Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 5, 1 May 1989 — Naturally Hawaiian [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Naturally Hawaiian

By Patrick Ching Artist/ Environmentalist

A Seasonal Resident

The Pacific Golden Plover, known to Hawaiians as kolea, ean usually be seen scurrying about in lawns, beaches, mudflats or other open areas in search of food. The bird stands about 10 inches tall, is long-legged and matted with brown, white and gold speckles. The figurative meaning of the word kolea is "boastful" (Pukui and Elbert). This name may have been given to the bird because of its erect posture and manner. The Kolea is a migratory visitor to the Pacific and during the months of August and September they arrive in Hawai'i and other Pacific islands from their arctic breeding grounds. The birds are very territorial and will usually return to the same spot or lawn eaeh year. Onee a kolea stakes out its territory it will often chase off intruders or "poachers" who eome to take food from its area. The size of a kolea's territory is largely dependent on how mueh food is available in a given area. (Territories where food is scarce may be larger than those where food is abundant). Favorite

foods of the kolea include worms, snails, insects, lizards, and other small animals. During the months of March and April the kolea change into their breeding plumage as they prepare for their northward migration to their arctic breeding grounds. By mid April most of the kolea have black underparts with a white stripe going over their eyes and down along the sides of their bodies. At this time the birds are fattening up for their long flights to the Alaskan tundra whieh may take two to three days of nonstop flying. By May, almost all the kolea have left except for a few individuals that spend all year on Pacific islands. Ancient voyagers were aware of the flight direction of the migrating flocks of plovers. The birds were an indication that there was land to the north and may have been a major inspiration to the oeean voyagers who first discovered the Hawaiian Islands. The kolea is often referred to in Hawaiian literature as a messenger, informant and friend.

Kolea