Picture this: about half a million years ago, a flock of Canada geese on a journey got way off track. They ended up in a place no Canada goose had ever seen—Hawai'i! These adventurous travelers were about to kick off a major transformation, evolving into three different species, including the nēnē, also known as the Hawaiian goose. These early geese were the ancestors of today’s nēnē, but a few quirks make them distinctly Hawaiian. They didn’t fly south for the winter and found their new lava-filled world so appealing they decided to stay and settle down.
The nēnē might look a little like the Canada goose, but don’t let that fool you—they’ve developed some unique features just for life in Hawai'i. First off, they’ve traded in some of their webbing for thicker, padded toes that make walking on rough lava flows a breeze. Their wings have become shorter, too. And instead of relying on the safety of migration, they’ve become Hawai'i homebodies. For generations, these adaptations helped the nēnē thrive in their paradise, filling up volcanic slopes and grassy plains with their soft, mewing calls.
When Polynesians arrived in the Islands, they brought some unintentional hitchhikers—rats and dogs. These new predators were bad news for the nēnē, who had never faced mammals before. Eggs went missing, nests were trashed, and baby nēnē became easy pickings. It didn’t help that nēnē chicks take around three months to learn to fly, and during this time, their parents molt, leaving the whole family flightless and extra vulnerable.
It wasn’t just the critters that posed a threat; humans also hunted nēnē for their meat, eggs, and feathers. Sadly, two of the nēnē’s larger relatives, the nēnē nui and the giant Hawaiian goose, couldn’t survive these changes and went extinct after Polynesians arrived. The smaller, more agile nēnē managed to hang on, but it was a struggle.
When Westerners came to the Islands, they drained many wetlands to make space for sugar and pineapple farms. Then, in 1883, a new enemy arrived: the mongoose. Meant to control the rat population, mongooses quickly became a menace to the nēnē, with their insatiable appetite for eggs and hatchlings. By the 1940s, things had taken a turn for the worse. The nēnē population had dwindled, surviving only on the Big Island.
The nēnē was officially listed as endangered in 1967, giving it a much-needed lifeline. Conservationists launched breeding programs to rebuild the population, and Haleakalā National Park became a key player in the effort. Over the years, hundreds of nēnē were raised and released into the wild, but predators like mongoose and feral cats continued to threaten their survival. In the 1980s, the conservation team tried something new: establishing a nēnē population on the mongoose-free island of Kaua’i. The results were amazing. Without the constant threat of mongoose, the nēnē population on Kaua’i thrived, making up around 60% of all wild nēnē today. Talk about a comeback story!
Nēnē in the Wild: Where to Spot These Endearing Birds
For those lucky enough to explore Hawai'i’s islands, the nēnē is one of the rarest, yet easiest, native birds to spot. You’ll find them on several islands now, including Hawai'i Island, Kaua’i, Maui, and Molokai. These friendly geese can often be seen grazing on golf courses or hanging out in grassy parks. To see them in one of their key recovery zones, head to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.
The most recent numbers estimate around 386 nēnē on Maui, 480 on Hawai'i Island, 112 on Moloka'i, and 1,000 on Kaua'i—totaling close to 2,000 birds across the islands. Nowadays, the charming nēnē is so frequently spotted at Haleakalā that park staff often face challenges in explaining to visitors that these geese remain an endangered species.
But while the nēnē might seem approachable, they’re still a protected species, and a few simple guidelines can help you enjoy these birds responsibly. Avoid feeding them, drive slowly in nēnē crossing zones, and give them space. Many are banded, making them easy to identify from a distance, so take your time and soak in the sight of this one-of-a-kind creature.
How You Can Help
One of the most impactful initiatives is the Nēnē Safe Harbor Program, run in partnership between Haleakalā Ranch, the Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Through this program, Haleakalā Ranch manages over 3,000 acres of protected land to support the nēnē, maintaining short-grass habitats and predator-free release pens that provide a safe space for young nēnē to grow strong before venturing into the wild. Through this program, they’re working to ensure that Hawai'i’s nēnē population not only survives but thrives. Curious about how you can get involved in protecting the nēnē?
Follow Nēnē Research & Conservation to stay in the loop on Hawaiʻi’s nēnē conservation efforts! Founded by Jordan and Ariel, this team is all about bringing the community together to protect Hawaiʻi’s state bird. They partner with local groups and use community data to boost conservation strategies. It’s the go-to for updates, ways to get involved, and learning how you can help keep Hawaiʻi’s native wildlife thriving!
Another way to make a difference is by joining the Adopt-A-Nēnē Program, offered by the Friends of Haleakalā National Park. Through donations, this program supports nēnē conservation efforts statewide, providing resources for habitat management, predator control, and ongoing research. You can also sign up to volunteer with Haleakalā National Park to help support the park by engaging with visitors on the trails, monitoring and removing invasive plants, and safeguarding wildlife and habitats.
