#bird flu

As migratory birds begin their seasonal return to Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health and Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity are reminding residents, particularly people who keep backyard poultry or other birds, to take precautions to reduce the risk of avian influenza and other infectious diseases.

Representatives with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance have released a statement expressing sadness following an increase in honeycreeper deaths at the Maui Bird Conservation Center. The sudden and unexplained illness has impacted birds at the facility, primarily ʻakikiki.

A case of avian influenza has now been confirmed in a Koloa Maoli (Hawaiian duck) found sick on Nov. 26 at the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Hanalei Wildlife Refuge in Hanalei, Kauaʻi. The bird which died within 24 hours of being found was recently confirmed positive by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories.

Hawaiʻi’s first detection of H5N1 occurred in November 2024 in a backyard flock on Oʻahu, followed by a hybrid duck found on Oʻahu’s North Shore. This year, two additional cases have been confirmed in migratory Koloa Māpu ducks—one on Oʻahu and one on Maui. This Kauaʻi detection is the first potential case in a native bird, likely introduced through infected migratory waterfowl.

Three state agencies are on alert after a second case of highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed in a migratory duck – this time on the island of Maui. This is the first confirmed detection of H5N1 on Maui.

Three state agencies are on alert after laboratory testing identified a presumptive case of avian influenza on Friday in an ailing duck that was found earlier in the week at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

A survey by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health finds that while most local residents are aware that the bird flu had been detected in Hawai‘i, roughly two-thirds of flock owners had been unaware of related best practices. In March 2025, the Health Department surveyed Hawaiʻi residents who keep backyard flocks or are involved in bird […]

The price of local and mainland eggs in Honolulu rose significantly in the first quarter of this year. However, the price between local and mainland eggs was comparable, according to latest statistics from the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, Market Analysis and News Branch.

The initial 90-day pause was issued on Dec. 13, 2024 and expires on March 13, 2025. The extension will continue until June 13, 2025.

The survey will collect critical information on the understanding of bird flu, as well as the practices and needs of those who keep poultry or care for rescued birds.

The data indicates that between 2021 and 2024, the price for a dozen locally produced eggs rose by 28.4% from $6.91 to $8.87 while the price of imported mainland eggs increased by 51.8% from $5.50 to $8.35. The increase in the price of mainland eggs can be mainly attributed to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) which has impacted egg production across the continental US. 

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture Animal Industry Division is again urging commercial poultry operations and backyard bird owners to increase biosecurity measures to protect their flocks from avian influenza.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health, State Laboratories Division has detected H5 avian influenza (bird flu) at very low levels in wastewater samples collected at the Līhuʻe Wastewater Treatment Plant on Kauaʻi.

In response to the detection of the avian flu virus in Hawai‘i’s wastewater and wild birds, state agencies are urging the public to voluntarily pause the interisland movement of poultry and other bird species for 90 days, effective immediately. This recommendation follows the suggestion of Moloka‘i State Senator and farmer Lynn DeCoite and is a proactive measure aimed at mitigating the spread of the virus.

The County of Hawaiʻi’s Department of Environmental Management is working closely with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health after the detection of H5 avian influenza (bird flu) in a sample of influent collected from the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant on Dec. 2.  This marks the first detection of bird flu on Hawaiʻi Island.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health released a list of FAQs on Avian Influenza or H5N1 following confirmation of the virus at a Wahiawā bird sanctuary on on Nov. 15; and a subsequent confirmation of avian flu in a wild duck on Oʻahu earlier this week.

The National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a wild duck on Oʻahu’s North Shore. USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services reports that the bird, a hybrid duck (part mallard), was among 10 wild bird samples collected from the North Shore. This is the second confirmed incidence of avian influenza in Hawai‘i after the virus was confirmed at bird sanctuary in Wahiawā on Nov. 15, 2024.

On Maui and in the whole state of Hawaiʻi, we are fortunate—the virus has not reached here; no bird flu has yet been detected in any species of birds or animals. But as a precaution, Hawaiʻi is not importing any cattle from areas on the mainland where the virus has been found. *****Views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author’s alone and do not reflect or represent the opinions, policies or positions of Maui Now.*****  

Due to the recent highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) detections in livestock on the mainland, the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has placed a restriction on the transport of cattle from premises where HPAI has infected cattle. Currently, HPAI has been detected in dairy cattle in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Idaho, Ohio and Michigan; however, the restriction will be placed on any future areas where HPAI-infected cattle are found. No infected cattle have been detected in Hawai‘i.