Hawaiian Word of the Day: December 8th

By Leilani Poli`ahu • Dec 8, 2020

Almost everyone knows that a doorway is a puka. But how do you say door? Try pani puka. Pani puka is the thing that closes, blocks, or covers an opening. Puka is the doorway, ke pani puka is the door itself.

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Manu Minute: ˊApapane, The Flower Fan

By Patrick Hart & Savannah Harriman-Pote & Ann Tanimoto-Johnson • Dec 2, 2020
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ˊApapane are the most abundant Hawaiian honeycreeper. Scientists estimate that there are over a million individuals throughout the state — about one ˊapapane per person in Hawai‘i.

Like the ˊamakihi, ˊapapane appear to be developing a genetic resistance to mosquito-borne avian malaria, which has helped them sustain their numbers. However, they are still vulnerable to habitat loss and predation.