Hawai`i's Native Species

Hawai`i has a wealth of native species. Many of them are endemic, that is, found nowhere else in the world. Others, like the Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) are also found in other places (indigenous). Some of the endemic species are so rare that they are also threatened and endangered. Many native Hawaiian species are already extinct, known only by a few preserved specimens, bones, descriptions or paintings. Hawai`i is known as the endangered species capital of the United States, having the dubious distinction of having more threatened and endangered species than any other state in the U.S.

Roll call of native species:

Plants: Hawai`i had about 1,100 native species and sub-species of flowering plants (89% endemic). Of these, 92 species are already extinct and 270 are on the endangered species list. Another 198 species are under consideration for listing. There were also 400 native fern species, of which 5 are extinct, 12 on the endangered list, and 9 species under consideration for listing.

Snails: Hawai`i had approximately 1,000 native species, of which about 50-70% are extinct, and all the remaining are biologically endangered. Only the genus Achatinella (42 named species) is listed, but genus Partulina (71 species) is under consideration.

Birds: Hawai`i originally had about 96 endemic species, of which 61 are extinct (45 prior to European contact), 24 listed as endangered (8 likely extinct), and only 11 not yet biologically endangered.

Insects: At least 10,000 native and endemic species, of which an estimated 20-30% are extinct and 20-50% are biologically endangered. However, none are on the endangered species list, although 10 are proposed for listing.

Mammals: Hawai`i has only two endemic mammals, the Hawaiian hoary bat and the Hawaiian monk seal, both on the endangered species list.

Reptiles: Hawai`i has no endemic reptiles, but the five species of native indigenous marine turtles are threatened or endangered.

Despite the startling numbers of extinct and endangered species, Hawai`i's native species represent a wonderful and complex story of adaptation and evolution -- certainly more than can be told here.

Here are just a few of Hawai`i's unique endemic species:

Pupu kani oe (Achatinella spp.), O`ahu tree snails

These extremely rare and critically endangered snails are rapidly disappearing from O`ahu's forests. (A. mustelina pictured, photo by Bill Mull)

`Alala (Corvus hawaiiensis), Hawaiian Crow

This critically endangered endemic species is found only in old native Koa (Acacia koa) forest. (Photo by Paul Banko)

Nene (Nesochon sandvicensis), Hawaiian Goose

Hawai`i's endemic goose, once widespread in upland areas, is now found only on the islands of Hawai`i and Maui. A captive propagation and release program begun in England and Hawai`i, still ongoing on Maui, saved this species from total extinction. Related to the Canada Goose, which it resembles. The Nene is also the official Hawai`i State Bird. (Photo from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Palila (Loxioides bailleui)

This endangered species is found only from 6,500 to 9,600 feet in mamane-naio forests on the slopes of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawai`i. (Photo by Tim Burr)

`Ilio-holo-i-kauaua (Monachus schauinslandi), Hawaiian monk seal

Probably one of the best known Hawaiian endangered species, this rare seal resides mainly in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, although some seals have begun to inhabit the Main Hawaiian Islands. (Photo courtesy of National Marine Fisheries Service)

`Ohi`a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha)

This versatile and abundant endemic tree lives in a wide variety of climates and habitats, from lava desert to upland rain forest. Its flowers provide nectar for several endemic bird and insect species. (Photo by Maile Sakamoto).

`Ahinahina (Argyroxiphium sandwicenses), Silversword

This beautiful alpine plant grows only on Haleakala, Maui, and Mauna Kea, Hawai`i. It's listed as an endangered species. It blooms only once, then dies. The silversword population is still recovering from depletion by collectors, but is now threatened by Argentine ants which attack its pollinators.

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