Last updated: June 24, 2024
Lesson Plan
Maui Forest Birds
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Juvenile ʻiʻiwi (endemic honeycreeper bird) sipping nectar from an ʻiliahi (endemic sandalwood tree)
NPS Photo Credit
- Grade Level:
- High School: Ninth Grade through Twelfth Grade
- Subject:
- Science
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- Additional Standards:
- Next Generation Science Standards:
HS-LS2-6; HS-LS2-7 - Thinking Skills:
- Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.
Essential Question
What are the past and current threats to the native forest birds of Hawaiʻi?
What role do the forest birds play in Hawaiian culture past and present?
How can you contribute to the efforts to save the forest birds?
Objective
Students will learn about the history of the endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers, Hawaiʻi’s only native forest birds. They will learn how to identify the six different species of Hawaiian honeycreepers found on Maui and what these birds meant to Hawaiians in the past. Students will also consider the future of these birds and what impact their decline is having on Hawaiʻi. In this lesson, students also have the opportunity to learn some words in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language).
Background
Students will learn about the history of the endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers, Hawaiʻi’s only native forest birds. They will learn how to identify the six different species of Hawaiian honeycreepers found on Maui and what these birds meant to Hawaiians in the past. Students will also consider the future of these birds and what impact their decline is having on Hawaiʻi. In this lesson, students also have the opportunity to learn some words in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language).
Preparation
Teacher Preparation: 30 minutes
Lesson: 1-2 class periods, 60 minutes each
Materials needed:
- Paper
- Coloring supplies (markers, colored pencils, etc)
- Pictures and videos of Maui honeycreepers
Materials
Students will learn about the history of the endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers, Hawaiʻi's only native forest birds. They will learn how to identify the six different species of Hawaiian honeycreepers found on Maui and what these birds meant to Hawaiians in the past. Students will also consider the future of these birds and what impact their decline is having on Hawaiʻi. In this lesson, students also have the opportunity to learn some words in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language). Pages 5-9
Download Maui Forest Birds Introduction
Lesson Hook/Preview
The ‘iʻiwi was an especially prized bird among Hawaiians for its bright red feathers. This bright red color was considered sacred and was only worn by those of high rank during special ceremonies.
What role do the forest birds play in Hawaiian culture past and present?
Procedure
Step 1: Introduction
In Hawaiian mythology, the demigod Māui loved the forest birds and painted them bright colors for all to see and enjoy. The native Hawaiians loved to use the feathers of these forest birds to create lei kāmoe (feathered lei), mahiole (feathered helmets), kāhili (feathered standards), and ʻahu ʻula (feathered cloaks). These birds’ populations have been steadily declining since European settlers came in the 19th century bringing non-native plants and animals.Listen to an audio sample from Hosmer Grove, a special forest found in Haleakalā National Park. Do you hear the different bird calls? What birds do you hear near your home?
- Link to Hosmer Grove recording: https://youtu.be/MZr_nylWTI4
- Show pictures/videos of the different honeycreepers found on Maui. What differences do you notice? What factors can help distinguish each species?
Step 2: History of the Hawaiian Honeycreepers
The ʻiʻiwi (ee-ee-vee) was an especially prized bird among Hawaiians for its bright red feathers. This bright red color was considered sacred and was only worn by those of high rank during special ceremonies.
There were designated bird catchers who collected the feathers for ʻahu ʻula (feathered cloaks) and such. Those bird catchers were called “kia manu”. These bird catchers used decoy branches or flowers covered in sticky paste that the birds would get stuck to. Most kia manu would only collect a few feathers from a bird and then release it back into the wild.
When the Europeans colonized Hawaiʻi, they brought new plants and animals with them. These animals included predators that the birds had not experienced before like mongooses, cats, and rats.
With colonization, the Hawaiian honeycreepers’ habitat was also diminished. The sandalwood tree, or ʻiliahi (ee-lee-ah-hee), was prized by the Europeans and nearly wiped out. The settlers then tried to replenish the forests by planting non-native trees such as pines and eucalyptus. Unfortunately, not all of the native forest birds have been able to adapt to these changes in trees.
Another important tree to the nectar-eating Hawaiian honeycreepers is the ʻōhiʻa lehua (oh-hee-uh leh-hoo-uh). Unfortunately, these trees across Hawaiʻi are at high risk of a fungal infection called Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death.
The most pressing threat to the forest birds’ population, however, are the mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are not native to Hawaiʻi. They were brought in by whaling ships in the 1800s. These mosquitoes (specifically the southern house mosquito) carry avian malaria which the birds, especially the ‘iʻiwi, are highly susceptible to.
Step 3: Share La‘ieikawai’s Story
“In the romantic story of La‘ieikawai, as told by S.N. Hale‘ole, La‘ieikawai is a beautiful chiefess who is served upon and resides on the wings of supernatural Hawaiian honeycreepers. La‘ieikawai’s house is thatched with the royal yellow feathers of the ōʻō bird (a now extinct Hawaiian honeycreeper) and she is attended to by i‘iwipolena. While living amongst the honeycreepers, she catches the eye of a handsome Kaua‘i chief, Kauakahialii. He sends a servant to invite her to his dwelling and La‘ieikawai responds, “When rings the note of the ōʻō bird, I am not in that sound, or the ʻalalā (Hawaiian crow), I am not in that sound; when rings the note of the ‘elepaio then am I making ready to descend; when the note of the ‘apapane sounds, then I am without the door of my house; if you hear the note of the ʻi‘iwipolena, then I am without your ward’s house; seek me, you two, and find me without. That is your wards chance to meet me.” La‘ieikawai’s suitor listens to the birdcalls for announcement of the beauty’s arrival. The first night she does not come but on the second night, after the ‘apapane’s song rings at dawn, La‘ieikawai appears at Kauakahialii’s door, resting on the wings of her birds.” – Maui Forest Bird Recovery ProjectStep 4: Guided Practice
What stories do you think might have been told about the colorful honeycreepers of Hawaiʻi?- Split into groups.
- Each group should work together to develop an illustrated short story involving one or more of the honeycreeper species.
- Groups will share their stories and illustrations with the class.
Step 5: Conclusion
The Hawaiian honeycreepers found across the Hawaiian Islands are not found anywhere else in the world! Because of habitat loss, introduction of predators, and climate change, the Hawaiian honeycreepers are slowly going away. There were once over 50 different species of Hawaiian honeycreeper, but now only 17 remain. In order to preserve Hawai‘i’s past and rich culture, we all need to help protect the unique birds found here.Step 6: Discussion
What can you do to help preserve the forest birds?Vocabulary
ʻIʻiwi (ee-ee-vee): Honeycreeper bird, endemic to Hawaiʻi
ʻAlalā (ah-lah-laah): Hawaiian crow, endemic to Hawaiʻi
ʻApapane (ah-pah-pah-neh): Honeycreeper bird, endemic to Hawaiʻi
ʻōʻō (oh-oh): Hawaiian forest bird, extinct and endemic to Kauaʻi
Kia manu (kee-ah mah-noo): bird catcher
ʻŌhiʻa (oh-hee-uh): Hawaiian tree that is a habitat and food source for many honeycreepers and culturally significant, endemic to Hawaiʻi
ʻIliahi (ee-lee-ah-hee): Hawaiian sandalwood tree, endemic to Hawaiʻi
Lei (lay): garland
Wolbachia: common bacteria naturally found in insects
Laʻieikawai (Lah-ee-eh-ee-kah-va-ee): a beautiful Hawaiian chiefess
Additional Resources
Annotated Bibliography
Callaway, Ewen. (Nov. 2019). Modified mosquitoes reduce cases of dengue fever. Nature. Retrieved from: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03660-8
This is a news article describes the results of using the Wolbachia method to reduce the spread of dengue fever in Asia and South America. Results in Indonesia showed a 76% reduction of cases in dengue fever over 2.5 years.
CDC Division of Vector Borne Diseases. (2021). Mosquitoes. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes
This website has a variety of information by the CDC about mosquitoes including their lifecycles, population, habitat, and methods of mosquito control. The articles in this website are focused on the methods of mosquito control used to help prevent the spread of diseases like dengue fever or zika. The methods of mosquito control discussed include insecticide, GMO, and the Wolbachia method being implemented by the Haleakalā National Park.
Haleakalā National Park. (2021). Birds, Not Mosquitoes. Retrieved from: https://www.nps.gov/hale/learn/nature/birds-not-mosquitoes.htm
This is a page on the Haleakalā National Park website that describes their “birds, not mosquitos” plan that this project curriculum is based on. The page also lists some ideas of how the public can help contribute to reducing the mosquito population and helping protect the environment. Other pages on this website explain more about each bird species on Haleakalā and their history on Maui.
Hōʻike o Haleakalā. (June 2003). Rain Forest Module. Retrieved from: http://www.hear.org/hoike/rainforest.htm
Hōʻike o Haleakalā is a science-based curriculum created using state standards so that teachers can use the curriculum while applying the local ecosystems on Haleakalā. The curriculum is divided into four units, one for each ecosystem. The rainforest module specifically is the one that most relates to the forest bird project.
Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project. (2018). Avian Disease: Effects of Invasive Diseases on Birds in Hawaii. Retrieved from: https://mauiforestbirds.org/avian-disease/
The Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project is a group focused on the conservation of the endangered forest birds of Maui and the recovery of their habitat. This webpage specifically describes the diseases that are most affecting Maui’s forest birds which include avian pox and avian malaria. The way these diseases affect the specific species of forest birds is explained and how mosquitoes are responsible for spreading these diseases.