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title: "Three Laysan Albatross chicks fledge from the new colony at Kahuku Point/Kalaeokaunaʻoa on Hawaii’s island of Oahu"
---

# Three Laysan Albatross chicks fledge from the new colony at Kahuku Point/Kalaeokaunaʻoa on Hawaii’s island of Oahu

![2020 Hiʻipoi Plentovich](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/L/Laysan/2020_Hiʻipoi_Plentovich.jpg) 

 *Hiʻipoi with a parent*

 Laysan Albatrosses *Phoebastria immutabilis* are in the early stages of establishing a new breeding colony at Kahuku Point/Kalaeokaunaʻoa on the north coast of the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu.  After years of failed breeding attempts three chicks fledged from six eggs laid in the [2018/19 season](https://www.acap.aq/index.php/en/latest-news/3366-laysan-albatrosses-fledge-from-kahuku-point-on-the-hawaiian-island-of-oahu-for-the-first-time?highlight=WyJzaGVsZG9uIl0=), a success attributed to control of introduced mammalian predators and community outreach.  In the current 2019/20 season the breeding population increased to nine pairs, all which laid eggs.  Of these, five pairs abandoned their eggs, perhaps as a result of being disturbed.  One of these was a female-female pair which presumably laid infertile egg(s).  Of the remaining four eggs, one chick died while hatching and three hatched successfully.

 The colony is looked after by the [North Shore Community Land Trust](https://www.northshoreland.org/) with help from the [U.S. Fish & Wildlife Pacific Islands Coastal Program](https://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/articles.cfm?id=149489698).  The Trust has recently announced via its [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/northshorecommunitylandtrust) that the three chicks all fledged this month. Before their departure the chicks were both metal and colour banded.  Children at the North Shore’s [Hauʻula Elementary School](https://www.hauulaelementary.com/) have named the three fledglings Hiʻipoi ("to cherish and protect"), Kailani ("heavenly sea") and Pākaha ("Curious").

 ![2020 Kailani Sheldon Plentovich](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/L/Laysan/2020_Kailani_Sheldon_Plentovich.jpg)

 *Kailani*

 ![2020 Pākaha Sheldon Plentovich](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/L/Laysan/2020_Pākaha_Sheldon_Plentovich.jpg)

 *Pākaha, photographs by Sheldon Plentovich*

 Read more about the Laysan Albatrosses at Kahuku Point/Kalaeokaunaʻoa [here](https://www.acap.aq/search14?q=North+Shore+Community).

 The North Shore Community Land Trust is a [supporter](https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/3632-hawaii-s-north-shore-community-land-trust-supports-both-breeding-laysan-albatrosses-and-world-albatross-day?highlight=WyJub3J0aCIsInNob3JlIiwiY29tbXVuaXR5IiwiY29tbXVuaXR5J3MiLCJub3J0aCBzaG9yZSIsIm5vcnRoIHNob3JlIGNvbW11bml0eSIsInNob3JlIGNvbW11bml0eSJd) of World Albatross Day.  With thanks to the Trust's Alice Terry and Sheldon Plentovich of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Pacific Islands Coastal Program for information and use of photographs..

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 30 July 2020, updated 31 July 2020*