The Birds of the Hawaiian Islands is the magnum opus of Robert L. Pyle, the grand old man of Hawaiian birding, who passed away in 2007 at the age of 84. The monograph was started with the assistance of his family and finished by his son Peter Pyle, also a well-known birder and ornithologist. In keeping with Bob’s generous spirit and his boundless encouragement of Hawaiian birding and conservation (which touched me personally when I was still in high school), the Pyles decided to publish this monograph online to maximize its availability and utility. It will also be available as a DVD from Bishop Museum Press.