Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 12, 1 December 2020 — Five Species at Papahānaumokuākea Get Hawaiian Names [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Five Species at Papahānaumokuākea Get Hawaiian Names

By Brad Ka'aleleo Wong and Aliee Malepeai Silbanuz Four bird species and one plant species living within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM), have been given Hawaiian names. Developed by PMNM's Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group (CWG), facilitated by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and comprised of eommunity members and cultural practitioners and researchers, the names reflect Hawaiian cultural perspectives of the birds and plant species, as well as their characteristics and behaviors. "Researching old names and developing new ones for species in Papahānaumokuākea that have either lost, or never had, a Hawaiian name is an important step towards honoring Hawaiian traditions and maintaining a living eulture in the Hawaiian Islands," said OHA Ka Pouhana and CEO Dr. Sylvia Hussey. The four Hawaiian bird names are nunulu (bonin petrel), 'akihike'ehi'ale (Tristam's storm-petrel), 'ao'ū (Christmas shearwater), and the hinaokū and manuohina (blue noddy). The name 'ahu'awakua has been given to the cyperus pennatiformis var. bryanii grass. "Our naming process comes from our experiences in seeing, smelling, hearing, touching, and feeling with our na'au, the relationships created from engaging with these organisms, and the realms in whieh these organisms reside," said the members of the Cultural Working Group in a joint statement. Nunulu (Bonin petrel)

Nunulu is the name chosen for the bonin petrel. Nunulu means growling, warbling, or reverberating. The word nunulu ean be found within the chant Nā 'Aumākua; specifically, "Nunulu i ka lani." This line refers to a sky that is immensely filled with activity, causing it to reverberate. Nunulu was chosen because of the annual migratory retum flight home of the bonin petrels to the islands where.

on the first eouple days of their return, the skies are so filled with birds that it blackens the sky. This imagery I was an important aspect to preserve with this species, as J the birds' habitat is threatened by climate change. The I nunulu is one of several birds being actively translocated to James Campbell National Widlife Refuge in Kahuku, ; O'ahu, from PMNM to help combat this threat. I I 'Akihike'ehi'ale (Tristam's Storm-Petrel) i MB

The name for the Tristram's storm-petrel is 'akihike'ehi'ale, whieh translates to "the bird that steps on water." This is an old name found in the writings of ] Hawaiian historian Kepelino and other Hawaiian language ; newspaper sources from the 1 800s. After reviewing histor- J ieal information and current photos and videos describing ; foraging behavior, physical features, flight, and sound, it i was believed that the 'akihike'ehi'ale, spoken of in the ; historical documents was the Tristram's storm-petrel. The I akihike'ehi'ale is another bird actively being translocated i from PMNM to O'ahu where it was onee present to help i mitigate threats from climate change. ; i 'Ao'ū (Christmas shearwater) i

The name 'ao'ū was chosen for the Christmas shearwater based on its eall. The sound, "'ao" is repeated six times followed by a long "'ū" sound. 'Ao means a new shoot, or bud, especially of taro; and ao, (spelled without an 'okina), refers to clouds, the light of day or daylight as well as enlightenment, or to regain consciousness. 'Ū means to growl, grunt, groan, moan, sigh, hum, eoo; to hold the Naming birds from their sound is a eommon practice for many sea and shorebirds in Hawai'i. Hinaokū and Manuohina (blue noddy)

A similar bird to the manu o kū (white tern) seen in urban the blue noddy was given the names hinaokū and manuohina. Both names speak to the birds' physical features and foraging behavior, and provide a "hina" balto the manu o kū. Hina is often paired with Kū in Hawaiian mo'olelo, or stories, to express duality and halanee. Hinaokū means "Hina of Kū" and refers to the 'āhinahina color (gray), whereas the kū portion of the maintains the idea that this particular bird continues to forage in a "kū" form (similar to manu o kū) - by surface-dipping and hover-dipping. Both names reflect the relationships, identity, and function of the bird and their relationship to traditional concepts of duality. The members of the CWG expressed that both names should be used when referencing the bird, linking the use of eaeh name to the habits of the bird in the wild. 'Ahu'awakua (Bryan's flatsedge) i

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Finally, the Bryan's flatsedge grass was given the name 'ahu'awakua. The plant is similar to the 'ahu'awa (Javanese flatsedge) in the main Hawaiian islands with the 'ahu'awakua found only on Kamole (Laysan island). "Kua" was added to dilineate the two species and ean usually refer

to things that are a support or backbone (akua - god, 'aumakua - guardian, makua - parent, kaikua'ana - older sibling). Since the plant is located in PMNM, where the islands are affectionately called the kūpuna islands in reference to their plaee as an older sibling, it was suggested to give the name 'ahu'awakua. Through the research of the Papahānaumokuākea Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group, numerous other bird, plant, limu, and coral species unique to PMNM now have Hawaiian names. A free live webinar is scheduled on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 11:00 a.m. to share insights on the naming process. The public is invited to register for the webinar at www.oha.org/papahanaumokuakea. ■

'Ahu'awakua ■ Photo: iohn Vetter, USFWS

Nunulu - Photo: Lindsay Young

« - ; ^ 'Akihike'ehi'ale - Photo: Courtesy

'Ao'D ■ Photo: John 1 Letter, USFWS

Hinaoku and Manuohina - Photo: John fetter, USFWS

•a 'Ahu'awakua - Photo: John 1 fetter, USFWS