Join us as we welcome Makahiki, the return of the albatross, and more news from Hōlanikū!
During Makahiki, Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll) welcomes the return of the kaʻupu (Black-footed Albatross), mōlī (Laysan Albatross), and a very special visitor, the endangered makalena (Short-tailed Albatross)!
Beginning with the rising of Makaliʻi (Pleiades) at sunset, Makahiki is a Hawaiian season honoring Lono, marked by peace, harvest, celebration, and renewal.
Mahalo to KAC volunteer Lucas for sharing the latest news from Hōlanikū in our newest field blog. Enjoy! 
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The new winter team is off to a flying start! We treated over 50 acres for invasive weeds and removed hundreds of pounds of marine debris from our beaches. Gannon found his very first golden crownbeard (Verbesina encelioides), our main treatment target. He discovered this elusive plant nestled beneath a native naupaka kahakai bush, hidden just out of sight. Standing only four inches tall, the plant was removed before it could produce any seeds. Good job, Gannon! We also removed the parasitic vine Cassytha filiformis from nearly 3,000 square feet of vegetation.
In the meantime, albatross have begun filling the island! As more and more kaʻupu (Black-footed Albatross) settle in, we’ve also welcomed our first mōlī (Laysan Albatross) and makalena (Short-tailed Albatross) of the season. Hōlanikū provides essential nesting habitat for kaʻupu and mōlī, offering a refuge free of introduced mammalian predators where they can lay their eggs and raise their chicks. Although the endangered makalena do not currently nest here, we’re hopeful that one day they will! With wingspans reaching up to eight feet in the largest species, these magnificent seabirds also benefit from the island’s open areas for taking off and landing.
Along with the albatross, we’ve also had some unexpected guests! Cooper spotted a snipe, leading the rest of the team on a literal snipe hunt. Our crew lead, Nick, thinks it may be a Pintail Snipe and managed to capture some amazing photographs just in time for Halloween. To celebrate, we dressed up in costumes and watched a scary movie in the main house. Even though we left a bowl of candy by the front door, we didn’t get any trick-or-treaters!
Wrapping up our second week, we also enjoyed some delicious meals, including an island take on birria tacos, hamburgers, Spam musubi, tuna salad, and a delicious pan pizza. We watched the new season of Love Is Blind and continued catching up on Avatar: The Last Airbender. We also played plenty of games together, including Takeoff, Settlers of Catan, and Farflung.
Overall, it’s been a demanding week, but we’ve had lots of fun along the way. I’m also reminded of the importance of the work we’re doing here. The rest of the team and I feel fortunate to contribute to the protection and restoration of such a diverse ecosystem and culturally significant place.
Mahalo,
Lucas
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Wildlife etiquette: Please admire wildlife from a respectful distance and avoid disturbing resting, courting, or nesting birds. Photos were captured using zoom and telephoto lenses to minimize disturbance.
Photos taken during authorized conservation activities under PMNM Permit PMNM-2026-01.
