Bank of Hawai‘i volunteers restore Mōlī Habitat

Nearly 100 Bank of Hawai‘i employees, along with family and friends, gathered Saturday at Kahuku Point on O‘ahu’s North Shore to help restore nesting grounds for the Laysan albatross, or mōlī.

Volunteers, known as the Bankoh Blue Crew, partnered with North Shore Community Land Trust for the bank’s 19th annual Community Service Day. Working along one of O‘ahu’s last remaining intact coastal dune ecosystems, they pulled invasive weeds, laid weed mats and planted native groundcover where the protected seabirds will build their nests. Families with young keiki took part in a beach cleanup. 

The Kona low storms in March flooded nesting areas at Kahuku Point, and five young chicks were lost. Each albatross pair lays just one egg a year, so the loss of even one chick affects the colony’s long-term health. The weekend work prepared a new nesting site ahead of the breeding pairs’ return later this month.

“Many people don’t realize that Kahuku Point is home to nesting Laysan albatross, or how hard this year’s heavy rains were on them. We lost young chicks, and weeds spread through areas we had already restored,” said Tim Tybuszewski, Director of Conservation at North Shore Community Land Trust. “With the help of the Bankoh Blue Crew, we prepared a new nesting area just in time for the albatross to return this season. We’re grateful to them for showing up and helping bring attention to this special place.”  

“Moments like this remind us how much we can do together,” said Bank of Hawai‘i President and CEO Jim Polk. “Helping to care for places like Kahuku Point is part of our responsibility to our community. We’re thankful to North Shore Community Land Trust for its stewardship of the land and for welcoming our Blue Crew to be part of this important environmental work.” 

In addition, Bank of Hawai‘i Foundation presented a $5,000 grant to North Shore Community Land Trust to support its ongoing work to preserve and protect Kahuku Point.