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Bird

Nene

(Branta sandwicensis)

Adopted in 1949.

The Nene (pronounced "nay-nay") is a land bird and a variety of goose. It has adapted itself to life in the harsh lava country by transforming its webbed feet into a claw-like shape and modifying its wing structure for shorter flights. Hunting and wild animals all but destroyed the species until they were protected by law and a restoration project established in 1949.

Designated Hawai'i's State Bird on May 7, 1957, the Nene has endured a long struggle against extinction. During the 1940s this beautiful species was almost wiped out by laws which allowed the birds to be hunted during their winter breeding seasons when the birds were the most vulnerable.

By 1957, when the Nene was named the State Bird, rescue efforts were underway. Conservationists began breeding the birds in captivity in hopes of preserving a remnant of the declining population and, someday, successfully re-establishing them in their native habitat. Early programs for returning captive-bred birds to the wild proved difficult, but recent efforts have been very successful. There are now small but stable populations of Nene on the islands of Hawai'i, Maui, and Kaua'i.

Nene became wild on Kaua'i in 1982 after Hurricane Iwa destroyed the cages of captive nene on the southeast side of the island. These birds rapidly adapted to the mongoose-free, lowland, grassy habitat. Because these birds were so successful, State biologists recently have introduced Nene on the north and northwest coasts of Kaua'i. There are about 1000 Nene outside Hawai'i in zoos and private collections. The largest of these is at Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Slimbridge, England. A small group of Nene (assumedly escaped from Slimbridge) also seem to be enjoying life in the heart of old London at St. James Park, a tranquil waterfowl haven situated in front of Buckingham Palace! Unfortunately, genetic limitations and disease problems mean that Nene outside of Hawai'i cannot be used to help increase wild populations here.

According to the Hawai'i Audubon Society, the Nene, currently on the Federal List of Endangered Species, is threatened today by introduced mongooses and feral dogs and cats which relentlessly prey upon the Nene's eggs and young. Preservation efforts are continuing and the success of the Nene in Hawai'i, although not a certainty, is promising. There are now about 800 wild Nene in Hawai'i and the numbers are rising with each breeding season.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom Animalia -- animals

   Phylum Chordata -- chordates

      Subphylum Vertebrata -- vertebrates

         Class Aves -- birds

            Order Anseriformes -- ducks, geese, screamers, swans, waterfowl

               Family Anatidae -- ducks, geese, swans

                  Genus Branta Scopoli, 1769 -- brent geese

                     Species Branta sandvicensis (Vigors, 1834)

State Flower

Flower by: Santalady State Flower, a state symbol

Native Yellow Hibiscus

Pua Aloalo or Ma`o-hau- hele

(Hibiscus brackenridgei A. Gray)

Adopted on June 6, 1988.

The striking and beautiful yellow hibiscus (hibiscus brackenridgei), known as the pua aloalo in the Hawaiian language, is the state flower.

Hawaii's state flower (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) originated in Asia and the Pacific islands. Interestingly, it is also the national flower of Malaysia. This species is a true tropical hibiscus belonging to the Malvaceae, or mallow family. It is believed that there were originally only five species of hibiscus native to Hawaii. Later other varieties were imported and growers began to develop hybrids to produce the kaleidoscope of colors and sizes found today.

In 1923 Hawaii was still a territory, and the ilima was adopted as the state's flower following its promotion by an organization called "The Outdoor Circle." In 1950, when statehood was being anticipated by the Hawaiians, a resolution was introduced stating: "Hawaii's official flower shall be the ilima, the flower of old royalty." Many Hawaiians felt that the ilima should be the state's flower because the famed ilima leis were always presented to dignitaries who came to Hawaii. Two other exotic flowers, the lehua and the vanda, were also considered. However, when a vote was taken the ilima was chosen as the winner.

Hawaii officially became the fiftieth state of America in 1959. The realization that the ilima had never been changed from being Hawaii's territorial flower to her state flower didn't surface until nearly thirty years later! To solve this problem, the legislature decided to legally adopt the flower that had for so long been considered official.

Therefore on June 6, 1988, Hawaii changed its state flower from the native red hibiscus (Hibiscus kokio) to the ma'ohauhele, the only species of yellow hibiscus that can be called our state flower.

Description: Ma'ohauhele is a shrub that grows up to 10 feet, with maplelike leaves and bright yellow flowers. It varies in appearance among islands but generally falls into two subspecies: H. brackenridgei subspecies brackenridge of Maui, Molokai, Lanai and the Big Island, and H. brackenridgei subspecies mokuleianus of Oahu and Kauai.

The most visible difference between the two subspecies is in the leaves and stems. The leaves of subspecies mokuleianus have more serrated margins and pink veins with tiny spines on the branches. Subspecies brackenridgei, on the other hand, has leaves with more rounded margins and yellow veins, and it lacks the tiny spines on its branches.

Does well in full sun to partial shade and needs very little water, although daily watering is OK. It is a fast grower and will flower about twice a year. Each flowering period lasts up to two months, with blooms occurring daily on a flowering stalk that rises above the plant.

Distribution: This is an endangered species found in the dry to mesic forests of all main islands except Niihau (it was once reportedly collected from Kahoolawe).

Official flowers and colors for each island is as follows: 2000

Hawai`i, Red Lehua (Ohia)
Maui, Lokelani - Pink Cottage Rose (Rosa damascena)
Moloka`i, White Kukui Blossom (Aleurites moluccana)
Kaho`olawe, Hinahina -Beach Heliotrope (Heliotropium anomalum, var. argenteum)
Lana`i, Kaunaoa -Yellow and Orange Air Plant (Cuscuta sandwichiana)
O`ahu, Ilima (Sida fallax)
Kaua`i, Mokihana - Green Berry (Pelea anisata)
Ni`ihau, White Pupu Shell

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom	Plantae -- Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta -- Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants
Class	Magnoliopsida -- Dicotyledons
Subclass	Dilleniidae
Order	Malvales
Family	Malvaceae Mallow family
Genus	Hibiscus L. rosemallow
Species	Hibiscus brackenridgei Gray Brackenridge's rosemallow