The ʻula-ʻai-hāwane is an extinct species of small Hawaiian honeycreeper. The term ʻula-ʻai-hāwane is a Hawaiian phrase translating to "red [bird] that eats hāwane". It was only ever reported from the forested mountains of the Kohala, Hilo and Kona districts on the island of Hawaiʻi. Fossil remains reveal that it also existed at one time on other Hawaiian islands. The species is named after Anna Dole, wife of Sanford B. Dole.
Region
Hawaiian Islands
Typical Environment
Historically recorded from the forested mountains of Hawaiʻi Island, especially in the Kohala, Hilo, and Kona districts. Subfossil remains indicate it once occurred on other islands in the archipelago. It favored native wet to mesic forests where loulu (Pritchardia) palms were present within ‘ōhi‘a–koa canopies. Birds moved through mid‑elevation ridges and valleys, perching high in the canopy near fruiting palms.
Altitude Range
200–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The ʻula-ʻai-hāwane was a small Hawaiian honeycreeper whose name means 'red bird that eats hāwane', referring to the fruits of native loulu palms (Pritchardia). It is known from a handful of 19th‑century specimens from Hawaiʻi Island, with fossils indicating a wider prehistoric range across the Hawaiian Islands. The species epithet honors Anna Dole, wife of Sanford B. Dole. Its extinction is linked to habitat loss, decline of native palms, and broader ecosystem changes after human arrival.
ʻUla-ʻai-hāwane
Temperament
arboreal and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between canopy gaps
Social Behavior
Likely occurred singly, in pairs, or small family groups while foraging in the canopy. Nesting would have been in trees, consistent with other honeycreepers, using plant fibers and moss. Territoriality was probably centered around fruiting palms.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Reported vocalizations were likely thin, high‑pitched chips and brief trills typical of small honeycreepers. Calls carried through the mid‑canopy but were not known for elaborate song.
