The ʻākohekohe, or Crested Honeycreeper (Palmeria dolei), is one of Hawaiʻi’s rarest forest birds, currently found only in a ~20 km² area on the windward slope of Haleakalā Volcano, between 1,600–2,100 meters (5,249–6,890 ft). Historically, it inhabited both Maui and Moloka‘i, but today its range is limited to just 5% of its former extent on Maui alone.
The main threat to the ʻākohekohe is avian malaria, transmitted by non-native mosquitoes that thrive in warming climates. Their limited range reflects their inability to survive in lower elevations where disease is more prevalent.
As of 2022, the ʻākohekohe population was estimated at 3,360 ± 590 individuals—a nearly 70% decline over the past two decades. Their occupied habitat has shrunk by 65% since 2001, which has become a narrow, fragmented band of mostly disease-free forest.
Without effective mosquito control, models predict the species could go extinct in the wild within 10 years. By 2100, suitable habitat may shrink further to just 7 km², according to climate projections.
Controlling mosquitoes—primarily via the Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) using Wolbachia male mosquitoes—is the highest priority conservation action. These efforts aim to suppress mosquito populations across existing ʻākohekohe habitat.
Because ʻākohekohe are poor candidates for traditional captive programs, a 2023 trial allowed field teams to temporarily hold individuals overnight to test husbandry techniques under State and Federal permits. Five birds were captured, banded, and released after short-term care. All have since been re-sighted, and observations are informing future translocation protocols.
To increase the species’ resiliency and redundancy, biologists are evaluating the feasibility of establishing a second population on high-elevation, disease-free forest on Hawai‘i Island. This conservation introduction could offer refuge while mosquito control efforts expand across Maui.
Key steps underway:
Visit our Research and Publications page to access reports, journal articles, and updates on our ongoing efforts to save the ʻākohekohe from extinction. Other suggested links include:
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