Nā Manu ʻŌiwi consists of activewear inspired by three extinct birds and two endangered birds, like a chilling conversation in which the ʻŌʻō, Poʻouli, and ʻUla ʻAi Hāwane tell the story of their disappearance as they urge to the Kiwikiu and ʻĀkohekohe, “Donʻt be like us.” It serves as a haunting reminder that our native species are going extinct every year - and it’s up to us to stop it. Portions of the sale from Nā Manu ʻŌiwi will be donated to Friends of Hakalau Forest to support their efforts in native bird and habitat conservation.

Also known as the Crested Honeycreeper, critically endangered ʻĀkohekohe are one of the largest honeycreepers of Hawaiʻi. Their name comes from one of the calls they make: “kohay kohay.”

ʻĀkohekohe are found on the northeastern slopes of Haleakalā, and fossil remains indicate they lived on Molokaʻi as well. Depending on location, their feathers are tipped with orange-yellow, gray, silver, or white.

They do not sing, rather they produce a random series of buzzes, croaks, and whistles. ʻĀkohekohe nest in ʻōhiʻa trees and primarily feed on ʻōhiʻa nectar & arthropods found in ʻōhiʻa trees. They also feed on sub canopy and understory fruits and flowers when ʻōhiʻa bloom is at its seasonal low.

The usual suspects are contributing to their population decline. Similar to ʻApapane and ʻIʻiwi, movements between low and high elevation foraging sights increases exposure to mosquito-borne diseases. Avian malaria is also encroaching into higher elevations as a result of temperature increases due to climate change. Extensive logging and clearance for agriculture and Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death now play a major role in population decline. Fenced habitats help protect from predation by invasive mammals.

Small populations are plagued by a variety of potentially irreversible problems that fall into three categories: demographic, stochastic, and genetic. Demographic factors include skewed sex rations and stochastic factors include natural disasters. Habitat fragmentation exacerbates demographic and genetic problems.

For more information on ʻĀkohekohe, visit https://iucnredlist.org and search the scientific name Palmeria Dolei.