‘Elepaio are friendly and curious native Hawaiian birds. They were once common throughout the Hawaiian forest. They feed on insects, and their behavior around Koa trees helped kālai wa‘a (canoe carvers) decide whether a tree was suitable for woodwork. If the ‘elepaio pecked the bark of the tree, it meant it was unsuitable and likely rotten, having more insects. However, if an ‘elepaio disregarded the tree, it was considered strong and good for carving.
In this artwork, the Hawai'i ‘elepaio is depicted on koa along with other native Hawaiian invertebrates: the koa butterfly, koa bug, kāhuli snail, and nananana makaki‘i happy-faced spider.
‘Elepaio has also served as the logo of the Hawai‘i Audubon Society and as the namesake of their ‘Elepaio Journal that has chronicled the conservation of Hawai‘i’s birds since 1939. The ‘elepaio’s friendly and curious nature made it one of the most recognizable birds to encounter in most Hawaiian forests. Unfortunately, its range has shrunk considerably these days. The Hawai‘i Audubon Society continues to champion native birds through its activities and educational outreach. A portion of the proceeds from this print will go towards supporting their organization.
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