Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 40, Number 7, 1 July 2023 — 'Ohi ka Wai Pua Lehua [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

'Ohi ka Wai Pua Lehua

V NA MANU HOA ^ OUR BIRD FRIENDS "

By Lisa Kapono Mason

Birds are tetrachromates and have a fourth type of eone eell in their eye allowinp them to see in the ultraviolet light range. The exposed orbitai ring around the eye is one of the bird's most vulnerable spots for a mosquito bite. - Photos: Ann Tonimoto Johnson/ LOHE Lab

Gatch a glimpse of a flittery red bird, and chances are it is the animated and articulate 'apapane (Himatione sanguinea). These darting honeycreepers are eommon residents of the wao akua (the divine cloud forests of the uplands) and thrive amongst the sweet nectars of ohi'a lehua and māmane flowers. 'Apapane was onee established across all Hawai'i, including a subspecies on Kauō (Laysan) Island. With the growing pressure of mos-quito-borne diseases, 'apapane experience some of the highest malaria infection rates, although surprisingly seem to have lower mortality than other native honeycreepers.

Fortunately, this suggests that 'apapane is on track to develop greater tolerance and possible future resistance to avian malaria. Aside from their crimson bodies and jet hlaek features, 'apapane are easily identified by their bright white undertail coverts, resounding wing beats, and diverse vocal repertoire. Their name, 'apapane, is a not-so-subtle nod to their proclivity for dawdling social chatter. ■ Lisa Kapono Mason was raised in Hilo and happily resides in Kea'au on the island of Hawai'i. She is a community educator, conservation researcher, and native bird enthusiast with a passion to help strengthen relationships between our manu and lahui.

Enjoying a sip of mōmone (Sophora chrysophylla) nectar in the eorly hours. The young age of this juvenile bird is confirmed hy the smattering of gray feothers in oreos that would otherwise be completely red.