
A new mural on the Sciences and Technology Building at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Hilo tells the inspiring conservation success story of an endangered endemic manu (bird).

The artwork showcases the Hawaiian honeycreeper ʻakiapōlāʻau and was brought to life in just five days during November¡¯s Thanksgiving break by Texas-based muralist Andrea Holmes. Holmes, who recently launched an ambitious global project to create 100 bird murals, depicted an ʻakiapōlāʻau perched on a koa tree with red ōhiʻa lehua blossoms below.
“Decades of koa restoration efforts at Hakalau have resulted in an increase in these birds, as koa is their favorite tree to forage in,” said Patrick Hart, a UH Hilo professor who specializes in endemic on Â鶹´«Ã½ Island. “A rare success story in Â鶹´«Ã½ conservation!”
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Hart explained the highly endangered ʻakiapōlāʻau are found only on Â鶹´«Ã½ Island and Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) above Hilo is one of the best places left to see them.
Fewer than 2,000 left

A dedication ceremony for the mural is planned for January 25 in conjunction with the annual membership meeting. The conservation group commissioned the artwork.
According to the group¡¯s research, fewer than 2,000 ʻakiapōlāʻau remain in the wild. Long-term survey data from 1987 to 2019 reveals population fluctuations, with the most stable numbers found within the Hakalau Forest NWR. The protected area serves as a sanctuary for approximately 61% of the island¡¯s remaining ʻakiapōlāʻau population, highlighting its critical role in conservation efforts.
A collaborative project
Professor Hart helped advise the artist on a number of early drafts of the mural. He also collaborated with several UH Hilo administrators on everything from mural placement to logistics: Pelehonuamea Harman (director of Native Hawaiian engagement) Simon Kattenhorn (dean of ) and Kalei Rapoza (vice chancellor for administrative affairs).
—By Susan Enright