Education
Connections with Resources for TeachersEducation
We would like to help connect our community, youth and visitor industry with information about native ecosystems, endangered species, and the need for stringent biosecurity. It’s beneficial to our Hawaiian Ecosystems for students to learn and interact with their environment.
We suggest teachers get kids outside, even just on the school’s property. Apply for grants to buy binoculars or go on field trips. There are a variety of grants to assist teachers with environmental education, including from Kokua Hawai’i Foundation. Teaching kids to use binoculars is fun and educational. You can have them count the birds that they see and try to identify them. You can use our coloring sheets or even photos on our website to draw birds. What plants do these birds need to survive? How have their bills adapted to eating these plants? What’s a watershed and how does it affect the ecosystem? Use compasses for a scavenger hunt outside the school. Leaf rubbings are a great way to learn about the different shapes of leaves. Having a native plant garden at the school is a great way to get students outside planting and learning about these plants!
Thank you for educating others about these unique species and environments. Enjoy these resources and feel free to contact us for more information.
Hawai’i’s Native Forest Birds Interactive Website: We are thrilled to share with you a new educational resource – Hawai‘i’s Forest Birds: A Learning Resource, Maui & Kaua‘i Edition! This captivating interactive is now up and running for learners and partners to use. We invite you to explore this Multimedia Gallery™ program, share it, and let us know if you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions. We welcome your input and are excited for this learning tool to engage teachers, students and families across Hawai‘i and the globe!
There are currently 13 kiosks in Maui County with this interactive program. Our vision is to install a series of machines throughout Maui. Here is list of where they are currently installed: Fairmont Kea Lani Resort, Bailey House, Maui Historical Society, National Humpback Whale Marine Sanctuary Visitor Center, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Discovery Center- Whalers Village, Grand Wailea Resort, Maui Ocean Center, Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Pulama Lānaʻi Visitor Center, Makawao Public Library, Seabury Hall School Library. Let us know if you are interested in hosting a kiosk!
Maui Mauka Nature-Based Tourism Trainings – Training about native ecosystems, birds, invasive and native species. Check out MMCAT resources.
Hawai’i Environmental Education Alliance
Ho’ike o Haleakalā Environmental Curriculum for Teachers
DOFAW kids- Activities and Crafts
Malama Hawai’i’s Animals is an interactive game where you can learn interesting information about how to protect monk seals by learning how to interact with them in ways that let them live a comfortable and healthy life. To win the game, simply raise your baby monk seal to adulthood by buying solutions to different problems using points earned from the game’s multiple-choice quiz. To play this interactive game click here.
Maui Forest Bird Public Presentation. This is our current Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project public presentation. To have us present at an event, please contact us. Feel free to use the information to teach your students as well.
Maui Forest Birds Endangered Species Coloring Sheets
Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project infographic
Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project Mosquito Control Infographic
Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project Story Cards. These are in the process of being updated. Check back again later for the 2025 update!
Watershed Classroom Presentations and Field Trip Opportunities through East Maui Watershed Partnership
“The Pāhana ʻĀina Lupalupa (PAL) series of Hawaiian culture-based science readers (in both English and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi) take keiki on a fascinating journey into the diverse environments that make Hawaiʻi the special place that it is. From high mountain forests shrouded in clouds to coastal waters teeming with life, your budding reader will discover the amazing diversity of Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems and their unique inhabitants.” See Kamehameha Publishing as well.
Symphony of the Hawaiian Birds aims to educate elementary and secondary students through science, music, and art to teach about Hawaii’s native bird species and the importance of conservation efforts. Documentary about the project here.
Waters to the Sea® Kauaʻi Adventure
Maui Huliau Foundation Virtual Classroom. There are some great teaching videos on their Youtube channel including one on Waikamoi Preserve and the native birds.
‘Akohekohe Interactive Page created by a student
Make Your Own Recycled Bottle Bird Feeder
DLNR Virtual Field Trips. Brings Hawaiʻi’s natural resources to you, wherever you are. Tour the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center on Hawai’i Island.
Birds, Not Mosquitoes new Hawaiian Honeycreeper Conservation curriculum.
Haleakalā National Park Maui Forest Birds lesson plan.
East Maui Watershed Partnership Public Education program.
Ke Kāpili Manu Kahiko: Traditional Hawaiian Bird Catching
Career Pathways
Encourage your students to become a professional conservation scientist! There are multiple degree pathways for this and volunteer and internship programs. Here are some opportunities and information.
- KUPU Hawai’i Environmental Education
- Conservation Connections
- Become a Wildlife Biologist
- The Wildlife Society
- The Wildlife Society Hawai’i Chapter
- Indeed’s How to become a Wildlife Biologist
- University of Hawai’i Department of Natural Resource and Environmental Management
- University of Hawai’i Tropical Biology
- Conservation Careers
- Haleakalā National Park Internship Program
- Short Documentary for inspiration- Haleakalā National Park- Heart of Maui
See our other resources in in MFBRP News.
