Hawaiian Monk Seal (Monachus schauinslandi): The Hawaiian Monk Seal's home is the northwestern part of the islands. The species was near extinction in the 1990s, but have continued to make a comeback. Occasionally you will see one of these massive creatures basking in the warm rays of Hawaii's sun.
Hawaiian Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus somotus): The Hawaiian Hoary Bat is the only native land mammal to the Islands, and is an endangered subspecies of the Hoary Bat. Fossils show that the bats once were present on the islands of Molokai, Kauai, Maui, Oahu and Hawaii. In the 19th century, the species was eradicated from Oahu, due to the influx in population which may have pushed the species out, which was most likely hastened by pesticide use.
Native Hawaiian Forest Birds:
Akialoa(Hemignathus obscurus): This now extinct bird was truly a sight to be seen, with a long curved bill which would have acted as a probing tool during the species search for insects. The stocky green, 7-inch long bird was last seen on Kauai in 1967.
Akiapola au (Hemignathus munroi): This endangered species is endemic to Hawaii (Big Island), and can only be found at altitudes ranging from 3,300-7,000 feet (1,006-2,134 meters) in Ka'u, Hamakua, and Kona, as well as on Mauna Kea at altitudes from 6,000-8,700 feet (1,829-2,652 kilometers). The upper slender, curved bill of the this bright yellow honeycreeper is very unique, measuring twice as long as its bottom bill. Nest have recently been discovered.
Akohekohe (Palmeria dolei): This endangered crested honeycreeper resides on the Island of Maui on the foggy slopes of Mauna Kea, from altitudes of 4,200-7,100 feet (1,280-2,164 kilometers). The crested honeycreeper is the largest honeycreeper on Maui, measuring 6.5 to 7 inches long. Featuring a gray, white, or golden crest, with black and gray feathers on the throat and breast, and orange-tipped feathers on the rest of the body.
Alala (Corvus hawaiiensis): The alala, also referred to as the Hawaiian Crow, is considered to be sacred to the Hawaiian people. Upon Captain Cooks arrival to the islands, this was the one bird he was not allowed to collect, as it is believed to be a spirit which should not be captured or hurt. Endemic to the Big Island of Hawaii, it dwells between 3,000-6,000 feet (914-1,828 kilometers) on Hualalai and Mauna Loa's west sloped. This endangered bird is similar in appearance to North American crows, with a bulkier bill and dull black feathers, measuring 18 to 20-inches in length.
Amakihi (Hemignathus virens): This common native bird can be found on all of the main islands, with the exception of Lanai, where it is believed to be extinct. Males have a bright yellow belly, dark green wings and tails, with green on their top portion. Females appear duller in color, without the yellow belly. They are small birds, measuring only 4 inches (10 centimeters). It is believed that the Amakihi may be the least affected of the Native Hawaiian birds, having adapted and evolved some resistance to recent aviation diseases. It can be found from sea level up to elevations around 8,000 feet (2,438 meters). On the Island of Oahu, amakihi are seen often in areas including Manoa, Nuuanu, and Aina Haina.
Greater Amakihi (Hemignathus sagittirostris): The Greater Amakahi look similar to the Amakihi, but measured 6 inches (15 centimeters) in length, with a straight bill that appeared blue tinged underneath. They were found on the slopes of Mauna Kea above Hilo on Hawaii, in the dense rainforest from 500-1,500 feet (152-458 meters).
Apapane (Himatione sanguinea): The beautiful crimson red Apapane is one of the most common Native Hawaiian forest birds, located on the islands of Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai. They consume the nectar of the ohia-lehua blossoms, relying heavily on its nectar. The vibrancy of their feathers made them a favorite material for Hawaiian feather work.
Elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis): The Elepaio is a species of the Old World flycatcher family which was the only member of the species to naturally colonize the Hawaiian Islands. They are common on the islands of Hawaii and Kauai, and are listed on Oahu's list of endangered native birds. The Native Hawaiian's respect them as the guardian spirit of canoe makers, as they noticed that the Koa trees of in which an Elepaio frequently visited to forage for insects. Because of this, canoe makers were able to determine that those trees would, more likely than not, be undesirable to create a canoe from the insect-ridden Koa trees.
Hoa (Drepanis funerea): This now extinct bird was found only on the island of Molokai, with the last sighting of the Hoa, also called the Black Mamo, in 1907. Prized for its dull-black plumage and its golden feathers that accent its body. Another member of the honey creeper family, it had a curved, long bill to drink the nectar of the lobelia flowers.
Hopue (Rhodacanthis palmeri): This 9-inch (23-centimeter) Greater Koa-Finch was found on the island of Hawaii until 1894, and is now considered extinct. Its pointed beak allowed it to feed on the hard Koa seed pods. Males featured a vibrant orange head and a greenish brown body. Females were dull green.
Iiwi (Vestiaria coccinea): The stunning red-orange feathers of the Iiwi bird were prized by the Native Hawaiians and were used for the capes and cloaks of royalty, and for other fine feather creations. Their wings are black with a patch of white, while juvenile birds are speckled with yellow and green. They are still found on the islands of Hawaii, Maui and Kauai in forests above 2,000 feet (610 meters). A decline on Molokai, Lanai, and Oahu is believed to be due to the species susceptibility to foreign avian diseases such as avian malaria and avian poxvirus. They fed on the nectar of the ohia lehua tree, along with insects and spiders.
Kaka-wahie (Paroreomyza flammea): Also called a Molokai Creeper, this species is critically endangered, or possibly even extinct. It is unsure whether the rare species still lives on Molokai in the lust forest on its rugged slopes. The last sighting was in Pelekenu Valley on the island. The beautiful males are a stunning scarlet color, with females having some scarlet markings, with brown plumage. The introduction of the axis deer in 1868 from the Hong Kong Hawaiian consul reeked havoc on the species and their habitat.
Kioea (Chaetoptila angustipluma): The Kioea is a Hawaiian honey-eater that is now distinct. Its decline began even before contact with the European, and the Native Hawaiians weren't very familiar with the species. It measured 13-inches (33-centimeters) long, with brown plumage and thin white stripes around its eyes and chest. The species came from the island of Hawaii, with fossils showing that the bird was at one point found on other islands.
Kona grosbeak (Chloridops kona): This species was so rare, it had no Hawaiian name. The 6" long bird was green in color and had a huge pink bill, which cracked the seeds of the naio tree, which would create a distinct noise to help locate the birds before its 1894 extinction on the island of Hawaii in Kona.
Mamo (Drepanis pacifica): The stunning golden yellow feathers of the Mamo were the most prized of all feathers by the Native Hawaiian people. It is estimated that the famous cloak of King Kamehameha would have required that thousands of the species be killed for its infamous bright-yellow feathers. Its extinction in 1898 is presumed to be the cause of over-hunting for its prized feathers, with the introduction of foreign avian diseases' arrival to the Hawaiian Islands.
Moho (Porzana sandwichensis): The extinct Moho, also referred to as Hawaiian Rail, was a species of Hawaiian flightless birds. The Polynesian's arrival attributed to its demise, as they would catch, kill, and eat the large adult birds. The introduction of dogs, pigs, and rats helped move its extinction along.
Nene (Nesochen sandvicensis): The Nene is Hawaii's state bird, which is unlike other geese, as it has adapted to life on rugged lava rock, far from water. It has adapted to the island of Hawaii's unique landscape, with a reduction in webbing between their toes, which has allowed them to walk easier on the rough and sharp lava rock. It has cream colored feathers, with tannish-cream colored feathers across the body, while its head, beak, and feet are black. Fossils show the species once lived on every main Hawaiian island. The species were at one time 25,000 strong on the island, with the species drastically plummeting in count to only 30 in 1951, due to introduction of the mongoose, as well as other introduced animals and plants. Today it is estimated that the population is around 500, thanks to the implementation of captive propagation programs.
Nuku-puu (Hemignathus lucidus): This critically endangered species is a honeycreeper with its trademark curved bill. The male is a greenish-gray color with its bright yellow head, breast, and throat, while females are smaller and not as bright as males. Their population is fewer that 30, and calls Naku-puu on the island of Kauai home.
Oo (Moho nobilis): The extinct Hawaiian Oo were found on Oahu, Hawaii, Kauai, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii. It was last seen in the 1920s. Part of the Hawaiian Honeyeater family, it used its unusual brush-like tongues to drink the nectar of flowers.
Ou (Psittirostra psittacea): The critically endangered Ou are rare, and remain on Kauai in the Alakai Swamp area (southwestern), as well as along the windward coast of Hawaii. The 7-inch (18-centimeter) long bird had a parrot-like pink bill, with males having a bright yellow head and females having a duller-green head. It has a dark green back, and olive-green under-body. Its the rarest of the Hawaiian Honeycreepers, and the rarest of Alakaii's forest dwelling birds.
Palila (Loxioides bailleui): The whistle-like call of the Palila was believed to be a sign of incoming rain by the Native Hawaiian's. It is endangered, with populations spreading a range from 6,000-9,500 feet (1,981-2.896 meters) on the slopes of Mauna Kea on Maui, in the mamane and naio forests. They have a bright yellow head and gray back, white abdomen and black markings. Females are duller in color than males. The area they now inhabit is less than 10% of their original range. along Mauna Kea.
Maui Parrotbill (Pseudonestor xanthophrys): The Maui Parrotbill is found on the island of Maui in the rainforest of East Maui from 4,300 to 7,000-feet (1,310 to 2,134-kilometers), over an eight mile range with covers less than 5,000-acres. It has a bright yellow throat, abdomen, and breast, with the remainder of its coloring being olive green, with a distinct yellow stripe above the eye. The introduction of feral pigs on the island has disturbed the natural environment of the species, but there are recovery plans in place that are trying to help the species from extinction.
Po Ouli (Melamprosops phaeosoma): The Po Ouli wasn't discovered until 1973 by University of Hawaii students who were participating in the Hana Rainforest Project, where it was discovered in the dense ohia forests on Haleakala's northeastern slopes. The Po Ouli features a gray-brown upperbody, with buff underparts with a brown tinge. The bird measures 5.25 inches (13.3-centimeters) long, with only three known to exist.
Ula-Ai-Hawane (Ciridops anna): There is not much known about this extinct bird, a member of the honeycreeper family, as there are only 5 stuffed specimens in existence. The Native Hawaiian people were familiar with the bird, as they had given its name: Ula-Ai -Hawane, which translates to "The red bird which eats the fruit of the hawane palm." They were found only on the island of Hawaii, and had a distinct red, black and gray coloring.
