These partnerships prevent land‑use conflicts near installations, reduce environmental constraints on training and testing, and strengthen installation resilience, ensuring long‑term operational capability. Learn more at www.repi.mil.
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Contact:
Matt Winter, 202-857-0166, matt.winter@nfwf.org