White Terns Thrive in Honolulu's Urban Landscape

Native seabird population soars in Hawaii's largest city, defying fate of other indigenous birds.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 4:19am

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The white tern, a seabird native to Hawaii, has seen its population in Honolulu surge more than 50% in the past decade, with over 3,600 breeding adults now found in the city's trees and buildings. This is a stark contrast to the decline of many other native Hawaiian bird species due to disease and predators. Scientists are unsure why the white terns are thriving in the urban environment, but factors like reduced predator numbers and well-maintained city trees may be contributing to their success.

Why it matters

The white tern's ability to adapt and thrive in Honolulu's concrete jungle is a rare bright spot for native Hawaiian wildlife, which has seen widespread population collapses. Their growing presence in the state's largest city is a testament to the resilience of this seabird species and offers hope that some native species can coexist with human development.

The details

White terns, also known as manu-o-Kū, are the only seabirds that don't build nests, instead laying their eggs directly on tree branches, cliff ledges, or even window sills. Their strong claws help them cling to perches even in strong winds. While the birds are found near islands in warm waters around the world, in Hawaii they have primarily lived on remote, uninhabited atolls in the northwest. Honolulu is the only place on the main Hawaiian islands where they have established a breeding population.

  • The most recent population survey, conducted by Hui Manu-o-Kū in 2023, showed Oahu's population of breeding adult white terns had jumped 1.5 times to 3,600 compared to 2016.
  • White terns were first observed breeding on Oahu in 1961, when scientists saw a pair of adults with a single egg.

The players

Kaʻiulani Murphy

A traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe navigator who has guided canoes to Tahiti, Japan, and Rapa Nui, and who often spots white terns while at sea as a sign of land nearby.

Rich Downs

The coordinator of the volunteer organization Hui Manu-o-Kū, which monitors the white tern population in Honolulu.

Eric VanderWerf

The executive director of Pacific Rim Conservation, a nonprofit that supports native birds in Hawaii and the Pacific.

Joyce Hsieh

A photographer who has been documenting white terns in Honolulu for eight years, often taking photos from the third floor of a Target parking garage to get eye-level with the birds in nearby trees.

Hui Manu-o-Kū

A volunteer organization that monitors the white tern population in Honolulu, taking its name from the Hawaiian name for the white tern, which means "bird of Kū," the god of war.

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What they’re saying

“This is our big city. It's crazy to me that they're getting to such a big population within Honolulu.”

— Kaʻiulani Murphy, Traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe navigator

“All the lights and the noise, the commotion of people and traffic, and things like that, doesn't seem to bother them.”

— Eric VanderWerf, Executive Director, Pacific Rim Conservation

“It's just a special feeling.”

— Kaʻiulani Murphy, Traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe navigator

The takeaway

The white tern's remarkable adaptation to Honolulu's urban environment offers a glimmer of hope for the conservation of native Hawaiian wildlife. As other indigenous bird species struggle, the thriving white tern population demonstrates the resilience of some native species and the potential for coexistence between humans and nature, even in a densely populated city.