Nā Manu Nahele Origami Project

2024 Nā Manu Nahele Origami Project

2024 has been designated as Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele, the Year of the Forest Birds, in Hawaiʻi. The Nā Manu Nahele Origami Project is one way that students, educators, and manu enthusiasts can get involved. For this project, grade school students across the islands are encouraged to learn about these precious species and join us in creating forest bird origami. We hope to “fly” these student creations publicly on each island, then before the close of the year, move them on to Oʻahu for a display representing birds and students from across the state. Our hope is to display them at a venue such as the State Capitol to provide a visual representation of our aloha for Hawaiʻi’s manu.

Materials and origami skills would best match students in third or higher grades. The links below are for printable, 2-page handouts that introduce students or other origami artists to native forest birds and our Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele celebration. Within each handout you will find information on:

What is a forest bird and what makes them special?
Whatʻs happening to them, and why are they so rare?
Why do forest birds have different looks and calls?
What do they do for us, and how can we help?
Photos and information about each bird species to inspire your origami.

There are many videos on-line showing how to create flying origami birds, but none specifically about native Hawaiian forest birds. It’s up to you and your students to create the magic, but the videos below may help get you started.

Shorter beak designs:

Longer beak designs:

Submitting your class “flocks” to “fly:”

Origami should be in flying position.
Attach a minimum 24” white cotton thread or fishing line to the mid-point of the back of each bird.
Origami can be single-sheet (traditional), modular or composite.
Coloring to make the origami bird look as close as possible to the natural bird’s coloring is totally acceptable.
Strict adherence to traditional origami techniques is not necessary. However, students are asked to make their origami resemble the natural bird as closely as possible. If they want to personalize it, they can write their name on an inside fold which is not visible. A class photo of students with their creations in hand would be a great way to preserve the event before they send their origami out into the world. Student submissions cannot be returned.
Contact your island’s coordinator to arrange delivery or collection of your class “flock.” Public display venues and dates for each island will be announced soon. Our goal is to collect all island flocks for an all-island public display in Honolulu, before Christmas of 2024. Island coordinators are Julia Diegmann for Kauaʻi, Pua Heimuli for Oʻahu, and Jeff Bagshaw for Maui Nui and Hawaiʻi Island.