Shearwater Tunic Dress

Shearwater seabirds are depicted in this print nesting amongst coastal native Hawaiian plants. Shearwaters nest in sheltered rocky burrows and protected coasts across the Hawaiian Islands. The most notable species are the threatened ‘a‘o (Hawaiian shearwater) and the coastal ‘ua‘u kani (wedge-tailed shearwater). An extraordinary open-ocean navigator, guided by the stars and the moon, young fledglings leave their underground burrows at night to begin lives at sea.

However, artificial coastal lights disorient the young birds, causing "fallout" where they crash into structures out of exhaustion. On the ground, they face severe threats from predation by introduced feral cats, mongooses, and rats.

Protecting them requires community action: shielding outdoor lights during fallout season (September to December) and keeping domestic pets indoors. Several dedicated organizations are leading the rescue. The Hawai‘i Wildlife Center and Kaua‘i’s Save Our Shearwaters rehabilitate downed birds, while nonprofits like Pacific Rim Conservation build predator-proof fenced areas that provide sheltered nesting sites. Through habitat restoration and public awareness, these groups and our collective involvement, give Hawaiian native seabirds a chance to thrive across the Pacific.