Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 5, 1 May 1993 — Ke ao nani [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ke ao nani

Naturally Hawaiian

by Patrick Ching artist/environmentalist

Pueo — the guardian

Throughout the world owls are regarded as symbols of wisdom and spirituality. The Hawaiian owl, or pueo, is no exception.

The pueo is a prominent figure in Hawaiian lore and many worship it as a family guardian or 'aumakua. Owl feathers were sometimes used to decorate kāhili and other feathered orna-

ments. The pueo is a subspecies of the short-eared owl whieh is widely distributed throughout the northem hemisphere. The absence of fossil remains of this bird suggests that it is a recent arrival to the islands (and therefore has not evolved mueh from its continental ancestors.) It inhabits all the

main Hawaiian islands and oeeasionally the leeward islands northwest of Kaua'i. The pueo is often seen in trees

or on telephone poles looking over grassy fields in search of prey. Its plumage is buffy-white with brown patches and 1 streaks (the rare white owl of I Hawaiian lore may I have been certain I individuals with very I light color variations,

perhaps even albinistic birds). The pueo is often confused with the barn owl that was brought to Hawai'i in 1958 to control rodents. The bam owl is larger and lighter in color than the pueo and has a distinct heartshaped face. Pueo and bam owls both feed mainly on rats and

miee but will also take small birds. Unlike the barn owl, whieh is generally nocturnal, the pueo feeds primarily during the day but also at night. Owls usually swallow their food whole and regurgitate pellets containing hair and bones of their prey. Within the past few years there has been a rash of owl deaths involving both pueo and barn owls. Most of the recent deaths have occurred on Kaua'i where many of the owls found are sluggish and weak. Though the exact cause of the die-off is unknown, biologists speculate that it may be connected to rodents, whieh the owls prey upon, that also exhibit similar symptoms. If you find an owl that seems sluggish, sick or freshly dead, contact a state Department of Land and Natural Resources district wildlife biologist immediateiy-