Kamao is a 1987 Filipino made-for-television action film directed by Celso Ad. Castillo and starring Fernando Poe Jr., Castillo, Mary Walter, and Rachel Ann Wolfe. Produced as the first television film for the Artista anthology program on Radio Philippines Network (RPN), it is about a boxer-turned-barangay captain who has to deal with a gang of drug dealers. The film first aired on RPN in the Philippines on June 11, 1987.
Region
Hawaiian Islands
Typical Environment
Historically restricted to montane wet forests on Kauaʻi, especially the Alaka‘i Plateau. It favored dense native ʻōhiʻa–koa forests with a rich understory of fruiting shrubs and ferns. Birds were most often encountered near streams, bog edges, and sheltered gullies. Its range contracted steadily in the 20th century as disease and storms pushed it into the most remote core habitats.
Altitude Range
800–1600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Kamao (Kama‘o) was a Hawaiian thrush endemic to the island of Kauaʻi and is now considered extinct. It inhabited the remote Alaka‘i Plateau’s wet forests and was renowned for a rich, flute-like song. Its decline was driven by habitat loss, severe hurricanes, and avian diseases such as malaria spread by introduced mosquitoes.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically encountered alone or in pairs, defending small territories in dense montane forest. Nests were placed on sturdy branches or in tree cavities and dense fern masses. Pairs likely maintained long-term bonds, with both adults tending the nestlings.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A rich, flute-like series of clear, melodious whistles that carried across ravines. Calls included soft chuck notes and liquid phrases, especially at dawn and after rain.
