Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele
2024 is ka Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele: the Year of the Forest Birds, a time to celebrate the jewels of our Hawaiian forests. Our native forest birds are uniquely Hawaiian: most exist only in the Hawaiian Islands and nowhere else in the world. These birds have critical ecological roles as pollinators, seed dispersers, and insect managers of Hawaiian forests. Our forest birds are an inextricable part of Native Hawaiian culture in their roles as ʻaumakua (family deities) and messengers between akua (gods) and kānaka (people). Nā manu nahele are celebrated in mele (songs) moʻolelo (stories), ʻōlelo noʻeau (proverbs), kaʻao (legends), and in the creation of feather adornments including lei hulu.
Our nā manu nahele are at risk: of 87 forest bird species known from either the fossil record or human observation, an astonishing 61 species have gone extinct. Of the 26 species that remain today, 24 are listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as vulnerable, near-threatened, threatened, endangered, or critically endangered, including the ʻio seen here (PC: Bret Mossman). To learn more about why Hawaiʻi has lost so many birds and what is being done to save those that remain, explore below and come to one of our Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele events this year to meet the manu experts who help prevent extinction.
Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele is brought to you by a partnership of manu enthusiasts from DLNR Forestry & Wildlife, Kamehameha Schools, Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project, Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, the ʻAlalā Project, the University of Hawaiʻi Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death outreach group, Bishop Museum, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Birds Not Mosquitoes, the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, the Invasive Species Committees, Hawaiʻi Association of Watershed Partnerships, and the Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi.
How will you celebrate Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele?
Click any of the four category buttons below to jump to your celebration of choice.
Nā Manu: Learn about Hawaiʻi’s forest birds
Meet the 26 remaining forest birds, hear their songs, understand their habitats and diets, and their cultural significance. We also have information on some of the 51 extinct species, including photos or drawings where possible. The species profile pages below are from DLNR Forestry & Wildlife, but you can also find profiles and information from the Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project, the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, and the ʻAlalā Project.
An interactive curriculum and unit plan by Kamehameha Schools. Requires a free account on Waihona.
Local biologist Noah Gomes guides you through six manu stories.
Download this bundle of lesson plans from the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center.
Nā Kiaʻi: Learn about efforts to save our birds
Why have we lost so many of our forest bird species, and why are almost all of our remaining species at risk? Learn below about the threats to forest birds, including predation by rats, cats, and mongoose; habitat loss due to human land use, introduced ungulates, and invasive plants; and avian diseases that are carried by invasive mosquitoes. The link below is from the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, but all of Hawaiʻi’s islands share these threats.
But, there is hope: community members and manu experts across Hawaiʻi are working to protect our remaining birds. Below you can learn about some of the groups working to prevent further extinctions of our native forest birds. One major lifeline for our birds is the mosquito control efforts coordinated by Birds Not Mosquitoes, a partnership of state, federal, and private organizations working to reduce disease-carrying mosquitoes in Hawaiʻi’s forests. Learn about the surprising hero of this story: a tiny, common bacteria called Wolbachia.
Through the links and videos below you can meet many kiaʻi manu, protectors of Hawaiʻi’s birds.
Learn about threats to birds from Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project
Learn how reducing mosquitoes can help our birds can thrive
Coming soon: a 360˚ virtual field trip to Keauhou Bird Conservation Center
This 360˚ video tells the story of hearing the last ʻōʻō calling out in Kauaʻi’s forests
This short film about Kauaʻī’s birds describes their importance to forests and culture, and efforts to protect them.
A hula about ʻakikiki, ʻakekeʻe, kiwikiu, and ʻakohekohe by Kumu Keahi Manea.
This DLNR special features endangered birds across Hawaiʻi.
This DLNR special follows biologists working to preserve Maui’s kiwikiu and its habitat.
This BBC Earth Witness special dives into avian disease on Kauaʻi.
Hamline University: Jewels of the Forest: Kauaʻi’s Endangered Honeycreepers
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs looks at the importance of ʻio and efforts to protect Hawaiʻi’s hawk
Coriolis Films examines the impacts of disease on Kauaʻi’s birds
Learn how biologists track and study ʻio
Learn how bird biologists track and study ʻakiapōlāʻau
Want to know more or get in touch with some of Hawaiʻi’s kiaʻi manu? Visit some of our partners online who do front-line field operations in the race to save birds from extinction: the Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project, Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, the ʻAlalā Project, San Diego Zoo Global, and the Wildlife Program at DLNR Forestry & Wildlife.
Activities & Swag
Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele Digital SwagBring Hawaiʻi’s forest birds to your next Zoom meeting or decorate your phone or computer wallpaper with our Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele Digital Swag. Choose a manu that is special to you, or bring the full rainbow of Hawaiian forest birds to your devices.  |
Request Manu Stickers or a Pueo PosterShow your manu aloha by adding forest bird stickers to your water bottle, laptop, or wall. DLNR Forestry & Wildlife will be handing out stickers at events all year long, or you can send us an email with a mailing address and we’ll send you a couple of manu stickers. They’re free (Hawaiʻi residents only, please) and if you’re a teacher we’ll send you a pack of 10-15 for your students. We are also offering a classroom poster featuring the pueo, Hawaiʻi’s short-eared owl. Posters can be requested using the same email address above, limit one poster per order.  |
Donate & Get Swag from Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery ProjectKauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project offers a variety of tokens of appreciation when you donate to their program. While supporting work to save some of the rarest birds in world, you can receive metal travel mugs, children’s books about Hawaiʻi’s native birds, manu magnets and notecards, and t-shirts showing your manu aloha. Visit Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project’s webpage to view swag and donate  |
Donate & Get Swag from Maui Forest Bird Recovery ProjectMaui Forest Bird Recovery Project offers donation opportunities and items you can purchase to support their program. Get an ʻiʻiwi stuffed animal that sings when you squeeze it, and ʻalalā hat, shirts, stickers, notecards, and more. Visit Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project’s page to view swag and donate  |
Donate to Bishop Museum’s Honeycreeper Carving ProjectOrnithologist and master woodcarver Haruo Uchiyama has created a set of exquisitely lifelike Hawaiian honeycreeper carvings to educate the public about these amazing birds. These carvings give people a way to see birds that they will likely never encounter in real life due to their rarity. You can read here about this project at Bishop Museum, and keep an eye on our Events Calendar for news about an exhibition at the Science Adventure Center in early 2024. To support growing this collection of carvings, you can donate to this project at Bishop Museum. Click here to donate to the honeycreeper carving project Bishop Museum. Select “Uchiyama Honeycreeper Carving Project” from the dropdown menu.  |
Nā Manu Nahele Finger Puppet ActivitiesGreat for students of all ages, our finger puppets are simple papercraft activities that teach you a bit about our birds and let you pretend to be your favorite manu. Our downloadable finger puppet activities include these species:
Find the full set and plenty more to do on our Activities page.  |
Nā Manu Nahele Masks: Become Your Favorite BirdA great activity for classroom or home, this downloadable PDF can be printed for a simple paper craft. You’ll need a bit of tape and string to wear it, and make sure you learn how to make your manu’s birdsong by visiting our audio pages above. You can find the full collection at our Activities page, or directly download your manu mask from the links below:  |
Classroom Curriculum: Hawaiian Forest Bird Unit Plan from the Symphony of the Hawaiian BirdsIn 2018 the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, University of Hawaiʻi, and many other partners worked to develop the Symphony of the Hawaiian Birds, a multimedia art performance that traveled across the state. As part of the project, a curriculum on Hawaiian forest birds was developed for educators to use in classrooms. Though the symphony performances are no longer happening, the unit plan is still a great resource for educators. Download the Hawaiian Forest Bird Unit Plan – SYMPHONY OF THE HAWAIIAN BIRDS  |
Battle of the Beaks (Bishop Museum)This classroom game invites students to try picking up differently shaped objects with various styles of “beaks.” A printable scorecard helps keep the game competitive as it invites students and educators to talk about how our birds have evolved beaks that are specialized for eating seeds, insects, or nectar. Download the Battle of the Beaks game  |
Kauaʻi Forest Bird Match Up GameCut out the forest birds and then match them up with their habitat in the images of Kauaʻi’s forests. Students can learn about bird habitat and behaviors while playing a simple match up game. This game was developed by Kauaʻi Forest Birds Recovery Project.  |
Hawaiʻi’s Forest Birds: An Online Learning ResourceThe Kauaʻi and Maui Forest Bird Recovery Projects worked with Hamline University to produce this interactive learning tool. Students can explore videos and photos, there are activities for teachers to use, and there are field stories from kūpuna.  |
Jeo”Bird”y Classroom Quiz GameI’ll take “Bird Words” for $200, Alex. Educators can play host for the classroom game show JeoBirdy, developed by the Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project. Students can select a category, get a clue, and try to solve for questions about Kauaʻi’s endangered birds. The game runs via Google Slides is easy to set up and play with a classroom projector or screen. Play Jeo”Bird”y via Google Slides Column content  |
Kauaʻi Forest Birds Coloring BookDownload and print this coloring book that features Kauaʻi’s forest birds. The book includes facts about each bird and a guide on the cover if you want to know how the birds are colored in real life.  |
Maui Forest Birds Coloring BookDownload and print this coloring book that features Maui’s forest birds. The book includes a detailed set of facts about each bird.  |
Songbird: A Virtual Moment of Extinction in Hawaiʻi (360˚ Video)This 360˚ video from The Guardian tells the story of when local scientist Jim Jacobi encountered what is believed to be the last Kauaʻi ʻōʻō, in the 1980s. Jim recorded the lonely song of the ʻōʻō, calling out for a mate that he would never find. Though the story is sad, it is beautifully animated in this video and is a tale (and a birdsong) that everyone should hear. |
ʻIʻiwi Holiday OrnamentThis ʻiʻiwi holiday ornament from Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project can brighten a room any time of year. Download and print the PDF to get started. 
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Events
We’ll be adding to this list throughout the year and providing more details on events as they become available. Check back often!
ʻŌlelo Youth XChange Video CompetitionOpen Now through March 1, Statewide Hawaiʻi students can enter this competition to create videos sharing their connection to forest birds. DLNR Forestry & Wildlife is a category sponsor for the competition, with the category Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele: Year of the Forest Birds. Finalists and winners will be recognized at an awards banquet in April, with prizes and the opportunity for your video to be seen by thousands. For details, visit https://olelo.org/yxc2024/.  |
Mahina ‘Ōlelo Hawaii: ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i ‘OeStarting February 2024, Dates TBD. Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, & Maui Knowing ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi can help you correctly pronounce and understand the names of our nā manu nahele. Kanaeokana will be sponsoring events promoting learning and speaking ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi starting in February (which is also Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi). Anticipated locations for events include Windward Mall, Kamakana Aliʻi, Princess Kaʻahumanu Center, Puohala Elementary, and Merrie Monarch. When available, details will be shared here or at the Kanaeokana website. In the meantime, visit their website for free language-learning materials.  |
Symphony of the Hawaiʻi ForestsFebruary 15 & 17, Oʻahu Symphony of the Hawai‘i Forests brings together music, art, science, hula, and storytelling to better connect the keiki with the forests of Hawai‘i through an immersive performance that fully embodies the collaborative spirit. Come watch the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra as they perform new music and animation of newly created ka‘ao (folktales) that tell of unforgettable stories about the forests of Hawai‘i. This event is for 4th-12th grade students, teachers, chaperones. Advance registration by schools is required. Visit Symphony of the Hawai’i Forests for more information and to register.  |
Annual Blessing: Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery ProjectFebruary, exact date TBD, Kauaʻi Join the Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project for their annual blessing for their coming year of field operations. When available, details will be shared here and on the Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project website.  |
Forest Bird Exhibit at Bishop Museum Science Adventure CenterMarch, Oʻahu The Science Adventure Center at Bishop Museum is getting a new exhibit in March 2024. The new exhibit will feature Hawaiian forest birds and will include the exquisitely lifelike carvings of ornithologist and master woodcarver Haruo Uchiyama, helping visitors view and appreciate birds that are either too rare to see in person or extinct. You can read here about this project at Bishop Museum. |
Bishop After Hours: Forest BirdsMarch, Oʻahu Bishop Museum is planning to host an After Hours event focused on Hawaiian Forest Birds. The event will likely feature the Uchiyama bird carvings in the Science Adventure Center with more celebrations outside on the Great Lawn. Details will be available here and at the Bishop Museum website when finalized.  |
Volunteer Mālama ʻĀina Day in Waikamoi PreserveMarch 23, 2024, Maui Available for a small group of volunteers ages 12+ to remove invasive ginger in Waikamoi Preserve’s Maile Trail. Possible forest birds to see include ʻiʻiwi, ʻapapane, ʻamakihi, and ʻalauahio. Sign ups open 1 month prior to event at https://tncmaui.ivolunteer.com/#3.  |
ʻŌlelo Youth XChange Award CeremonyApril 23, 2024, Oʻahu Finalists in the video competition will be invited to Honolulu for an award ceremony that will be televised on ʻŌlelo Community Media. We’ll be sharing the winning videos in our Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele category to the DLNR website and will share them statewide. Details will be at https://olelo.org/yxc2024. |
Volunteer Mālama ʻĀina Day in Waikamoi PreserveMay 27, 2024, Maui Available for a small group of volunteers ages 12+ to remove invasive ginger in Waikamoi Preserve’s Maile Trail. Possible forest birds to see include ʻiʻiwi, ʻapapane, ʻamakihi, and ʻalauahio. Sign ups open 1 month prior to event at https://tncmaui.ivolunteer.com/#3. |
Nā Manu Nahele in the Hawaiʻi State Library Summer Reading SeriesJune/July 2024, Statewide This summer we plan to partner with the Hawaiʻi State Library System to bring presentations about our native forest birds to libraries across the state, and provide a summer reading list for manu enthusiasts.  |
Volunteer Mālama ʻĀina Day in Waikamoi PreserveAugust 3, 2024, Maui Available for a small group of volunteers ages 12+ to remove invasive ginger in Waikamoi Preserve’s Maile Trail. Possible forest birds to see include ʻiʻiwi, ʻapapane, ʻamakihi, and ʻalauahio. Sign ups open 1 month prior to event at https://tncmaui.ivolunteer.com/#3. |
We’ll be adding more events throughout 2024.
Banner images based on photos by Zach Pezzillo, Bret Mossman, Robby Kohley, Lucas Behnke, Javier Cotin, and Jacob Drucker.