Melissa Chimera

The species of Hawaiian crow, called the ‘alalā was once on the verge of extinction. The few remaining wild pairs have been the subject of intensive captive breeding programs in the past decades to boost their numbers to now over 125 in captivity. Revered in Hawaiian culture and the last of its kind, two birds bred in captivity and then released–Mana‘olana and Manaiakalani–were observed in May of 2019 tending to a next and eggs on Hawai‘i Island, a first ever in the wild. The work references the food ‘alalā is dependent upon (fruits of ‘ie‘ie, lama, hau kuahiwi of Hualalai, its last known wild residence) as well as the hands responsible for the species continued survival. Although their nest in the wild did not produce young, hope remains for that the ‘alalā release on Maui will yield thriving populations once more.