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The Hawai‘i Wildlife Center Latest News


Oil Spill Info From the Hawaii Wildlife Center
Big Island Television Hawaii video by Lyman Medeiros
June 22, 2010

Big Island Television

Click to watch the video interview
Click here to learn how you can help Wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

www.bigislandweekly.com article
How oil spill may impact Hawaii
May 26, 2010

 

examiner.com Interview
Wildlife Recovery Center Needs Your Help
May 21, 2010

 

The Dr. Pat Show Interview
May 19, 2010

The Dr. Pat Show

Click to listen to the interview

 

Hawaii's Oil Spill Risk
A letter from Linda Elliott and the HWC Board
May 11, 2010

 

Catherine Bradford Show Interview
May 6, 2010

Catherine Bradford Show

Click to listen to the interview

 

Oil spill defense
Honolulu Star Bulletin
May 5, 2010

 

Emily Gail Interviews Linda Elliott on EspnHawaii.com
April 25, 2010

ESPN Hawaii Radio

Click to listen to the interview


Hawai`i Wildlife Center Needs Final Construction Funding
Kohala Mountain News
April 24, 2010
(Downloadable PDF)

 

One woman's dream comes true:
Hawai‘i Wildlife Center to become first of its kind in the State

By RON ELAND
North Hawaii News
January 14, 2010 ~ Cover Story
(Reprinted with permission from North Hawaii News)

It’s been a dream of hers for more than two decades. But now, Linda Elliott’s dream is coming true.

Construction is nearing completion on the Hawaii Wildlife Center, a 4,500-square-foot facility nestled on two acres of land in Kapaau. When completed, it will be the only one of its kind in the state.

Pouring HWC Foundation
Work on Phase 1 of the Hawaii Wildlife Center is scheduled to be completed in the next month.

“Every year I’ve said, ‘this is the year.’ We’re finally here. We should have our doors open later this year,” said Elliott. “Every time I drive down here it’s no longer just an image in my head — it’s real.”

The HWC will be the only fully-equipped facility in Hawaii designed for the emergency response and care of native birds. She said it will consist of three integrated facilities — a wildlife care and emergency response unit, an education pavilion, and an interpretive courtyard, operating seven days per week, year-around. It will provide medical/husbandry care for sick and injured wildlife, including the “only emergency first-response resource during natural and manmade disasters that may occur throughout the Hawaiian archipelago.”

Linda Elliott assists in banding Nene in Kona
Linda Elliott assists in banding Nene in Kona

“The animals under treatment will provide critically important information about these rare species, and benefit the overall wildlife populations as a resource for conservation management and public education,” said Elliott.

Elliott moved from Oahu to the Big Island in 1988. Over the years she’s traveled the globe to 18 different disasters — most of which are the result of oil spills, including four spills in Hawaii. One of the biggest spills happened in 2000 where she was part of a team which helped more than 20,000 oiled penguins.

Seeing a need for a permanent facility in Hawaii, she put together a business plan in 2004. Then, a few years later she began working with the North Kohala Community Resource Center which specializes in helping people find grants. During her time with NKCRC she learned how to write her own grants and since then she’s received several — the largest of which came from state in the amount of $500,000.

“Going into 2009 we worried about the economic downturn as a non-profit and how it would effect us and if we’d be able to keep the project on target,” she said. “We have enjoyed a marvelous outpouring of support from Kohala residents, the business community, the State, the county and a growing list of private foundations. We have also received letters of support from every wildlife agency and related organizations in the State.”

 

Linda at the Pu`u Wa`awa`a Ranch Fundraiser
Board members and design team broke
ground on the project in 2008.

Ground was broken on the project in 2008 following the donation of the land from Surety Kohala Corporation. Construction began last year and is nearing completion of Phase I — which has been completely funded though grants, private donations and donated construction supplies as well as pro bono work by architects and engineers. Once complete, operational funds will again come from grants and donations as well as program fees and profits from a gift shop within the Center.

“As this journey has progressed, I have been surprised and heartened with the growing list of people who have been captivated by the project’s vision and have donated their professional services to make the Center a reality,” she said.

Elliott estimated prior to the project’s start that a total of $3 million needed to be raised for the constriction of the Center and its operational costs for the first year. After that, she said at least $200,000 a year must be brought in to keep it going. And if things take off, she said they could have a staff nearing 25.

Pouring HWC Foundation
Hawai'i Wildlife Center's treatment, recovery, and educational facility

When complete, the Center will offer a state-of-the-art native wildlife recovery facility including animal intake, isolation and holding areas, wash and drying rooms for cleaning oiled and contaminated wildlife, laboratory, hospital, laundry, mechanical room, storage, food prep area, offices and public bathrooms. “We wanted a basic facility that meets the needs — nothing grandiose,” she said.

The majority of the construction costs are covered but an additional $500,000 is still needed. She’s hoping to raise that through grants, donations as well as additional donated time and materials with a goal of opening this summer.

“At each phase of our development the right persons, business or organization has stepped up to help us reach another milestone,” she said.

She added that she and fellow board members Dr. Robert Shallenberger, Pete Hendricks, Jon Giffin, Tom Morse and Paul Ryan, “have had the honor and support of so many special professionals and community leaders because of our work with this project.” Elliott feels the Center will be able to treat and house hundreds of birds.

She stressed that they’ll only be working with species native to the state which excludes wild mammals like pigs, donkeys and goats.

“It had to come here by wing, wind or wave — nothing introduced by humans,” she said. “We’re hoping to help reverse the extinction trends of native Hawaiian species.

Linda Elliott at Spotting Scope
Elliott surveys Koloa in Kohala

“Hawaii holds the unfortunate distinction as the endangered species capital of the United States. There are more endangered species per square mile on these islands than anywhere else on the planet. In addition, there are 15 million seabirds in the archipelago which are vulnerable to manmade and natural disasters. The Big Island has the largest population of endemic and indigenous avian species in the most abundant and diverse native habitat in the State.”

She said that the state receives hundreds of calls a year regarding sick or injured birds. She anticipates a large percentage of their workload coming from neighbor islands. They hope to enter into an agreement with the airlines in order to transport the animals to and from the island for free. Or, they may ask volunteer members of the civil air patrol for their assistance. And if there’s a major disaster, like an oil spill, the responsible party will have to pay.

“They’re thrilled and anxious to send me work,” she said laughing in regard to state wildlife agencies. “People are shocked that we don’t have something like this here in Hawaii considering the number of endangered species we have. For me, personally, this is huge because we’ll finally be able to meet that need I identified way back when.”

For more information on the Center or to donate, visit www.hawaiiwildlifecenter.org or call 345-8421.

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